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Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago
Christmas is a very social time in Trinidad and Tobago with most people having parties. Both children and adults go from house to house between neighbours and relatives for food and drink.
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 an upbeat Venezuela-Trinidad hybrid.
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.
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.
Trinidadian Christmas fruitcake is traditional and is eaten in most homes. The fruits (such as raisins and sultanas) in the cake are usually soaked in cherry wine, sherry and rum for several months before Christmas!
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.
Thank you to Angel Maharaj for her help in giving me information on Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago!