Carnival took root in Trinidad over two centuries ago, and Trinidad quickly turned it into something very much its own. Trinidad-style Carnivals are now held in scores of countries and cities around the world, including New York and London, Toronto and Miami.

The festive season starts after Christmas, with nightly performances in the calypso “tents”, dozens of steel orchestras practicing in their “panyards”, teams of helpers turning designers’ costume concepts into reality in the “mas camps”, and “fetes”, parties large and small, some with hundreds of revelers and three or four live bands.

On the final weekend the entire country throbs with music and partying, as the Panorama contest produces a new champion steel orchestra, the Calypso Monarch is crowned, and the fetes reach their thunderous climax. Then on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, after the bacchanal of the pre-dawn J’Ouvert, dozens of masquerade bands, some with over 4,000 members and ten or 20 sections, erupt onto the streets and competition sites in the world’s largest, most peaceful and most euphoric street party.

Phagwah

The Indian spring festival of Holi or Phagwah (March) has been celebrated in Trinidad since the first Indian labourers arrived in 1845. During the warm-up season, singing groups in villages and temples perform festive chowtal songs which celebrate the arrival of spring, accompanied by drums and cymbals. Bonfires on the eve of the festival symbolize light over darkness. Festivities include Phagwah bands, tassa drumming and singing, and the liberal spraying of coloured water, abeer, over everyone in sight

Eid-El-Fitr

Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, ends with a day of spiritual renewal which is marked by a public holiday — Eid-ul-Fitr. Muslims go to the mosques and are enjoined to give alms to the poor; homes are cleaned and decorated, and the long daytime fast is ended with lavish meals for family and friends

Crab races

Originally a laconic answer to high-society horse-racing in Trinidad, Tobago stages races for goats and crabs on Easter Tuesday. The goats and their owners compete over 100 yards amid much carousing and laughter. The crabs race over ten feet, and can take an hour to be coaxed in the right direction

Hosay

Hosay came to Trinidad with Indian workers in the 19th century, and was originally a mourning festival for the martyred grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, killed in battle. But in recent decades the festival has lost much of its original character and has become a very distinctive, joyful celebration in which many non-Muslims and non-Indians take part. Elements of the old festival remain — flags representing the battle, lavishly decorated tadjahs, replicas of the martyrs’ tombs, and two enormous moons, twirled on the shoulders of dancers. The festivity is accompanied by the thunderous sound of Indian tassa drums

Heritage Festival

Every July, Tobago celebrates its traditional culture and lifestyle in a two-week Heritage Festival, with events in villages across the island. Traditions range from the lively Tobago Reel to the old-time Tobago wedding, with the groom in full regalia, black top-hat and tails, leading a joyous procession to the sound of Tobago fiddle and tambourine. Each village presents an aspect of the island’s heritage, showing off its versatility in music and dance, song, cooking and story-telling

Pan is Beautiful

Every two years in October, the cream of the world’s steel orchestras get together for two weeks of World Steelband Competition. This is a formal affair, with players in full concert regalia, playing a specially composed test piece, a classical work and a calypso.

Divali

Divali, the Hindu Festival of Lights in October or November, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. Thousands of tiny deyas — flickering lights set in clay pots with coconut oil and wicks are mounted in parks, along streets and outside homes in honour of Lakshmi, the goddess of light and beauty, love and riches. About three weeks before, the Ramleela celebrations re-enact the life and teaching of Lord Rama, based on the Hindu epic Ramayana, with tassa drumming.
Click here for more information on Divali.
Parang

Parang is the Christmas music of Trinidad and Tobago — traditional folk music, Spanish and Venezuelan in origin, sung in Spanish to a fast, lively beat, and accompanied by cuatros (like small guitars), chac-chacs and bass. In the old days, groups of parang singers went from house to house like carollers, entertaining families and joining in Christmas food and drink. These days there is a nationwide competition for parang groups.

home || about me || resume || photo album || bookmarks || trinidad & tobago