Boys from the village bustin' bamboo. A family places candles on the grave of a relative.

"Bustin' Bamboo" 11/03/2003 Last night, St. Vincent celebrated it's Halloween (All Saints Eve). There wasn't any trick or treating though. Here everyone goes down to the burial ground and places candles on the graves of relatives. In typical Vincentian style though, there is a blaring party taking place on the road to the burial ground. It is kind of like the Vincentian version of commercialization. In the US we have Wal-Mart costumes and candy corn. Here in St. Vincent, some promoter sees an opportunity to sell alcohol. Another tradition for this time of year is to make a "bamboo joint". To make a bamboo joint, you first cut several segments of a large piece of bamboo. Next, hollow out the segments, leaving the joint on the last one. Then you cut a hole near the base, pour in some kerosene, add fire, and then... BOOM! You're bustin' bamboo. The bamboo doesn't actually break, but it sounds like a really big shotgun going off. Definitely just as fun as fireworks.