Christmas in Trinidad

A Caribbean Christmas

Where is Trinidad?

Map of Trinidad

What is Christmas like in Trinidad?

Christmas is a very social time in Trinidad with most people having parties. Both children and adults go from house to house between neighbors and relatives for food and drink.

Christmas Music

• The radio stations play Trinidadian Christmas carols and songs as well as traditional and contemporary carols from the U.S.A.. A special Trinidadian music, Parang, is also played. Parang is upbeat.

Parang Bands

Parang bands are made of four to six singers accompanied by musicians who played guitar, mandolin , violin, cello box bass, tambourine, clapper, wood block and maracas .

Parang

• Parang bands would move from house to house in neighborhood serenading to family and friends during festive seasons. It would be customary for families to greet the Paranderos with drinks and food. The festive season begin in mid October and goes approximately to January 6 which is the feast of Epiphany.

Getting the house ready

Most people paint and make repairs to their houses and hang new curtains and decorations (especially lights) for Christmas. Often, this is the time that most people buy new electrical appliances and furniture. Most families spend Christmas Day at home with friends and family members.

Christmas Meal

The Christmas day meal is usually prepared throughout mid-December, and into the new year! The traditional Trinibagonian Christmas meal include apples and grapes, sorrel, ponche-de-creme (a version of egg nog), ham, turkey, homemade bread, ginger beer, pastelles (a version of tamales) and local wine.

Fruitcake

Trinidadian Christmas fruitcake is traditional and is eaten in most homes.

New Year in Trinidad

New Years Eve is known as 'Ole year's night' in Trinidad, and thousands of people gather together in the Queen's Park Savannah in the capital of Trinidad, Port of Spain, for an amazing fireworks display.

Christmas in Trinidad • http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/

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