As a child growing up in Trinidad, I could hardly wait for
Christmas, as it meant receiving gifts and toys, visits from friends and
relatives and lots of food.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Christmas preparations usually start months before Christmas,
maybe as early as September, when the stores begin displaying their Christmas
merchandise. My mother would shop for Christmas curtains and decorations so
she could have them ready for Christmas. Curtains and drapery have always been,
and I believe still are, a focal point of decorating. New curtains and drapes
have to be bought and sewn every year. The fabrics are gorgeous and range from
nylon to lace to heavy brocades depending on the person's status. Every
homeowner, rich or poor, prides herself on having a home that looks almost
brand new for Christmas, therefore it is quite common to see homes being painted,
trees and hedges being trimmed, and new furniture being delivered. The
Christmas tree with all its dazzling ornaments adds the finishing touch.
Christmas Culture
Early in December, the parang bands begin
appearing. These bands consist of a small group of men who go from house to
house serenading the inhabitants with Spanish songs to the accompaniment of the
guitar, cuatro and the marac .
Where these are not available, the band may improvise by beating a spoon
against a bottle in time to the melody. In exchange for the free entertainment,
the home owner brings out a bottle of rum or some other alcohol and some
delicacies. In addition to the house serenaders, there are parang competitions at
various venues where men and women dress in colorful Spanish costumes and sing
and dance their way to winning a prize, or just revel in the joy of the moment.
On the heels of the serenaders may come a band of Christmas
carollers, dressed in their white outfits with red capes and carrying red paper lanterns through the darkened streets. They
were always welcome at every home and they too would receive a benevolent
offering along with refreshments.
CHRISTMAS MENU
Egg nog is traditionally served at breakfast, along with ham and homemade breads. The ham is the
main item on the Christmas menu. Baked or boiled, depending on the type, it is
decorated with cloves and/or pineapple. The Christmas dinner table boasts a
lavish display of roast pork, pastelles (a patty made from cornmeal and stuffed
with meat), turkey, chicken, stewed pigeon peas and callaloo. This is the
national dish made from dasheen leaves, okra and crabs. Some homes may even
serve wild game such as opossum, armadillo, deer and others. These
mouth-watering dishes will be washed down with ginger beer, sorrel and homemade
wines. After all of this, you may not have room for the fruitcake dessert, but that's okay, because it
lasts a long time and your friends and neighbors will be all too happy to help
you dispose of it.
TRADITIONAL VISITS
The main tradition
of the Christmas season is going to church and visiting friends and relatives.
Church services are held either on the night of christmas eve, or early Christmas
morning. After the service, you may pop in for a quick visit to some friends.
You will be sure to carry a gift and you can count on receiving one in return.
You are also expected to eat or drink something at each house you visit, so by
dinner time you may be already full. But there is always tomorrow, Boxing Day,
when you can start all over again.