January 16, 2024
The Crucian Christmas Pageant has been a treasured custom because the 1800s. This is why you must add it to your journey plans.
The New Yr celebrations shouldn’t cease on New Yr’s Eve. You may hold the occasion going into the primary week of January, all whereas having fun with the gorgeous blue skies and waters in the course of the top of the winter season.
The Caribbean is understood for celebrating Black excellence all yr lengthy, particularly throughout its number of Carnivals hosted in international locations all through the West Indies. St. Croix within the U.S. Virgin Islands is among the many Caribbean islands that maintain its annual carnival proper in the beginning of the brand new yr.
Dubbed the Crucian Christmas Pageant, the almost two-week-long occasion runs from Dec. 26, 2023, via Jan. 6, 2024. The vacation carnival has been a treasured custom because the 1800s when enslaved Africans got day off to rejoice Christmas. They’d gown up in selfmade costumes and dance via the streets.
The carnival takes place on the first Friday and Saturday of the New Yr, with the Kids’s Parade going down this yr on Friday, Jan. 5, and the Adults Parade being held on Saturday, Jan. 6.
Among the many occasions main as much as the large carnival day included seven days of free concert events that includes prime native and worldwide acts, together with Cool Session, Charlie Aponte, Destra, Nadia Batson, Adam O, Capleton, Edwin Yearwood & Krosfyah, Karnage, and Dexta Daps. Organized by the U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Tourism and Division of Festivals, this yr’s occasion included beloved cultural occasions that includes the Prince, Princess, Dutch, and Duchess Present, Queen Pageant, and Soca Monarch. The Division of Festivals additionally hosted the first-ever Child Ville occasion, celebrating the island’s youngest residents.
The annual Meals Honest on the Frederiksted Pier showcased the colourful flavors of Crucian delicacies, that includes a spread of delights from patties to seafood. Attendees had the chance to take part within the extremely aggressive “warfare of tarts” and forged their votes for the perfect amongst coconut, pineapple, and guava varieties.
From Thursday to Saturday, the streets of Frederiksted got here alive with native and visiting pleasure seekers having fun with J’ouvert, the Kids’s Parade, and the Grownup Parade. The file variety of attendees and individuals adorned in culturally vital and elaborate costumes celebrated the wealthy Caribbean heritage of the island.
“This yr’s Crucian Christmas Pageant marked the conclusion of a outstanding 2023 for our territory and heralded the start of 2024 as a yr destined for additional developments in vacation spot attraction,” Joseph Boschulte, commissioner of Tourism stated.
A post-parade fireworks show concluded the 12-day celebration, adopted by Uber Soca Night time on the Frederiksted Village with performances by worldwide Afro Beats star Davido and Caribbean Music Awards Soca Performer of the Yr, Mr. Killa.
“This yr’s Crucian Christmas Pageant showcased the wealthy and considerable tradition of St. Croix, spanning from pageants to the meals truthful, J’ouvert to the parades,” Ian Turnbull, director of Festivals, stated.
