Before the sun fully lifted over Christiansted, the steady beat and rhythm announced what many already knew: the Crucian-Rican Tramp and All Ahwee Big Breakfast was happening, rain or not. Hundreds poured into downtown Christiansted — Crucians, Puerto Ricans, and Crucian-Ricans — following Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights, carrying forward a tradition now 20 years strong.
What began in 2006 as a welcoming breakfast in the market has grown into one of St. Croix’s most meaningful ways to close the holiday season, aligned with Three Kings Day, or Día de Reyes, a Puerto Rican tradition honoring the arrival of the Wise Men. By the fourth year, the tramp was added, and the event evolved into what it is today — a fully volunteer-driven celebration of shared heritage.
“This is truly a community event,” said Kendell C. Henry, a committee member of the Crucian-Rican Tramp and All Ahwee Big Breakfast. “Major kudos to the volunteers that come together on a yearly basis. They come from all crafts of life, and we definitely appreciate them.”
That volunteer spirit is the backbone of the event. Chefs, cooks, musicians and helpers give freely of their time. Donations and in-kind services keep everything moving — from food supplies to road closures. Even government agencies play a supporting role, including the Agriculture Department and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
Founding members George “Bagoon” O’Reilly, Gregory Francis, Wanda Bermudez Belardo, Arthur C. Petersen, June Belardo and Fernando Webster envisioned a space where the blended cultures of St. Croix and Puerto Rico could be honored openly and proudly. Two decades later, that vision still resonates, not only in the music and food, but in the language people use to describe themselves.
Johanna Bermudez, film director of Sugar Pathways documentary and one of the younger members involved when the event began, reflected on the power of the word “Crucian-Rican” — and why it matters.
“It’s an important word to claim and make relevant for us to feel good about,” Bermudez said. “Using the word helps describe the connectivity of our cultures.”
She spoke candidly about how language can shift over time, pointing to the word “papa” — once used as a term of affection, later twisted into something derogatory. For Bermudez, reclaiming “Crucian-Rican” is about restoring pride and context, especially for younger generations growing up with blended identities.
With attendance now topping 1,000 people, the tramp and breakfast have become more than an event — they are a message of unity, acknowledgment and shared history.
That togetherness was visible in every direction — elders walking alongside children, longtime friends greeting each other between songs, and businesses like J&W Grocery in Estate Richmond, long considered a cornerstone of community support, continuing their tradition of giving back.
As rain clouds lingered overhead and quelbe music carried through Christiansted, the message was clear. Twenty years in, the Crucian-Rican Tramp and All Ahwee Big Breakfast remains exactly what it set out to be: a living celebration of culture and the beauty of coming together — no matter the weather.
