Christmas in Trinidad

Christmas in Trinidad by Brenda Mohammed

Christmas is a very special time in Trinidad and Tobago.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, companies and families hold many parties. Festive activities include exchanging presents and singing Christmas songs.

The television and radio stations play Christmas carols and songs as well as traditional and contemporary carols from the USA. A special Trinidadian music, Parang, is also played. Parang is an upbeat Venezuela-Trinidad hybrid.

People of all religions make elaborate preparations. They paint, make repairs to their houses, hang new curtains and decorations (especially lights) for Christmas. It is a marvellous sight to drive around the island and see houses elaborately lighted for this special occasion. This is the time that many people buy new electrical appliances and furniture. Many homes are enhanced with Christmas trees and other decorations in the weeks leading to Christmas Day.

Most families go to church on Christmas Day and then spend the rest of the day at home with friends and family members.

The traditional Trinidadian Christmas meal includes Spanish rice, ham, turkey, chicken, homemade bread, pastelles (a version of tamales) local wine, sorrel, ponche-de-creme (a version of eggnog) and ginger beer.

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! It is fabulous and something I love even better than chocolate.

Christmas Day is a public holiday. It’s a special day when children and grownups get presents from family, friends and Santa Claus, or Father Christmas. Christmas cards are also given or sent out prior to Christmas Day.

For many, Christmas is an exclusive family affair, while others invite friends to celebrate the birth of Christ with a Christmas buffet or potluck meal. Churches have special services and may include a crèche or miniature Nativity scene.

To sum it up, Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago means. “Lots of LIMING (hanging out) and MUSIC, a little bit of ‘spring’ CLEANING, lots of LAUGHING, FAMILY GATHERINGS and tons of FOOD and DRINKS!” That’s how Christmas is celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago but never forgetting the reason for Christmas!

Brenda Mohammed is a former Bank Manager who was successful in her job. After her retirement from banking, she ventured into Insurance Underwriting. After six years, she was awarded Life membership in the Million Dollar Round Table, a Premier Association for Financial Professionals.A diagnosis of cancer changed her career aspirations and in 2013 she became a writer.

You can discover more about Brenda on the Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/brenda-mohammed/