Nine Mornings is a unique Vincentian festivity. For the Nine Mornings preceding Christmas, Vincentians engage in early morning activities such as fun folk games, sea baths, dances (or in local parlance, fetes), bicycle races, street concerts. In the rural areas, the final morning of the festivity usually ends with a steel band “jump-up”.

Heads up!It is believed that in the 1920’s, a Vincentian member of the Dominican Order of the Catholic Church initiated a tradition of celebrating a ‘novena’ in the early hours of the morning, on the nine days before Christmas. After the early morning Catholic mass, worshipers began walking the streets while others went for sea baths. From this the popular Nine Mornings festivity emerged. Although popular opinion has this practice as starting during the period of slavery, it was more likely to have been a post-emancipation practice.

This tradition which was started in 1913 in St. Vincent & the Grenadines will be officially launched with a street parade consisting of lighted flambeaus, traditional music of boom drums, stringbands and steelbands, costumed dancers and singers. The Nine Mornings Festival will run from December 15th to 24th with pre-dawn street concerts, caroling contests and community lighting programs. Throughout the month a variety of shows, fun events and exhibitions will be held, climaxing on Old Year’s Night with fetes and fireworks.

Bring the whole family to celebrate 101 years of Nine Mornings – a unique Vincentian Tradition!

For more information on Nine Mornings Festival please contact:

SVG Nine Mornings Committee
Ministry of Culture, Kingstown, St. Vincent
Tel: 784-451-2180/784-455-9199
Email: emespee@hotmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ninemorningsfestival