Traditions of Saint Lucia

The Traditions of Saint Lucia is an amalgamation of the vivid and the diversified tradition of various cultures. While the Saint Lucia tradition is essentially characterized by its native cultural diversity, the French, African and the British influence can also not be ignored. The British influence on the island is reflected in the judiciary, the educational policies and the languages.

Considerable French influence can be seen on the art and the architecture of the country. Apart from the French influence, the dance and the music of Saint Lucia has also been influenced by the African tradition, which had its insinuation in the country with the mass African slave trade for the European plantations in the country. The descendants of these communities have persisted in preserving the age old African culture in their cuisines, occupations and art forms.

The main occupations of the Saint Lucia natives are farming, hunting and fishing, which prove to be a distinguishing aspect of the traditions of Saint Lucia. Farming in cash crops like cassava, yam and sweet potatoes, the country has a native flavor in the traditional cuisines of Saint Lucia. Some of the tropical fruits that are grown in Saint Lucia are coconut, guava, pineapples, passionfruit and many more. The locally grown fruits and vegetables are the chief ingredients of the recipes in Saint Lucia.

The Traditions of Saint Lucia are an intricate part of the culture of the country. The native communities in the island are the Amerindians, the Caribs and the Arawaks. The Saint Lucia culture is further diversified by the diversity in faith and religion. With a population of 170, 649, Saint Lucia has sheltered blacks , the East Indians as well as the whites. Some of them are Roman Catholics and some Seventh-Day Adventist. Apart from Pentecostals, Evangelicals, Anglicans, Christians and the Rastafarian, Saint Lucia is also a happy home for the atheists.

The influences of various cultures have seeped into the native tradition of Saint Lucia to be amalgamated into a massive whole.