Thanksgiving in the VIs - October 15, 2012

"Hurricane Thanksgiving" Marks End of Season in Virgin Islands

Willie Drye
for National Geographic News

Residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands know that if they haven't been hit by a hurricane by mid-October, there's a good chance they're safe for the rest of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Since 1726 the islanders have devoted a day in October to give thanks when the summer fury passes them by.
Here's a link: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/11/1123_051123_thanksgiving.html
Or just Google Hurricane Thanksgiving Day in the VI

No special meals that I am aware of.

I thought the end of the hurricane season was the end of November? In my experience mid-october is pushing it.

Hurricane Supplication Day....which I gave up on after wrong way Lenny occurred after the holiday:
http://www.qppstudio.net/publicholidays2012/virgin_islands__u_s_.htm

and most people ignore it these days

Hurricane Supplication Day....which I gave up on after wrong way Lenny occurred after the holiday:
http://www.qppstudio.net/publicholidays2012/virgin_islands__u_s_.htm

and most people ignore it these days

Hurricane Supplication is prior to the season, when you pray for a safe hurricane season.

Hurricane Thanksgiving is "after" the season when you give thanks after the season. However in recent years as mentioned some odd ball hurricanes have came later.

Presently I don't think there's any significance to the days....don't even think that they're holidays any more.

Only times I remember them being significant was after major hurricanes like Hugo....there were prayer services on these days.

No special meals or anything.

"Officially," Nov.30th is the end for Hurricane season tho we have had a hurricane in Dec., previously. I think it was in the 80's.
Wrong Way Lenny was as Nov. hurricane as I recall, did little damage to the VI but gave St. Marten a good wallop.
Usually, if we have gotten thru to mid October, we all breathe easier and it's a good thing to remember this day, say a prayer and be thankful that we have, indeed, been lucky enough to have been spared and survived another hurricane season without incident and devastation. It is too bad it is mostly ignored these days by the majority of the population tho, I think, it is an official holiday.

I am always happy and grateful when hurricane season is over and if Supplication Day comes a bit earlier than the official end, what of it?

i knew nothing about the holiday

Both Hurricane Supplication Day and Hurricane Thanksgiving Day are recognized local holidays and have been since 1726. The former is recognized on the fourth Monday in July and the latter on the third Monday in October.

Old Tart, besides church services are there any other celebratory activities, special meals, etc?

According to St. Croix Tourism website.

http://www.stcroixtourism.com/usviinfo.htm

Official USVI Public Holidays
*2012*
01 Jan*  New Year's Day*
06 Jan* Three Kings' Day*
16 Jan* *Martin Luther King Day*
15 Feb* *Presidents' Day*
05 Apr* Holy Thursday*
06 Apr* Good Friday*
09 **Apr* Easter Monday.*
31 May* *Memorial Day*
03 Jul* Emancipation Day*
04 Jul* Independence Day*
23 Jul* Hurricane Supplication Day*
05 Sept* *Labor Day*
12 Oct ** Columbus Day*
01 Nov* D Hamilton Jackson Day/Liberty Day*
11 Nov* Veterans' Day*
22 Nov* US Thanksgiving Day*
24 Nov* *Virgin Islands Thanksgiving Day*
25 Dec* Christmas Day
Some above dates to be confirmed.

On Hurricane Thanksgiving Day, church services are held on the third Monday in October so we can give thanks for being spared the destruction of a major storm.
I don't know why it is not listed in October or if it is mistaken as a November date in the above list :S

Old Tart, besides church services are there any other celebratory activities, special meals, etc?

I know some of the old established local families observe the tradition of getting together for a celebratory dinner but don't recall anything much in the public domain along those lines. The tradition was very low key for many years but after Hugo in 1989 there was a resurgence of its observation.

According to St. Croix Tourism website.

http://www.stcroixtourism.com/usviinfo.htm

Official USVI Public Holidays
*2012*
01 Jan*  New Year's Day*
06 Jan* Three Kings' Day*
16 Jan* *Martin Luther King Day*
15 Feb* *Presidents' Day*
05 Apr* Holy Thursday*
06 Apr* Good Friday*
09 **Apr* Easter Monday.*
31 May* *Memorial Day*
03 Jul* Emancipation Day*
04 Jul* Independence Day*
23 Jul* Hurricane Supplication Day*
05 Sept* *Labor Day*
12 Oct ** Columbus Day*
01 Nov* D Hamilton Jackson Day/Liberty Day*
11 Nov* Veterans' Day*
22 Nov* US Thanksgiving Day*
24 Nov* *Virgin Islands Thanksgiving Day*
25 Dec* Christmas Day
Some above dates to be confirmed.

Then let's not forget all the days for Carnival and food fair!

They used to have a pigramage to a shrine of the Virgin Mary which was loacted on Cassie Hill but they had to remove it due to the constant desecration in later years. You can still see the stone alcove that housed it, on top of the hill, on the right if you are heading toward Smith Bay. There is no other celebration or celerbratory meals but you can attend church services.

On the USVI Tourism website it lists Hurricane Thanksgiving Day in November.

@ Alana, It does list Carnival events, when govt. offices & schools are closed or open half-day 😀

http://www.visitusvi.com/stthomas/events_calendar

On the USVI Tourism website it lists Hurricane Thanksgiving Day in November.

@ Alana, It does list Carnival events, when govt. offices & schools are closed or open half-day 😀

http://www.visitusvi.com/stthomas/events_calendar

That's okay BeachcomerStt - I just didn't see those and others on the list and the list looked short with only 18 mentioned holidays when we all know there are many more!

In St croix the interreligious council does a breakfast event each year with a little service/speakers to celebrate.

On the USVI Tourism website it lists Hurricane Thanksgiving Day in November.
http://www.visitusvi.com/stthomas/events_calendar

Someone really glitched on the tourism site. Hurricane Thanksgiving Day is and always has been the third Monday in October. Oops!

On the USVI Tourism website it lists Hurricane Thanksgiving Day in November.
http://www.visitusvi.com/stthomas/events_calendar

Someone really glitched on the tourism site. Hurricane Thanksgiving Day is and always has been the third Monday in October. Oops!

I thought the same thing. The same mistake in a St. John publication/website, but I didn't post that one.

I thought the same thing. The same mistake in a St. John publication/website, but I didn't post that one.

Maybe there's a job opening for a copy editor ...

I thought the same thing. The same mistake in a St. John publication/website, but I didn't post that one.

Maybe there's a job opening for a copy editor ...

I wouldn't be surprised if they all just share/copy the same copy. (pun intended) :p

Both Hurricane Supplication Day and Hurricane Thanksgiving Day are recognized local holidays and have been since 1726. The former is recognized on the fourth Monday in July and the latter on the third Monday in October.

They were eliminated as paid holidays by the Turnbull administration in 1999. They're still recognized as days of observance.

http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/local-news/1999/12/06/three-paid-holidays-gone-transfer-day-remains-0

One of the best known hurricanes visited the islands on August 31, 1772. Alexander Hamilton, who later became the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, was living in Christiansted on St. Croix when the storm struck.

Hamilton, who was about 15 years old at the time, wrote a dramatic letter to his father about the hurricane's fury.

"Good God! What horror and destruction," Hamilton wrote.

"It's impossible for me to describe—or you to form any idea of it. It seemed as if a total dissolution of nature was taking place. The roaring of the sea and wind—fiery meteors flying about in the air—the prodigious glare of almost perpetual lightning—the crash of falling houses—and the ear-piercing shrieks of the distressed were sufficient to strike astonishment into Angels."

Back in the 60's and 70's, STT used to celebrate hurricane Thanksgiving day with a boat parade and many sailboats were adorned to look like pirate ships. They sailed/motored back and forth in the harbor and had mock battles among them selves. it also signaled the beginning of the tourist season. At that time there were quite a few schooners including the one used in the TV series "Wackiest Ship in the Army."

That boat parade wasn't to celebrate Hurricane Thanksgiving, if my memory serves but was a part of the waterfront festivities for Carnival like the boat races are. Nothing to do with hurricane season supplication/thanksgiving. They stopped it due to too many incidents with accidents due to all those pirates imbibing too much rum!