50:, a creole that is English-based, since the 19th century, and the islands remain much more receptive to English-language popular culture than any other. The Dutch, the French, and the Danish also contributed elements to the islands' culture, as have immigrants from the Arab world, India, and other Caribbean islands. The single largest influence on modern Virgin Islander culture, however, comes from the Africans enslaved to work in cane fields from the 17th to the mid-19th century. These African slaves brought with them traditions from across a wide swathe of Africa, including what is now Nigeria, Senegal, both Congos (the
126:. Topics commonly explored in Virgin Islands literature include the cultural, historical, and political development of Virgin Islanders and various issues concerning colonialism and self-determination. Virgin Islands literature brings forth a diverse set of perspectives; many Virgin Islands writers have extensive ancestral roots in the islands, while others are expatriate long-term residents from the U.S. mainland and other Caribbean islands. Noted names in Virgin Islands literature, emanating particularly out of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, are Alphaeus Osario Norman (1885-1942), Verna Penn Moll,
389:
656:), India, the textile became readily available in the Caribbean as a commodity imported and traded in association with the Atlantic slave trade. As a widely-used fabric, with a long history in the islands, it was taken up by cultural groups, who began to campaign in the 1990s for a distinctive Virgin Islands pattern to be officially adopted. Already such a process had been undertaken in another Caribbean territory, when, in 1992,
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Virgin
Islands culture continues to undergo creolization, the result of inter-Caribbean migration and cultural contact with other islands in the region, as well as the United States. Migration has altered the social landscape of both countries to the extent that in the British Virgin Islands, half of
441:
Traditional food tends to be spicy and hearty. Many of the foods are imported due to an acquired taste for foreign foods. Local farmers grow fruits and vegetables along with the rearing of animals. Their goods are sold in local open-air markets, while supermarkets tend to carry only imported foods.
660:
adopted a specially-created madras as part of a new national costume. In 2019, the government of the United States Virgin
Islands voted to adopt a madras created by textile designer Debbie Sun as the official madras of the territory. The new design was officially unveiled in June 2021.
636:
Christianity is the leading religion with a large Roman
Catholic contingent along with various Protestant denominations. Like many other Caribbean islands, there is a significant Rastafari presence. A small number of practicing Muslims and Jews can also be found in the islands.
442:
Upscale restaurants often cater to tourists, serving a combination of North
American dishes with tropical twists as well as local cuisine. An example of this is the addition of mango and Caribbean spices to salmon, a non-tropical fish.
600:
Although dependent territories, the U.S. and
British Virgin Islands both have their own independent national sports teams and compete in regional and international athletic events. In cricket, both territories are represented by the
453:(pronounced foon-gee) is a main staple of the traditional Virgin Islands diet. It consists of cornmeal that has been boiled and cooked to a thick consistency along with okra. Fungi are usually eaten with boiled fish or
608:
In 2012 the United States Virgin
Islands Rugby Union was founded. The union is represented by a St. Thomas team, The Privateers, in exhibition and tournament competitions. The USVI Rugby Union is poised to join
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Americanization in sports can be seen in the
British Virgin Islands, as well. For example, basketball and baseball are much more widely played than cricket, one of the most popular sports in the
617:
in the future. Rugby in the BVI was founded in 1965. It is administered by BVI RFU who has been an associate member of World Rugby since 2001 and is a full member of RAN (Rugby
Americas North).
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The new design is a way for local cultural performers to show their pride for their home while performing traditional dances. It is intended to be a unified "branding" symbol for the islands.
510:(can be made in a sweet stew or rolled in sweet balls), and goose berries (small green sour fruit, smaller than a grape). These fruits are mainly stewed together with sugar for a sweet snack.
165:
In contemporary Virgin
Islands society, there are various dance traditions, given its history of migration. The dances most commonly associated with indigenous Virgin Islander culture are the
463:(sometimes spelled kallaloo) is a soup made from callaloo bush/leaf, often substituted with spinach. It consists of various meats and okra, and is boiled to a thick stew consistency.
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864:
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Because of inter-Caribbean migration, many foods from other
Caribbean countries have been adopted into the Virgin Islands culinary culture. For example, a popular dish is
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the population is of foreign (mostly Caribbean) origin and in the U.S. Virgin Islands, most native-born residents can trace their ancestry to other Caribbean islands.
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Paté (Pronounced PAH-TEH), fried dough filled with various meats including beef, chicken, conch, or saltfish stuffed inside is a popular snack (similar to an
134:. Their poetry and that of 22 other writers, including the fastly emerging poet and literary critic and Moko journal editor Richard Georges, can be found in
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There has been a development of a Virgin Islands literature, although little studied. Literature is written in both standard English and
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have increased in the last few decades. Although the U.S. Virgin Islands was a Danish possession during most of its colonial history,
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by Patricia G. Turnbull, has been called a "magically" illustrated storybook contribution to Caribbean children's literature.
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was never a spoken language amongst the populace, black or white, as the majority of plantation and slave owners were of
729:. Vol. 2: South America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (First ed.). Routledge. pp. 968–974.
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blue – for the oceans and the deep seas of the ports, representing the history of maritime transport in the islands
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red – for strength and love, a color that has appeared in the various flags flown over the islands in their history
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Where I See the Sun – Contemporary Poetry in The Virgin Islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke)
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throughout history. Although the territories are politically separate, they maintain close cultural ties.
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Like much of the English-speaking Caribbean the Virgin Islands culture is syncretic, deriving chiefly from
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controlled the present-day U.S. Virgin Islands for many years, the very dominant language has been the
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is mainly spoken in informal, daily usage. Due to immigration from other Caribbean islands, usage of
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Americanization in the U.S. Virgin Islands has led to the preponderance of American sports such as
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Sheehy, Daniel E. (1998). "The Virgin Islands". In Dale A. Olsen; Daniel E. Sheehy (eds.).
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turquoise – for the waters surrounding the island, representing the islands' natural beauty
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895:. Cultures of the World. Tarrytown, New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark. p. 79.
652:, checked — tartan-like — patterns, often in bright colors. Originally from Madras (now
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522:), is the hot beverage of choice in the Virgin Islands. Popular cold beverages include
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white – in acknowledgement of the traditional dresses originally made from flour sacks
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yellow – for the official flower of the islands, the yellow cedar or 'ginger Thomas' (
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origin, which consists of curried vegetables and meat wrapped in a paper-thin dough.
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The official language of both the U.S. and the British Virgin Islands is
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New anthology of Virgin Islands poetry (House of Nehesi Publishers)
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green – for the fields of the islands and their natural resources
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reflects the various peoples that have inhabited the present-day
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918:"Panel Narrowly OKs Bill Establishing Official V.I. Madras"
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pink – for conch shells which represent a call to freedom
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is a lightweight cotton fabric, traditionally woven with
185:, which were brought to the islands by immigrants from
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An introduction to pidgins and creoles - John A. Holm
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The Virgin Islands featured a men's national team in
626:2018–2020 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup
482:Fruits consumed in the Virgin Islands include:
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796:"Sint Maarten Online Newsday Source"
664:The colors of the madras represent:
944:"New Madras for the Virgin Islands"
727:Garland Encyclopedia of World Music
916:Lee, Bethany (December 10, 2019).
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869:The Virgin Islands Daily News
863:Abbots, Lori (June 9, 2021).
124:Virgin Islands Creole English
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558:). Another popular snack is
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156:Music of the Virgin Islands
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889:Kras, Sara Louise (2008).
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394:United Kingdom portal
138:, an anthology edited by
603:West Indies Cricket Team
361:Turks and Caicos Islands
316:British Chinese cuisine
288:Overseas/Fusion cuisine
173:. Other dances include
42:influences. Though the
25:the U.S. Virgin Islands
17:Virgin Islander culture
321:British Virgin Islands
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58:), Gambia, and Ghana.
21:British Virgin Islands
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624:that competed at the
144:Ti Koko and Kush Kush
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76:Virgin Islands Creole
48:Virgin Islands Creole
595:Anglophone Caribbean
590:, are also played.
588:association football
132:Patricia G. Turnbull
892:Antigua and Barbuda
658:Antigua and Barbuda
815:www.worldrugby.org
546:are also popular.
191:Dominican Republic
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922:St. Thomas Source
902:978-0-7614-2570-0
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948:gotostcroix
544:ginger root
484:sugar apple
187:Puerto Rico
74:. However,
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712:References
580:basketball
560:Johnnycake
520:lemongrass
504:sea grapes
341:Montserrat
301:Anguillian
270:Ceredigion
118:Literature
953:August 8,
927:August 8,
874:August 8,
841:August 7,
755:vinow.com
650:yarn-dyed
351:Hong Kong
311:Bermudian
167:quadrille
142:in 2016.
106:descent.
700:See also
632:Religion
572:baseball
556:empanada
536:sea moss
508:tamarind
461:Callaloo
455:saltfish
275:Cornwall
224:Scottish
189:and the
179:merengue
171:bamboula
100:Scottish
66:Language
54:and the
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36:European
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175:bachata
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80:Spanish
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566:Sports
550:Snacks
528:sorrel
514:Drinks
492:papaya
446:Dishes
369:People
181:, and
130:, and
88:Danish
44:Danish
611:NACRA
524:maubi
500:genip
488:mango
470:, of
451:Fungi
260:Gower
229:Welsh
183:salsa
161:Dance
150:Music
104:Irish
92:Dutch
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897:ISBN
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731:ISBN
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38:and
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