The Cuisinières' Festival

A day immersed in Creole traditions

Every year on 10 August, women take charge in Guadeloupe to celebrate the richness of Guadeloupean heritage. Food lovers will remember above all the delicious dishes: all those mouth-watering specialities, all those scents that tickle the nostrils and whet the appetite.

The Cuisinières' Festival is much more than that

They pass on from generation to generation the spirit of fraternity at the origin of their movement. Aged from 14 to 97, just over 200 cuisinières of the association proudly defend their island identity through their shimmering costumes and their headdresses, worn with elegance and pride.

A tradition for a century, born of a surge of solidarity on 14 July 1916.

At the beginning of the last century, a domestic worker lost her husband and struggled to raise enough money to give him a decent funeral. Moved by the widow's story, five women decided to help her. The collection organised among domestic staff went well. It quickly gave rise to a tontine called “Le Cuistot mutuel”. The first mutual society in Guadeloupe was born. It ensured that its members would have a decent funeral when they died. Since then, “Les Cuisinières” have kept the tradition alive, offering their talents at funeral ceremonies.

True guardians of heritage

These strong-minded women have grown their association into a pillar of Guadeloupe's culinary and clothing traditions. True guardians of heritage, on the day of the festival they wear their traditional costumes with style, along with an apron embroidered with the symbol of their patron saint: St Lawrence.

Is there a touch of humour on the cuisinières' part in the choice of this patron saint?

The priest Lawrence of Rome was condemned to be burned to death on a pyre. He had refused to hand over the church's treasures to the prefect of Rome to pay for the emperor's troops. Legend has it that his last words on the pyre were:

“Look, wretch, you have roasted one side; turn me over and eat.”

… which earned him the title of patron saint of cooks … and of roasters!

The procession: a moment of joy and sharing

After mass, the cuisinières gather on the cathedral forecourt in a colourful festival of madras and headdresses. They line up for the parade, arms laden with authentic Creole dishes, baskets of fruit and vegetables, and kitchen utensils. The president and her deputies signal the start with their little bells. They announce their arrival at every crossroads and hand out along the route the dishes blessed earlier. The joyful procession winds through the town to the sound of singing and Gwo Ka, for a great moment of sharing … of tasty little cakes!

Then comes the picnic. The finest home cooks, at the height of their art, let you taste their specialities (lunch is chargeable). A delicious experience of Creole gastronomy! The festivities continue with a ball and end late into the night.