Essay about Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago - 804 Words

Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago â€Å"When Santa Clause arrives in Trinidad and Tobago, it is to the rhythm of Parang. The climate is warm and the flowers are in bloom, which makes for a colorful season.† This quote from writer Bill Egan wonderfully describes Christmas on my twin island home of Trinidad and Tobago where the holiday is celebrated in a most unique way with many ingrained traditions. By mid-November, the stores of the capital city, Port-of-Spain, are flooded with early Christmas shoppers. The most popular places are textile and drapery stores. I remember coming from school one evening and seeing women, whose faces were beaded in sweat, hauling big white bags toward the bus terminal. For me, this was a sign that†¦show more content†¦These significant Spanish influences are deeply rooted in the history of the twin island republic. After Trinidad was discovered by Columbus in 1498, it was then colonized by the Spaniards in 1598 and remained under Spanish rule until it was captured by the British in 1797. Therefore, the Spanish presence in the country is still felt up to this day in names of our villages, in the food we eat and in the music that we enjoy. On the eve of Christmas, another common sight is the last minute house cleaning. For many Trinidadians, it has become a tradition to clean on Christmas Eve. Some say that doing this adds to the excitement of the following day. My neighbor is one such person; Miss Merlin thrives for the excitement of last minute cleaning. On Christmas Eve you can find her in the kitchen baking while she is simultaneously giving instructions to her children as to how the chairs should be arranged and which curtain should go up, â€Å"Thomas, put de [the] blue curtains up in de [the] living room, for meh [me] please.† I must admit the rush to get it all done before the sun comes up is truly exhilarating. Of course, Christmas will not be Christmas without ham, black cake, pastels, pigeon peas, ginger beer and punch de crà ¨me. Pastels are of Spanish origin and are made from corn meal, raisins, olives and minced beef. When finished, it looks similar to a beef patty, however, it is wrapped in the leaves of theShow MoreRelatedBirth And Evolution Of Trinidad Carnival1461 Words   |  6 Pagespublic celebration or parade that involved the use of masks, musical elements, costumes and more. 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