CHRISTMAS IN TRINIDAD ‘TRINI CHRISTMAS IS DE BEST’‘TRINI CHRISTMAS IS DE BEST’

IN TRINIDAD, CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATED BY APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY. CHRISTMAS IS CHERISHED BY CHRISTIANS AND COMMEMORATES THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST.

IN TRINIDAD MANY ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE AROUND THIS TIME SOME OF THESE INCLUDE MUSIC FOOD CLEANING DECORATIONS SHOPPING

MUSIC  THE MUSIC AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME IS KNOWN AS ‘PARANG’.  PARANG WAS STARTED BY THE CATHOLICS MANY YEARS AGO AND IS STILL ACTIVE IN THE COUNTRY. PARANG IS SPANISH SONGS SINGING ABOUT CHRISTMAS.  IT IS PLAYED BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE CALLED ‘PARANDEROS’.

INSTRUMENTS PARANG IS PLAYED USING A VARIETY OF MANUAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS TOC TOC, CHAC CHAC(SHAK SHAK ), STRING BASS, MANDOLIN GUITAR, GUITAR,CUATRO,CLAPPERS, SCRAPER,AND RARELY STEEL PANS.

FOOD  AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME FOOD IS ONE OF THE MAIN DELIGHT IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.  THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOODS,DESSERTS AND ALSO DRINKS.  LONG AGO, WILD MEATS WERE THE MAIN FOODS AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME AND HAM. HAM IS ALWAYS AND WILL ALWAYS BE A MAIN FOOD AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME.  BLACK CAKE IS A DESSERT THAT IS FAVORED BY MANY PEOPLE. IT IS MADE WITH SOAKED FRUITS AND RUM. PONCHE’ CRÈME IS ANOTHER A DRINK MADE WITH EGG,RUM AND MILK.

CLEANING AND PREPARATION PEOPLE BEGIN CHRISTMAS CLEANING SCRUBBING WALLS,POWER WASHING,PAINTING AND POLISHING.IT IS A TIME WHEN THEY BELIEVE THEIR HOMES SHOULD BE CLEANED THOROUGHLY.

DECORATIONS HOLLY,GARLANDS,BULBS,ICICLES,POINTSETTERSAND LOTS MOREARE THE DECORATIONS USED MAINLY AROUND THIS TIME. IN TRINIDAD,IT IS SAID THAT DECORATIONS RAISE THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

SHOPPING  DURING THIS SEASON THE CITIES ARE FULL OF PEOPLE.SHOPPING FOR CURTAINS AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD DECORATIONS ARE THE NORM AROUND THIS TIME.  A HIGH DEMAND FOR CLOTHES IS ALSO EMMINENT BECAUSE OF THE MANY GATHERINGS AND PARTIES AROUND THIS TIME.

GREETINGS MERRY CHRISTMAS!!