In the Virgin Islands, the Christmas season, or “Christmastime,” is not preparation for a single day, but instead a monthlong series of cultural events and traditional practices inclusive of African, European, and Caribbean influences.
While the overarching spirit of generosity, goodwill, and family remains, the specific customs, from the trees we decorate to the ways we communicate, have shifted over the decades, reflecting a Virgin Islands identity that continues to evolve.
While people living closer to the North Pole observe annual Christmas celebrations centered around the snowy cold of the winter season, here in the Virgin Islands, a year-round backdrop of warm sunny days, green rolling hills, and perfect beach weather is enjoyed. Christmastime is one of the longest seasons celebrated in the Caribbean region, traditionally stretching from Dec. 15- Jan. 6, Three Kings Day. However, with the annual St. Croix Crucian Christmas Festival aligning with the traditional Christmas holiday, the island of St. Croix begins its celebrations much earlier, involving horse races, Calypso concerts, parades, tramps, and other cultural events.
In recent decades, Virgin Islanders have shifted to adorning their homes with imported Evergreen Trees; however, in the early and mid-20th century, it was common to use the native “Randia Aculeata” shrub. Families would set off into the dense bush on the hillside to chop down the perfect tree; it would be used later that evening to decorate with bright-colored ornaments and candles. This practice highlighted a time when Virgin Islanders enjoyed a closer relationship to their environments, sourcing their needs from the natural world around them.
Another important fixture of a Virgin Islands Christmas is the traditional cuisine. Christmas menus were and still are defined by specific dishes, including kallaloo, fungi, sweet bread, ham, goat water, and black cake. Additionally, holiday drinks like guavavberry rum and sorrel are also important holiday staples. Similar to decades prior, today Virgin Islanders still source many of the ingredients for these cultural dishes and drinks from the land, when possible.
The melodious sound of Christmas in the Virgin Islands can be attributed to the “Scratch Band,” whose sound is often a blend of traditional Quelbe, Calypso, and Fungi music. At one point, many of these bands were comprised of handmade instruments created from everyday household items, including pans and kerosene tins. Today, popular Quelbe bands like Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights have become a quintessential part of the Virgin Islands Christmas experience, leading numerous tramps and featuring a catalog of popular Christmas music infused with Caribbean flavor, as well as self-written songs. This strong musical tradition was often paired with masquerading, in which groups like the Zulus, Devils, Wild Indians, and Pirates danced through the streets. These figures represent historical archetypes, engaged in performances intended to convey powerful stories.
Decades ago, before the digital age brought us high-speed internet and cellphones, Christmas cards held great importance for Virgin Islanders. These cards offered an opportunity to connect with friends and family who no longer resided in the territory, as well as loved ones who lived locally, but whose paths you never regularly crossed. The physical card, once a tangible symbol of connection across distance, has now been transformed into an instant text, social media post, or email.
While Christmas in the Virgin Islands looks different from decades prior, key cultural elements remain strongly rooted in annual customs. This reflection reminds us that culture is not static, but instead, is a living, breathing thing that requires participation, engagement, and space for continual evolution.
