Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine October 2018 | Page 617

Nine Mornings
Fesitival
~ A Christmas Tradition ~
This unique festival is believed to have
started in 1913. It is a festival exclusive
to St. Vincent and the Grenadines which
has its roots in the Catholic church. Nine
days before Christmas, Catholics engage
in “novena”, which is a period of devout
prayers which often takes place in the
church in the early morning.
The Nine Days Festival practiced by the
people of St. Vincent is also an early
morning tradition. Vincentians awake at the
break of dawn and participate in a variety
of organized activities some of which are
dances, concerts on the streets, heading
to the beach to swim and bike rides. In the
villages, the ninth day is celebrated with
steel band music and a carnival-like village
“jump-up”.
PC: Nine Mornings Festival Committeed