Christmas Spoken Here took place two days after the Annual Gala at Botanical Gardens. The Christmas trees that were auctioned are on view for all to see amidst the accompanying musical selections by the many choirs. Vendors were on hand selling all sorts of items and many sales were offered. There was a Holiday Foods contest as well.

	We took our stroll early in the day before the crowds arrived.

	Many items were on sale - to include locally made wine.

	Books and plants were popular items.

	Inside the Great Hall, cheerful Christmas hymns and carols were being sung.

	And then, it was time to sample the bakers' presentations. First, there were the sweet breads - known stateside as "fruitcake". Ours does not contain quite so many fruit, but is more cake-like in composition. Then, there were the Vienna Cakes with their many layers of fruit preserve fillings. Guavaberry, green gage, guava, pineapple, etc. How many layers can there be?

	Along with the cakes were the tarts. Tarts usually have a heavy crust so that they are portable without crumbling. Tarts in the Virgin Islands contain, as a rule, due to traditional availability, either guava, pineapple, coconut or guavaberry.

Also, there are the cordials of genteel times past. A cordial is a drink served to guests in the early evening - usually an alcoholic drink such as guavaberry liqueur. These drinks were meant to relax guests and hosts and open the way for pleasant conversation during holiday visiting. There is also a cherry cordial and another one called Ms. Blyden made with prickly pear fruit.

	And then, there is the Coquito - a type of eggnog for you Northerners. It is made with rum and a few other ingredients. This year on display were coquitos of chocolate, guavaberry, regular rum, and a surprise of an avocado coquito.

	And now heading over the bridge toward the Bodine Center we meet other vendors.

	There was the flea market at the Bodine Center. Some good finds were available if you were intent on looking for them.

Christmas Is Here.