Holidays
Someone asked me if the VI celebrates Valentine's Day, Halloween, and other non-religious holidays. It's only a little different here than what we were used to. Valentine's Day seems the same - lots of restaurants advertising expensive fancy meals; the jewelry shops have more sales; and the Belgium Chocolate Factory was busy on Wednesday too.
Halloween is more different. My coclerks and I dressed up for Halloween this year as pageant winners (I was "Miss Quoted", they were "Miss Trial" and "Miss Understood"). People asked us why we dressed up for Halloween - as though they hadn't made the connection before. I do know that some of the younger kids went trick or treating, but it seems like any dress-up ends in grade school. There are big Halloween parties on the island, but I believe they are geared towards mainlanders.
What's unique here is the number of local holidays. I think the local government workers really get 24 paid holidays. They include: Three Kings Day, Good Friday, Carnival Parades, Transfer Day, Election Day, Emancipation Day, Organic Act Day, and Boxing Day (aka Christmas Second Day), among others.
New Year's Eve is called Old Year's Night here, and it is big too. Especially on Jost Van Dyke. Parties are always big here. Carnival is probably the biggest, longest celebration I've ever seen. We're hoping to go to the Agricultural Fair on St. Croix this weekend, which is a big party too.
Halloween is more different. My coclerks and I dressed up for Halloween this year as pageant winners (I was "Miss Quoted", they were "Miss Trial" and "Miss Understood"). People asked us why we dressed up for Halloween - as though they hadn't made the connection before. I do know that some of the younger kids went trick or treating, but it seems like any dress-up ends in grade school. There are big Halloween parties on the island, but I believe they are geared towards mainlanders.
What's unique here is the number of local holidays. I think the local government workers really get 24 paid holidays. They include: Three Kings Day, Good Friday, Carnival Parades, Transfer Day, Election Day, Emancipation Day, Organic Act Day, and Boxing Day (aka Christmas Second Day), among others.
New Year's Eve is called Old Year's Night here, and it is big too. Especially on Jost Van Dyke. Parties are always big here. Carnival is probably the biggest, longest celebration I've ever seen. We're hoping to go to the Agricultural Fair on St. Croix this weekend, which is a big party too.
posted by Kendra at 8:40 AM
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