Christmas Song (Trini Style)

For those residing in Trinidad, the end of the year means PARANG! And boy oh boy do Trinis like their Parang. So if you’re wondering what to do in Trinidad around this time of the year, just come compared to sway to the beat of this addictive local folk music. A very interesting thing happens in Trinidad during the Christmas season. The traditionally English-speaking population “goes Spanish.” This doesn’t mean they all switch languages, of course, but don’t be surprised if you’re visiting the island for the holidays and turn on a radio, only to feel as if you’ve been transported to Venezuela, Cuba or one of the country’s other Spanish-speaking neighbors.

You see, while most of the English-speaking Western world celebrate the holidays to strains of traditional carols like “Come All Ye Faithful” and “Jingle Bells,” here in Trinidad there is no Christmas without the sweet sounds of parang music. Nowadays, parang has become such a heavy part of the season that even corporate Trinidad uses its imagery and music for their holiday ads and jingles. You cannot go a Christmas house party or fete without hearing this music, or having at least one parang band in attendance.

word parang originally came from the word ‘paranda’ meaning merry making. Traditional parang bands made up of parenderos consist of singers and musicians who play the guitar, the mandolin, the cuatro, the violin, the maracs, the clapper, the box bass, the tambourine, the scratcher (güiro) and the toc-toc (claves). Parang is played mainly around Christmas time.  Areas such as Lopinot, Rio Claro, San Raphael, Palo Seco and Arima have been traditionally associated with Parang. Almost every sidewalk café, restaurant pub and traditional ‘liming’ spot will be host to live parang groups during November and December.

Trinidad’s Christmas season is so close to Carnival, it’s no wonder that soca artistes have even joined in on the holiday fun, putting their own spin on the music to produce what is now commonly called soca parang. The most successful artiste in this genre is Irwin Reyes Johnson, known to Trinidadians as Scrunter; his work has greatly influenced other artists who have entered this musical arena. Scunter’s famous hits include; ‘De parang now start’, ‘Ah want ah piece ah pork’‘Wey Yuh Mother Gone’ etc. 

Early in his career, international soca icon Machel Montano produced the track “Soca Santa,” which remains a staple until this day