La Woz
Encyclopedia
La Woz is one of the two historic cultural societies (sociétés) of the Antillean
country of Saint Lucia
. It is also the name of the society's festival
, held every August. The other societé is La Magawit ("The Marguerite"), which holds its festival in October.
An important member of the group is the chantwèl, generally a woman, who leads and sometimes composes the songs, and acts generally as a marshall to organise and mobilise the group. Each group has its own band. The group organises itself into a King and Queen, Prince and Princess, Doctor, Magistrate, policemen, nurses, soldiers. Everyone can have a role and a costume. The costumes are as gorgeous as can be contrived from the money collected by the group.
On the Feast of St Rose of Lima, August 30, the Roses proceed to church. After the service there is a banquet with singing, dancing and music. The songs praise the Roses and taunt the Magwits, their traditional rivals.
La Woz symbolises civil society, dresses itself in European clothes but has an African tradition, and uses the Creole language.
Antilles
The Antilles islands form the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. The Antilles are divided into two major groups: the "Greater Antilles" to the north and west, including the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico; and the smaller "Lesser Antilles" on the...
country of Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
. It is also the name of the society's festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
, held every August. The other societé is La Magawit ("The Marguerite"), which holds its festival in October.
Organization
The société forms itself into a court, a microcosm of civil society. Positions held are often hereditary – a particular family will produce a La Woz king, another produce the queen etc. All through the year, but with greater frequency leading up to the festival, séances are held, practice and organising sessions of song and dance.An important member of the group is the chantwèl, generally a woman, who leads and sometimes composes the songs, and acts generally as a marshall to organise and mobilise the group. Each group has its own band. The group organises itself into a King and Queen, Prince and Princess, Doctor, Magistrate, policemen, nurses, soldiers. Everyone can have a role and a costume. The costumes are as gorgeous as can be contrived from the money collected by the group.
The festival of The Rose
The colour theme for the Roses is red or red and white. The Queen and Princess wear long satiny dresses, decorated with lace and spangles. The King and Prince wear formal suits, with decorated sashes. Each of these characters has a crown. Other members of the group wear costumes appropriate to their characters. The chantwèl carries a bouquet of roses which she waves to encourage the singing.On the Feast of St Rose of Lima, August 30, the Roses proceed to church. After the service there is a banquet with singing, dancing and music. The songs praise the Roses and taunt the Magwits, their traditional rivals.
La Woz symbolises civil society, dresses itself in European clothes but has an African tradition, and uses the Creole language.