I made the decision to not return home to the states for Christmas holidays this year. One main reason is because I live on an island. I mean why would I go back to wearing jackets and boots when I can chill on a warm sunny beach in a bikini (lots of pun intended…)? But that decision has really made me reflect on my holiday experiences and what it means to me.

I’m a country GA girl, so winter holidays usually meant wood fires (whether it’s cold enough or not) mainly to roast marshmallows for s’mores! In recent years, it’s usually one of my twice/year visits home so I try to spend as much time with family as often. And I miss my family. But I’ve come to realize that everyone has their own families within the family and I usually feel like an outsider stopping through to say hello. So this year, I am seeking to discover what my winter break time (Christmas and New Years) truly means for me. What traditions can I set up for myself? So I decided to stay on the island…

I skipped on over to St. Croix for the kickoff of the Crucian Christmas Experience… I never thought about a tropical winter experience before, but why would it be filled with snowy, fire burning pictures of Christmas? Well…there was fire…in the form of fire dancers and fireworks! And instead of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade with the novelty balloon characters, decorative floats, and various musical performances, I saw boats decorated with balloon and lights floating by the Boardwalk and danced to soca music…and I loved it! Oh and you have to add in Roti, Rum, Homemade Ice Cream, and…

The 12 Days of Crucian Christmas

(**credit given to the church youth group that I saw perform the song**)

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
A Thrushee in a Calabash tree.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
2 Mountain Doves etc.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
3 Pond Birds etc.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
4 Hardnose [blue runner fish] etc.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
5 Golden Limes etc.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
6 Kidney Mangoes etc.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
7 Snorkelers snorkeling etc
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
8 Angelfishes etc.
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
9 Guavaberries etc
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
10 Tourists Touring etc
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
11 Lobsters Boiling etc.
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
12 Calabashes etc.

This isn’t what I associated with this time of the year, but these new experiences are helping to build Christmas time traditions for me.

Searching for “Traditions,”

Stassi Nicole