U.S. Virgin Islands: Facts & Stats

CULTURE

Traditions:

Virgin Islander culture represents the various peoples that have inhabited the present-day U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands throughout history. Although both territories are politically separate, they maintain close cultural ties.

Like much of the English speaking Caribbean, Virgin Islander culture is syncretic, deriving chiefly from West African, European and American influences. Though the Danish controlled the present-day U.S. Virgin Islands for many years, the dominant language has been an English-based Creole since the 19th century, and the islands remain much more receptive to English language popular culture than any other.

The Dutch, the French and the Danish also contributed elements to the island's culture, as have immigrants from the Arab world, India and other Caribbean islands. The single largest influence on modern Virgin Islander culture, however, comes from the Africans enslaved to work in canefields from the 17th to the mid-19th century. These African slaves brought with them traditions from across a wide swathe of Africa, including what is now Nigeria, Senegal, both Congos, Gambia and Ghana.

Celebrations:

The United States Virgin Islands are three islands within eyesight of each other, yet their carnival is celebrated at different times and perhaps for different reasons. The things that they have in common are pulsating music, dancing, singing, masquerades, parades, foods, drinks and exotic costumes.

The St. Thomas carnival tradition in St. Thomas began in 1912, however it would be 38 years before the festival would become an annual event. Ron de Lugo revived Carnival in St. Thomas in 1952 and we have been celebrating every year since. St. Thomas hosts the second largest Carnival cultural celebration in the Caribbean. It is a month long event that includes calypso shows, food fair, queen pageants, steel pan shows, parades and more. St. Thomas’ annual post-Easter Carnival is an incredible spectacle of spirit and tradition.

Carnival in St. John is a set of month-long gala festivals that culminate on July 3rd with fireworks. The holiday features bike races, calypso shows, parades and fireworks. The St. John, USVI celebration period encompasses Organic Act Day (third Monday in June), Carnival and Emancipation Day (July 3rd). The holiday commemorates the Danes freeing of the slaves in 1848.

St. Croix hosts its Carnival Festival events during Christmas through New Year. Christiansted and Frederiksted share responsibilities of having events. Calypso shows, Latin music venues, food fairs, horse races, parades and more contribute to the spectacular month long event. The adult’s parade, often the last big event of Carnival, coincides with Three Kings Day.

Alcohol:

Unlike almost all of the US, the legal drinking age is 18.

Sports and Hobbies:

Americanization in the U.S. Virgin Islands has led to the preponderance of American sports such as baseball, American football and basketball, while more traditionally West Indian sports such as cricket and soccer are also played. Americanization in sports can be seen in the British Virgin Islands, as well. For example, basketball is much more widely played than cricket, one of the most popular sports in the Anglophone Caribbean.

Although dependent territories, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands both have their own independent national sports teams and compete in regional and international athletic events.

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