From road biking to mountain biking, St. Croix has options for everyone. “St. Croix offers a lot of exploring opportunities. People can be exposed to the beauty, history and culture of St. Croix and stay active and fit at the same time,” according to the owners of Virgin Islands Bike and Trails — a growing tour and bike rental company and bike shop that provides hiking and biking tours, mountain or road bike rentals and full bike services and sales.
They have provided more than 10,000 bike tours for visitors and locals since they began offering bike rentals out of Frederiksted in 2008. The offer a variety of tours available geared to different levels of ability and age groups. Read the full article on St. Croix Source here.
It is a great time to consider buying or selling real estate on St. Croix! The pandemic has changed many people’s priorities and many have been reconsidering their lifestyles and living spaces. Interest in investing in a second home in in the Caribbean, upsizing or downsizing have increased real estate activity. Here is the June sales information, compared to the same period last year. If you have any questions, contact us and we will happy to go over the market supply and demand and help you take the next step!
Imagine having a connection with a complete stranger thanks to a single piece of jewelry. It’s no surprise to meet a person at the airport or in passing at the supermarket and strike up a conversation based on a distinctive handmade bracelet securely clasped on your wrist. This is what the infamous Crucian Hook Bracelet has done for almost sixty years!
This band-style bracelet was created in 1964 by Sonya Hough and features a horseshoe-shaped clasp that resembles a hook. The story behind the Crucian Hook Bracelet is one that symbolizes true love. It is said that if the bracelet is worn with the hook opening pointing towards your heart, it means that your heart is taken. If the hook opening is worn away from your heart, it symbolizes that your heart is open and available to find true love. Each Crucian Hook Bracelet is made by hand, ensuring that no two bracelets will ever be exactly the same.
Purchasing one of these iconic pieces while on St. Croix ushers you in as a member of a big global Crucian family. Wherever you happen to go in the world, seeing someone wearing one of these bracelets means they fall into one of three categories where the person is either: 1) from St. Croix, 2) live or lived on St. Croix or 3) visited and fell in love with St. Croix.
If bracelets aren’t your thing, not to worry as you can show your Crucian love with this same hook in a different form. Today you can find the hook cast into various jewelry pieces like rings, earrings and pendants. There’s no doubt that you will visit St. Croix and leave with a host of memories that will remind you of the love you have for our island gem. Be sure to leave with a Crucian Hook Bracelet as a physical souvenir of your time here and a perfect reminder that you need to return soon.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
One of the oldest parts of the cultural heritage of the Virgin Islands dates back to a time when enslaved Africans were brought to St. Croix over 400 years ago. Part of their culture that they brought with them was the practice of mocko jumbie. Mocko jumbies are traditional stilt dancers that dress in colorful clothing and wear a mask. When we see them at cultural celebrations, private parties and other special events, they are an immediate reminder of Virgin Islands history, heritage and culture. The word ‘moko’ comes from a Central African language meaning healer and ‘jumbie’ means ghost or spirit. Many African tribes view mocko jumbies as seekers, protectors or guardians of their village. Their height, which symbolizes the power of God, was believed to be their way of seeing evil before it arrived and would allow them to warn other villagers.
Here in the Virgin Islands, we call mocko jumbies the guardians of our culture. A performance troupe of the same name has been dedicated to preserving the art of stilt dancing in the Virgin Islands since 1979. Grooming and shaping the future generation of traditional stilt dancers, Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies is led by Virgin Islander Willard John who is often heard saying “the best way to preserve culture is to live it.” They infuse Caribbean excitement and Crucian flavor for private parties, weddings and cultural events. They meet, greet, perform, inform and interact for the delight of any audience.
John has trained over 400 young Virgin Islanders the traditional art of Moko Jumbie, volunteering his time, energy and undying love to the preservation of Virgin Islands culture. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, John, the Guardians of Culture staff and his team of volunteers continue to do their part in keeping this rich Virgin Islands tradition alive. Senior ranking Jumbies gather weekly to teach, fix stilts and give guidance to up-and-coming Jumbies. As a 100% volunteer and donorbased organization, Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies rely on the support and sponsorship of people and businesses of the Virgin Islands community. They are currently raising funds to support the building project at their practice home in the Schjang ballpark in Estate St. John. Every Saturday from 9:30am-12:30pm, you can find the Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies preserving the Virgin Islands culture the only way they know how – where “each one teach one!” To see them in action and to learn more, follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MokoJumbies.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
It’s official! The US Virgin Islands has their very own madras fabric that represents the unique characteristics that make the territory the cherished Caribbean gem that it is. Originated in India, madras is a lightweight cotton fabric with a colorful patterned texture and distinctive plaid design that was named for the small, remote fishing village of Madraspatnam (Madras). It became a household fabric throughout the Caribbean when it was traded by Dutch and British settlers in the 1600s. Islands throughout the region have adopted their own unique madras pattern to use in their cultural costumes and modern-day clothing. On June 5th, 2021, the official Virgin Islands of the United States Madras fabric was unveiled to the public at the Frederick Dorsch Cultural Center in Frederiksted. The official madras fabric was established by Act No. 8424 (BILL NO. 33-0226). This Act amended the Virgin Islands Code Title 1, Chapter 7 to establish the official Madras of the Virgin Islands of the United States. Thanks to a grant awarded by the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts to the St. Croix Heritage Dancers, the official design was created by local artist and textile designer Debbie Sun. The woven plaid consists of seven different colors:
Green represents the islands’ natural resources and production
Turquoise represents the natural beauty of the waters of the territory
Royal blue represents the deep sea and transport and discovery
Red represents strength and love
Pink represents the conch shell and the call to freedom
Yellow represents the territory’s official flower, the yellow cedar
White represents the traditional dress made from flour sacks
St. Croix Heritage Dancers Vice President Alvin Milligan shared that “the vision is to have the Virgin Islands madras showcased on all cultural attired dancers and performers at the cultural events and pageants.” Additionally, he anticipates that the fabric will be used in contemporary fashion and interior décor. The fabric is available for purchase on St. Croix at Divi Divi Fabrics, Ebbe’s Store and Clara’s Special Occasions.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
Photo credit Elisa McKay, St Croix Source
Interested in reading more about the new madras? Check out articles on GoToStCroix and VI Consortium.
Question: “I have heard of the word “limin.” What does that mean?“
Chris’s Answer:
Limin is a word used in the Caribbean to mean hanging out, relaxing, or taking it easy. You are usually limin with friends, but could be limin by yourself. When thinking of property to buy, where would you like to lime? Since we have a moderate climate year ‘round, think about both indoor and outdoor spaces for your limin.
Here in the Virgin Islands, we call mocko jumbies the guardians of our culture. A performance troupe of the same name has been dedicated to preserving the art of stilt dancing in the Virgin Islands since 1979. Grooming and shaping the future generation of traditional stilt dancers, Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies is led by Virgin Islander Willard John who is often heard saying “the best way to preserve culture is to live it.” They infuse Caribbean excitement and Crucian flavor for private parties, weddings and cultural events. They meet, greet, perform, inform and interact for the delight of any audience.
