By Kerwin De Matas
Today, I am going to talk about the big three in Trinidad and Tobago. This year though, I promised that I will stay away from the long and winded essays I seem to love. Therefore, I am going to make this short and sweet.
In Trinidad and Tobago, there are a lot of diversities going on there, a big mixing pot of cultures and religions that have been getting along throughout the years amongst animosity, and other strains.
Yet the big three much awaited events, apart from carnival during the Lenten season, are, Eid-ul-fitr, Divali, and Christmas.
Citizens in Trinidad are living the hardships just as any other "third world" country, yet the Catholics, Muslims, and Hindus, love celebrating and sharing their cultures during these periods, despite what ever financial or other problems they might be experiencing.
Yes, Trinbagonians love to show off, and so what?.... During these particular holidays we just love celebrating, costly as they might be, and sometimes ending in debt.... these festivals bring our people together, even if sometimes it might be short lived. But at the end of the day, it is beautiful to see Trinbagonians of every colour and ethnic background coming together, donned in each others ethnic dress according to the event, and just enjoying...
Let us talk about Eid-ul-fitr.
This is a Muslim festival celebrated in Trinidad by Muslims ending the holy month of Ramadan. The conclusion of Ramadan is followed by Eid-ul-fitr where Muslims will visit their local mosques, offerings of charity to people in need, and the most looked forward gathering of friends and family to just enjoy each others company, and eat like there was no tomorrow! I truly enjoy Eid in Trinidad....
Moving along to my next favorite holiday........
Diwali in my opinion is truly magical...looking at the deeyas in their beautiful formations, just memorizes anyone. This holiday is popularly known as the festival of lights.
The Festival signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over
evil, justice over injustice and intelligence over ignorance. The
goddess worshipped at Diwali is Mother Lakshmi or Lakshmi Mata. Lakshmi
Mata is the goddess of light, wealth and beauty and is also associated
with prosperity, luck, riches, abundance, financial well being, and
generosity. In this event, you would see the wonderful tassa drumming, and the bamboo formations with the deeyas(little clay containers with oil and wick) expertly laid out, and of which creates an ambiance to calm the most distressed. The Hindus lay out their tables under their homes(most of the homes are built on cement or wooden pillars), or in the yard, and they just invite about anyone to just come by, eat like crazy, partake in the celebrations, having fun that would leave your adrenaline pumping way into the night...
Then just before starting the new year.....
We shouldn't forget Christmas. This holiday is celebrated by the Christian population in Trinidad and Tobago, but what is more, or means more to a Trinbagonian, is the introduction of parang by the Catholics....ohhhh, the parang, sweet music.
Parang is a form of folkloric music introduced to Trinidad and Tobago by the Venezuelans during the immigration exodus to Trinidad during the 18th century. A parang group would usually make up of a cuatro, box base, maracas(chac-chac), mandolin, and in the old days, a violin, and harp. The group would be made up of front line chorus, and lead singer. This art form was really made famous by artists such as Daisy Voisin, Henry Perreira, Sharlene Flores, Lara Brothers...just to name a few. Unfortunately, I cannot come upon genuine pioneers of this art form in Trinidad from the years gone by. What I can tell you though, is that Catholics spend what they don't have to paint their homes, re-decorate( the all famous "new curtains"), and to stock up on food and drink, why? This is the time of year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and to simulate what he would have done when he was alive....sharing, forgiveness, compassion, loving our fellow man...
Then of course, during the Christmas season, it is also a time where all doors would be opened to bring in the Christmas breezes, and of course, to receive the house to house parang....the parranderos!!
I am writing this now, and missing my big/small island....Don't worry mama Trinity, I'll be back one day. Until then, since I am writing this a day before Diwali, let me just say....HAPPY DIWALI, and a beautiful Christmas season!
Blessings, chao.
Today, I am going to talk about the big three in Trinidad and Tobago. This year though, I promised that I will stay away from the long and winded essays I seem to love. Therefore, I am going to make this short and sweet.
In Trinidad and Tobago, there are a lot of diversities going on there, a big mixing pot of cultures and religions that have been getting along throughout the years amongst animosity, and other strains.
Yet the big three much awaited events, apart from carnival during the Lenten season, are, Eid-ul-fitr, Divali, and Christmas.
Citizens in Trinidad are living the hardships just as any other "third world" country, yet the Catholics, Muslims, and Hindus, love celebrating and sharing their cultures during these periods, despite what ever financial or other problems they might be experiencing.
Yes, Trinbagonians love to show off, and so what?.... During these particular holidays we just love celebrating, costly as they might be, and sometimes ending in debt.... these festivals bring our people together, even if sometimes it might be short lived. But at the end of the day, it is beautiful to see Trinbagonians of every colour and ethnic background coming together, donned in each others ethnic dress according to the event, and just enjoying...
This is a Muslim festival celebrated in Trinidad by Muslims ending the holy month of Ramadan. The conclusion of Ramadan is followed by Eid-ul-fitr where Muslims will visit their local mosques, offerings of charity to people in need, and the most looked forward gathering of friends and family to just enjoy each others company, and eat like there was no tomorrow! I truly enjoy Eid in Trinidad....
Moving along to my next favorite holiday........
Diwali in my opinion is truly magical...looking at the deeyas in their beautiful formations, just memorizes anyone. This holiday is popularly known as the festival of lights.
The Festival signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over
evil, justice over injustice and intelligence over ignorance. The
goddess worshipped at Diwali is Mother Lakshmi or Lakshmi Mata. Lakshmi
Mata is the goddess of light, wealth and beauty and is also associated
with prosperity, luck, riches, abundance, financial well being, and
generosity. In this event, you would see the wonderful tassa drumming, and the bamboo formations with the deeyas(little clay containers with oil and wick) expertly laid out, and of which creates an ambiance to calm the most distressed. The Hindus lay out their tables under their homes(most of the homes are built on cement or wooden pillars), or in the yard, and they just invite about anyone to just come by, eat like crazy, partake in the celebrations, having fun that would leave your adrenaline pumping way into the night...Then just before starting the new year.....
We shouldn't forget Christmas. This holiday is celebrated by the Christian population in Trinidad and Tobago, but what is more, or means more to a Trinbagonian, is the introduction of parang by the Catholics....ohhhh, the parang, sweet music.Parang is a form of folkloric music introduced to Trinidad and Tobago by the Venezuelans during the immigration exodus to Trinidad during the 18th century. A parang group would usually make up of a cuatro, box base, maracas(chac-chac), mandolin, and in the old days, a violin, and harp. The group would be made up of front line chorus, and lead singer. This art form was really made famous by artists such as Daisy Voisin, Henry Perreira, Sharlene Flores, Lara Brothers...just to name a few. Unfortunately, I cannot come upon genuine pioneers of this art form in Trinidad from the years gone by. What I can tell you though, is that Catholics spend what they don't have to paint their homes, re-decorate( the all famous "new curtains"), and to stock up on food and drink, why? This is the time of year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and to simulate what he would have done when he was alive....sharing, forgiveness, compassion, loving our fellow man...
Then of course, during the Christmas season, it is also a time where all doors would be opened to bring in the Christmas breezes, and of course, to receive the house to house parang....the parranderos!!
I am writing this now, and missing my big/small island....Don't worry mama Trinity, I'll be back one day. Until then, since I am writing this a day before Diwali, let me just say....HAPPY DIWALI, and a beautiful Christmas season!
Blessings, chao.
No comments:
Post a Comment