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History of the Virgin Islands The history of the Virgin Islands started with Christopher Columbus' second voyage in 1493. The first island he saw was St. Croix, which he named Santa Cruz. After sailing further North, he found may more islands which he named Las Islas Virgenes - The Virgin Islands. After his visit nothing much happened other then an occasional passing pirate or explorer. In the 1600's European powers continued to claim the Caribbean islands. In 1671, Denmark clearly ruled St. Thomas, establishing the first permanent settlement there. In 1685, the Danes signed a treaty which allowed the Brandenburg American Company to start a slave-trading post on the island. At about the same time, St. Thomas became a pirate refuge. But piracy ceased to be a factor in the island's economy in the early 19th century and the slave trade continued until 1848. From 1700 to 1750 trade was on the rise and prosperous merchants replaced the pirates on Dronnigens Gade (Main Street) in Charlotte Amalie. By 1718 the Denmark's settlements expanded to St. John. A fort was constructed in Coral Bay, one of the safest harbors in the Caribbean. Remains of the fort are still there. In 1733, Denmark purchased St. Croix from France, uniting the three Virgin Islands, Water Island was recently added making four US Virgin Islands. St. Thomas was known as a paradise for pirates and buccaneers, who looked for approaching ships through spyglasses. The most famous was Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard. The Danes declared St. Thomas a free port in 1724. Throughout the 18th century the islands prospered with sugar plantations and St. Thomas became a major trading center until 1848 when Denmark abolished slavery. The United States bought the islands in 1917, as part of its military defense, for $25 million. The US wanted to prevent the islands from becoming a German sub base. In 1927 were residents granted U.S. citizenship. After World War II, St. Thomas became the tourist attraction it is today. On of the latest signs of the islands' growth was the addition of Water Island to the US Virgin Islands in 1996. It is located just south of St Thomas. The island is a tranquil retreat with secluded beaches and resorts, making it a lovely addition to the Virgin Islands. Culture The people in the Virgin Islands come from all over the world. There are African descendants, the French, who have emigrated from French islands, Puerto Ricans, and transplants from the U.S. Also living here are many "down islanders" and a sizeable number of East Indians. Each of the islands has its own celebration. St. Croix's is in December, St. John's is over July 4th and St. Thomas' is in April. Carnival dates back to when Africans first arrived on the islands. Today Carnival is celebrated with colorful parades, elaborate costumes, music, dancing children, fabulous floats, stilt walking mocko jumbies, food fairs filled with West Indian dishes, all-night partying, calypso music and steep pan competitions, beauty pageants and more. The origin of Mocko Jumbies has been traced to the 13th and 14th centuries. It comes from a central African language meaning “healer.” In the English language it means “to mock”, meaning imitation, as in false spirits. Mocko Jumbie, the traditional symbol of Carnival, is the "elevated spirit" on 10 to 20 foot stilts, dressed in bright colors that you see throughout the parade. The origins of mocko jumbies come from the traditions of West Africa. When the enslaved Africans were brought to the Caribbean, their religious traditions and observances came with them. But they were forbidden by the European slave masters to practice their religious customs, so they transferred it into a festive context, to disguise it, so to speak. But it was just a camouflage for its true religious meaning. West Indian food includes kallalo, fungi, saltfish, lobster, red beans and rice, plantains, curried chicken, patés, stewed mutton, conch fritters and johnny cakes. You can listening to Calypso, Reggae or steel pans. Also popular are the Scratch Bands. From the "make do" era when instruments were scarce, musicians use gourds, washboards, ukuleles and flute-like instruments. The traditional folk dance of the Virgin Islands, the Quadrille, dates back to the 18th century. For more visit www.stjohnhistoricalsociety.org/
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