The Crucian Christmas Festival (or Carnival) is a month long celebration incorporating modern day celebrations with standing traditions. Carnival takes place on many Caribbean islands at different times of the year, on St. Croix it starts in December and culminates the first week of January near Three Kings Day. These holiday traditions date back to the early 1800s when enslaved Africans were allowed time off to celebrate Christmas. During this time they dressed up in costumes, paraded through the streets, and visited other plantations. There was also dancing, music and general merrymaking. In 1952, these traditions were revived into an annual organized festival of events we’ve come to know as the Crucian Christmas Carnival.
While most of the Carnival action happens in Frederiksted at the official Carnival Village, there are events held island wide.
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