Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
So this may be a silly question....but my boyfriend and I were curious as to how this holiday is celebrated in the islands. I'm assuming that X-mas trees are not available.
What about Halloween, etc. It seems the only info. I seem to find out there is related to Carnivale.
Thanks for your input!
Posted : June 10, 2004 4:42 pm
On STX, Carnival IS Christmas.
You can get a tree. They are shipped in for the holidays and cost a small fortune.
You can also get pumpkins at Halloween. Again, shipped in, cost a fortune.
STX holds its carnival over the Three Kings Day week. TKD (or Epiphany) is, I think, always January 5th or thereabouts, and culminates in the adult parade on that Saturday. TKD is actually a much bigger holiday in some places in the Caribbean (e.g., Puerto Rico) than Christmas.
VB
Posted : June 10, 2004 7:29 pm
Hello Kim and Chris,
Not a silly question at all. A very good question!!
Some holidays...
Easter - The religious aspect of it, Ash Wednesday Mass, Easter fasting, Church... are celebrated. As for the bunny and eggs and candy... we decorated eggs in school as a child, and had/have easter egg hunts with friends and family. There used to be an easter hat decorating contest years ago at Bluebeards on St. Thomas, I don't know if they still have that - haven't heard it mentioned in years.
Halloween - schools have dress ups for kids, some malls have events where parents bring the kids dressed up and the kids go store to store for candy, schools have parties/dances, you really don't have the neighborhood door to door thing because neighborhoods like in the states don't really exist but kids do go door to door to people they know in the area they live or by car to friends/family. Its not huge but some people get into it. For adults numerous bars/restaurants have costume parties and contest.
Thanksgiving - celebrated with turkey, stuffing and other foods and family/friends.
Christmas - celebrated with the traditional church masses. Fake trees are available at K-mart and other stores and live cut trees are brought in and can be purchased for maybe $30-80 dollars depending on size of the tree and availability. Santa makes appearances at malls, schools and events.
Now you mentioned Carnival... St. Thomas Carnival is around Easter! St. John Carnival coincides with 4th of July and St. Croix Carnival conincides with Christmas and New Years...
You might find an article written for our December Newsletter last year interesting. It is about Christmas memories of a Virgin Islander and has some pictures of Santa and a SNOWMAN - 🙂 make out of sand of course!! Check it out
http://vinow.com/news/Nov03/myxmas.php
--Islander
Posted : June 12, 2004 6:51 am
As an sideline to Islander's msg: Halloween is not greatly "celebrated" here. Many have the belief that it is devil worship. Christmas, on the other hand, is a HUGE holiday! Much bigger than in the states, I think. Everyone says "Happy Holidays!" for weeks and weeks! Much wearing of red and green, decorations, special food and drink, local Christmas songs with great lines like like "I've come for my guavaberry, good morning!" and " Ho, Ho , Ho! How will Santa get in?"... A joyous time! (And as a sideline to that, local folks who are unabashedly Christian go out of their way at Christmas to include all faiths in the celebrations. So you hear about Ramadan, Hannukah and Kwaanza, too!)
Posted : June 12, 2004 2:39 pm
Hello All,
The same question was on my mind this weekend. I'm in the process of deciding what to bring and what to sell. I have two 50 gallon totes of Christmas Decorations and a 30 gallon tote of Halloween Decorations. I know I'm not shipping it down but I was wondering if I should bring any of it? When I was younger my mother celebrated every holiday with lots of decorations and parties. I really don't go all out know but I still decorate for my neice and nephew. It seems crazy to have christmas tree and snowmen all over the house when it's 80 degrees outside. I think I will bring a few decorations just to remind me of home (Michigan). WOW instead of 30 below and snow up to my knees I will be on Coki Beach enjoying the weather, people, food and music.
WOW,
MLogan
Posted : June 14, 2004 7:18 am
It's always so funny to hear how Christmas is to be enjoyed sans snow and cold weather. How about those folks who live in Florida, California, Arizona or across the South? They celebrate it the same way we do! Singing Jingle Bells and Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire!!! Who knows what a chestnut is!! Don't worry, it will be fun.
Wait 'til you see the Christmas lights too! People decorate just as much here as well, so bring a little stuff.
Ronnie
Posted : June 14, 2004 12:22 pm
