History
This island region was once one of the largest slave-trading posts in the world. Many of the slaves didn’t stay here long, but the ones who did were forced to work in the sugar mills. Remnants of these sugar mills can still be found scattered throughout the islands. "During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848" (CIA World Factbook). Today, the U.S. Virgin Islands consists of three main islands: St. John, St Croix, & St. Thomas. There are plenty of other smaller islands to visit, such as Water Island, and the infamous, Lovango Cay; however, some are privately-owned. They are all part of the Leeward Islands which acts as the dividing line between the Caribbean Sea & the Atlantic Ocean.
Culture
Virgin Island natives are also known asWest Indians. Although English is the official language of this region, natives have a distinct Caribbean accent that is spoken extremely fast and difficult to understand for the untrained ear. You may even hear some natives speaking Spanish or Creole. West Indians, as well as the locals, take their mannerisms very seriously. You will find them to be much more friendly once you show respect for them and their culture. For example, when riding public transportation, it is customary for each person who gets on the bus to offer a general greeting to the entire group such as good morning, good afternoon, or good night. The "good manners" used on this island directly correlate to the official religion of this people group: Christianity. The St. Thomas Reform Church was established in 1660 by the Dutch and is oldest church located in this region. (On a personal note, this is the church that I attended frequently with my then-girlfriend & now-wife.) Also, a word of caution: do not patWest Indians on the back; they do not like it. Anything other than a traditional or island handshake is not a good idea.
Though it can be said that West Indians are a little more formal than statesiders, they know how to celebrate. Their culture celebrates eight unique holidays that the United States do not recognize. When combined with the twelve holidays that Americans celebrate, they have a total of twenty yearly holidays! Speaking of celebrating, Carnival takes place once a year on each island, and is a showcase of music, parades, colorful costumes, and ethnic food, such as plantains. It is believed that Carnival is the best place to experience the West Indian culture, & is celebrated on all three major islands. My personal favorite takes place on St. John.
Though it can be said that West Indians are a little more formal than statesiders, they know how to celebrate. Their culture celebrates eight unique holidays that the United States do not recognize. When combined with the twelve holidays that Americans celebrate, they have a total of twenty yearly holidays! Speaking of celebrating, Carnival takes place once a year on each island, and is a showcase of music, parades, colorful costumes, and ethnic food, such as plantains. It is believed that Carnival is the best place to experience the West Indian culture, & is celebrated on all three major islands. My personal favorite takes place on St. John.
