Christiansted streets were filled with throngs of people in a dizzying variety of green clothing, green makeup and green hair as the 54th St. Patrick’s Day Parade brought excitement and delight to all Saturday.
Grand Marshal Willard John of Guardians of Culture rode through the streets in a bright yellow convertible Jeep decorated with green accessories and balloons. He waved and handed out beads along the route.
Multiple groups brought their interpretation of the theme of “Mokos, Madras and Melee” to the parade. Onlookers competed for beads, candy and other favors thrown from highly decorated floats. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade on St. Croix is one of the biggest parties of the year. Attendees come from all over the island as well as from the mainland to have a fun-filled day with friends and family.
An annual favorite, Mr. Lucky (Greg Worrell II), with Leprechauns Ashley Bouzianis and Lacey Paige, collected funds for the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center. They will present a check directly to SCAWC at a future date.
The parade participants dressed in accordance with the theme for the year, using lots of green and madras. Many people in the crowd vied for the most outrageous, creative, and often hilarious green splendor, including a green dinosaur.
People from the crowd stopped parade participants such as moko jumbies and members of Simply Sophisticated to have their pictures taken with them. The parade concluded with a mini tramp filled with parade goers happy to be a part of the big day.
Awards made by Mitchell Larsen Studio were presented at Nate’s Boathouse on the boardwalk in Christiansted. This year’s judges were Tez Waters, Dee Ullrich and Lavonne Wise. The winners were:
Domino Club – Best Overall
Krewe de Croix – Best Theme
Jouvert Junction – Best DJ
Simply Sophisticated – Best Band
Lost Dog – Best Vehicle
Gentlemen of Jones – Most Popular
St. Croix Majorettes – Best Youth Dance
All Star Jumbies – Most Talented
The St Croix St Patrick’s Day Parade began in 1969 when local business owners got together on March 17 at Harry’s Office Bar on Company Street or Queen Cross Street and decided to start one. They secured a stake-bed truck and a piano and drove through the streets of Christiansted, singing Irish and local songs.
March 17 is the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. It has been celebrated there for over 1,000 years. However, the very first known St. Patrick’s Day Parade took place on March 17, 1601, in St. Augustine, Florida. This year will mark the 425th St. Patrick’s Day Parade there. The day is now a global celebration.
According to The Associated Press, “Patrick was not actually Irish, according to experts. Born in the late fourth century, he was captured as an adolescent and ended up enslaved in Ireland. He escaped to another part of Europe where he was trained as a priest and returned to Ireland in the fifth century to promote the spread of Christianity.”
