The celebrated Christmas tradition, the 17th Christmas Foreday Serenade, will take place on the Foreday mornings of Dec. 23 and 24, Stanley and The Ten Sleepless Knights and WTJX announced.
This year’s celebration will follow two routes. On the Foreday morning of Dec. 23, the East Route will include stops at Ginger Thomas, Strawberry, Peter’s Rest, Anna’s Hope, Orange Grove, Golden Rock / Harbor View, Princess, Estate St. John, Eliza’s Retreat, and conclude with a tramp to WTJX as the final food stop, according to the press release.
On the Foreday morning of Dec. 24, the West Route will commence at Ginger Thomas and cover Bonne Esperance, Mon Bijou, Colquohoun, Grove, Whim, Concordia, and end with a tramp from the Frederiksted Post Office to Buddhoe Park, with Frederiksted Town serving as the final food stop, the press release stated.
This traditional event, which had been absent from the cultural calendar since 1992, has been revived and celebrated for the past 16 years. Over the years, this event has garnered the enthusiastic support of thousands of Crucians across the island, adding a touch of warmth and festive spirit to the community leading into Christmas, the release stated.
What began as an attempt to document the tradition has now transformed into a highly
anticipated and heartwarming yearly event that has found its place among the “must-do” activities during the most festive time of the year, it said.
The celebration features Stanley and the Ten Knights being towed on a trailer performing quelbe music and serenading the communities starting at 12:01 am. The band’s early morning arrival through neighborhoods is welcomed with traditional Crucian breakfast items, including ham, saltfish and greens, johnny cakes, stew herring, souse, chicken soup, bush tea, and more, according to the release.
The festivities culminate in a spirited tramp through the streets, infusing the air with joy and a lively holiday spirit. The event has become a cherished tradition, reflecting the unity and camaraderie of the community, it said.
The 17th Foreday Serenade promises to be the furtherance of this celebration of tradition,
community, and the festive spirit that has come to define this cherished event, it said.
