Holiday in SVG: Nine Mornings, the Light Up, Xmas and Boxing Day

Nine mornings is a holiday celebrated in St. Vincent to celebrate the nine mornings before Christmas, starting on December 16 and ending on December 24. It starts early in the morning around 3am-4am and ends around 7am-8am. Festivities include live performances, singing and dancing. 

During slavery, slave owners would take their slaves and servants to church on Christmas Eve. However, the slaves and servants weren't allowed inside the church, so they found a way to entertain themselves by singing. This eventually became the celebration of Nine Mornings. 

The night before it began, a few friends and I went to a community called Point to see the holiday lights or the "light up." Point has won the best lights in it's region six years straight. It was really beautiful. There was a tank, an angel, a jet and people sitting at a dinner table. You can see a man pouring wine. 

 

 

The street performances were great as well. These two were my favorite.

 

I went to the capitol, Kingstown, for Nine Mornings the Friday before Christmas with a friend. There was a big crowd and the music was great. I really enjoyed the live band with the steel pans.

  

 

Christmas didn't exactly feel like Christmas. I think not having any snow played a huge factor in it because I'm used to seeing snowflakes falling from the sky in Illinois. That and I'm so far away from family, that I couldn't partake in making cookies or wearing footsie pajamas in front of the tree unwrapping gifts.

To get into the spirit, I made a tree out of cardboard box. I also used recycled toilet paper rolls and painted them to look like Rudolph, snowflakes, a Christmas tree and a penguin. I put paper at the bottom of them and filled it candy to give to neighbors and friends. Christmas Eve, I drank Egg Nog with a little rum and played games with friends.

Christmas felt like another day, but was still fun nonetheless because I invited friends over for food and exchanged gifts to a Christmas playlist. A personal favorite is "Santa Looking For A Wife." If you haven't heard it, listen to it. It'll be extremely hard to forget.

Another holiday in St. Vincent is Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas on December 26. This holiday stems from masters or employers giving a Christmas box or present to their servants or employees the day after Christmas. Here in St. Vincent, it's a day to relax and spend time with family and friends.

I'm used to only having a White Christmas back in the US, but during this season, I was able to experience so much more and couldn't be more grateful. 

Climbing Soufriere

Two weeks ago, I climbed a mountain in St. Vincent called Soufriere with two other Peace Corps Volunteers and my neighbors. It's an experience that will be hard to forget. 

Some time after Thanksgiving, I walked for over an hour with a friend and a neighbor in my community over a couple of steep hills. Half way through I wanted to throw up and give up, but my friend motivated me to keep going. I was really sore and went to bed early that night. If walking for over an hour was hard for me, how was I going to climb a mountain? I'm not in shape and I'm really not fit, but I've been working on it by working out almost every day. 

Early this month, a group of us walked to another community which was two hours there and back. We ended up getting rained on on our way back, but I was really proud of my self because I went most of the way without stopping or complaining. I made sure to stretch and do some yoga when I got home and went to bed early.

I was still nervous the day of the hike, but I wasn't going to back down. The first 30 minutes in and I wanted to chug water, but I couldn't because I would have run out too quick. Focusing on my breathing and going at a steady pace, I was able to get through the first mile.

We took a 20 minute break and kept on going. The hardest part was over, but it was still a struggle for me. My neighbor made a walking stick for me that really helped the next half up. When we got close to the top, there was an overwhelming feeling to just stop and give up. And the closer I got, the stronger that feeling became. I never really understood why that happens. I didn't give in to that feeling though. I was the last one to make it to the top, but I still made it. 

It was a sight to see.

     

We rested once we got to the top for an hour and then made our way back down. By then, I was halfway through my water and extremely dehydrated. I finished off my water after the first stop and then finished my friend's water by the time we got back down. I was sore and tired and fell asleep on a bench until our ride came. The entire climb up and down was about five hours.

Besides the scenery, I would have to say my favorite part was singing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" which I didn't sing all the way. I skipped like half of the numbers though because let's face it, that song can take FOREVER. We also recited a scene from Lion King when Zazu was singing for Scar. And I fell while singing Hakuna Matata. Everyone laughed, including myself.

      

 

 

I also made a lizard friend. When I tried to put him down, he would just climb up my arm, so he walked with me for about 20 minutes before jumping into a small puddle of water.

 

I remember two months ago telling someone that I wanted to hike Soufriere and was told that I was too fat to do it. I was discouraged, but I didn't let what that person said stop me. I climbed a mountain and I am very proud of myself. I now have no room for excuses for why I can't accomplish something. I mean, I, Brooke Jasmine Dunlap, hiked a mountain. A MOUNTAIN! I plan on doing it again in the next few months and will workout more so I can be in better shape for it next time.