Transfer Day 2025
Date: March 31, 2025 (Monday)
Country: U.S. Virgin Islands Public Holidays
Description
Transfer Day is a holiday in the U.S. Virgin Islands that remembers the day the islands became part of the United States. It marks a major change in who governed the islands and their future direction.
The holiday takes place each year on March 31. That is the date in 1917 when the United States formally took control of the islands from Denmark. The date is fixed so people can remember the same moment every year.
The day is significant because it changed citizenship, laws, and international ties for the people who lived there. It also shifted the islands role in regional politics and security during a time of global conflict.
Transfer Day helps people think about history and identity. It reminds residents of how past events shaped their rights, government, and relationships with other nations. The day is an important point in the islands story.
Traditions
People celebrate with bright parades and marching bands. Dancers wear old fashioned costumes and folk outfits. Schools hold programs with poems and plays. Locals lay wreaths at monuments and reenactors perform scenes from island history.
Music fills the streets with calypso, quadrille and gospel. Crowds clap and dance at concerts and block parties. Churches host special services and officials give speeches. Families visit historic buildings and take part in community ceremonies.
Food stalls sell johnnycakes, conch fritters, saltfish with fungi, roti and sweet coconut cake. People enjoy cold rum punch and homemade drinks. Meals are shared with neighbors as part of the day long celebrations.
Travel Tips
Expect many government offices, banks, and some shops to be closed. Roads near parades and official events get busy. Plan extra travel time, use public parking early, and check ferry and airline schedules for holiday changes.
Enjoy markets, food stalls, and community events to support locals. Carry water, sunscreen, ID, and cash because ATMs may be closed. Stay with your group, follow police directions near crowds, and be respectful of ceremonies and official areas to keep the visit safe and meaningful.