10/13/2026
HAPPY VIRGIN ISLANDS–PUERTO RICO FRIENDSHIP DAY! 🇻🇮🇵🇷
Growing up in St. Croix, Puerto Rican culture was always a familiar part of island life. From the music and food to the language, celebrations, and traditions, the connection between our islands was something I grew up surrounded by.
But today, this celebration holds an even deeper meaning for me.
I'm now raising a son who carries both heritages. A Virgin Islands mother and a father of Puerto Rican heritage. Two islands, two beautiful cultures, and generations of history that are now part of his own story.
What makes this day even more meaningful is that this year, it also falls on Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Ay Ay and Borikén.
Ay Ay, the Taíno name for my home, St. Croix, and Borikén, the Taíno name for Puerto Rico. Names that remind us that the connection between our islands reaches far beyond the friendship we celebrate today, rooted in Indigenous histories that existed long before the names we know now.
As a mother, I want my son to know more than the flags of his heritage. I want him to know the stories, the people, and the traditions that came before him. To understand that his roots run deep, across generations and across the Caribbean Sea.
Being born and raised in St. Croix has always been a source of pride for me. Now, watching those roots intertwine with his Puerto Rican heritage makes that connection even more meaningful.
Today, I celebrate the friendship between our islands, honor their Indigenous beginnings, and embrace the beautiful legacy we have the privilege of passing on.
From Ay Ay to Borikén. Two islands, connected through history, culture, and now, through my son. 🤎
