01/30/2026
Let’s Chat about Old Year’s Day in Vincy
It was Old Year’s Day, as we call New Year’s Eve. This year was different. In past years, we threw parties — first in Minnesota, USA, and then later in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This year, we thought we’d be in Miami, or maybe on a cruise, so we didn’t plan to host. Almost at the last minute, I felt the urge to have people over, but I knew it was too late to pull anything together. So we went out to dinner.
We ended up at Grenadine House. I had looked up a few options online La Vue, Grenadine House, Myah’s Hotel and Grenadine House was simply the most convenient. There was a band, but for me, the steel pan stole the show. It was a wonderful night.
Growing up, Old Year’s Day looked very different.
My brothers and their friends would cook always at our house. It could be wild meat, chicken, fish, or pork, whatever was around. And without fail, it always ended in the same argument: who didn’t help, and who magically showed up just as the pot was coming off the fire. Every year. It was loud. Familiar. Comfortable. And when I think about it now, I smile.
These days, Old Year’s celebrations look different. There are lots of parties now — some high-priced, some middle-of-the-road. And while that’s fine, I do miss the days of simple village togetherness, when celebration didn’t require a ticket or a wristband.
In my late teens and early twenties, Old Year’s often meant Bequia. If you know, you know. Small. Beautiful. Parties at hotels and restaurants that were open to everyone. Fireworks. Church. And if you were brave enough, maybe a 12:01 swim to bring in the new year. I remember one year attending church at the Anglican Church right in the harbour. I kept checking my watch because I knew the fireworks at the Frangipani Hotel would be starting soon and after that, we were heading to De Reef to fete. At 11:55, I slipped out the back of the church and headed straight for the fireworks. I heard laughter behind me everyone was following, even though I was told all the things that would happen to me for leaving church early.
I get the chuckles now when I think about it.
Then and now, Old Year’s Night in Vincy is a big deal. The way we celebrate may have changed more organized events, more structure, more pricing but one thing hasn’t.
In Vincy, we celebrate everything hard.
