ST. CROIX — The 12th Annual Crucian Christmas Foreday Morning Serenade in Christiansted, organized from its inception by WTJX, ushered in the Christmas and Festival season for revelers on Monday morning. The event sees the legendary Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights serenading Virgin Islanders in a number of Christiansted neighborhoods from midnight, and later, takes to the Centerline Road from Time Square in downtown Christiansted to the WTJX studios in Richmond.
Eventgoers were visibly enjoying the tradition, dancing to the sounds of popular Christmas music as played in Quelbe form by Stanley and the Knights. Young, middle-age and old were basking in the once-a-year affair as they tramped up to WTJX. The mood was lively and celebratory.
Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter, who along with Tanya-Marie Singh, WTJX’s CEO, started the event 12 years ago, spoke of the importance of the serenade. He also gave remarks on his tenure as lieutenant governor while sending best wishes to the incoming administration.
“I’m enjoying the season, man. The election has come and gone, we are going to be off the stage on January 7th I believe at about 12:30 p.m., and at that point in time, I really wish the new administration the very best because their success is going to be our success, so I have nothing but best wishes for them.
“I had a good four years. I think we did a lot. I think we got a lot done as an administration. I think the governor is an awesome man and he has ideas out of this world. And I think together we did a lot, but things happen and we are here now and we just have to wish the new administration the best and try to support them in whatever way we can.
“The Serenade is something that as long as I have strength I’m always going to be here. This started when I was at Channel 12 WTJX in 2006. Stanley, Tanya-Marie Singh and I got together and we decided to put this on. What I wanted to do was to put on one Serenade just so that we could reenact it, videotape it, just so we could have it there for who wanted to see how it used to be. But in putting on that one, it didn’t stop and here we are now,” the lieutenant governor said.
Mr. Potter said the event ran into a few hindrances this year and was almost called off. “But we could not go through the season without this happening,” he said. “This really officially marks for me and I think for a lot of people, the beginning of the festive season here in St. Croix, when Stanley is on the road doing the Foreday Morning Serenade, so we cannot let it die.”
Monday’s tramp was followed by the Frederiksted event on Christmas morning. Ms. Singh said the neighborhood routes would be minimal this year because of road conditions, but she encouraged residents to come out and participate once the band is heard in their neighborhood. “We’re stopping at Barren Spot, at Grove Place, and of course we’re assembling at the Frederiksted Post Office,” she told The Consortium Monday morning. There will be a cruise at the port on Christmas Day, Ms. Singh said, and the idea is to give visitors a taste of Crucian culture. “We want to show the tourists some Crucian hospitality and culture, and we’ll be tramping from the Post Office to Budhoe Park,” she said.
Share On Facebook
Tweet It
