National Day in Saint Lucia
National Day is a public holiday in Saint Lucia that is observed annually on December 13th. This holiday marks the Feast Day of Saint Lucia—who is the patron saint of the island. Lucy had become a venerated saint by the 6th century and was a popular saint in England and France. Lucy’s name shares a root with the word “lux”—the Latin word for light.
Saint Lucia (Public holiday)This connection made St. Lucy’s feast day extremely popular during the Winter Solstice, a time when natural daylight was at a premium and people often wished there was more light. It is the reason why this holiday is preceded by the National Festival of Lights and Renewal and announces the beginning of the Christmas season in Saint Lucia.
The History of National Day in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia was originally known as the Windward Island and was first discovered by Europeans during the late 15th century. The first settlers on this island were French, and they named it after Saint Lucy (Saint Lucia). The feast day for Saint Lucy was established to pay tribute to her martyrdom on December 13, 304 AD.
Some Fun Facts About Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an interesting island, as we’ll now prove with the following fun facts we’ve learned about it over the past few days.
- Saint Lucia is a democratic constitutional monarchy.
- It has a population of 178,844 people.
- It has an area of 616 square kilometers.
- The island’s highest peak is Mount Gimie, which rises 950 meters.
- The original Arawak Indians called this island “Iyonola” around 200 AD.
Observing National Day in Saint Lucia
National Day is observed with a festival of lights and religious services. It is also a day off for the general public, so many businesses and schools are closed on this day. The hashtag #NationalDay is sometimes used to spread the word about this holiday as well.
Saint Lucia (Public holiday)
