Christmas is a very social time in Trinidad and Tobago with parties and singing. Radio stations blast Trinidadian Christmas carols and songs, as well as the traditional and contemporary carols many of us would know. A piece of special Trinidadian music known as Parang is also played and is an upbeat Venezuela-Trinidad hybrid music sung in Spanish. There is also ‘Soca Parang’ whereby the songs are sung in English. Throughout this holiday there are parties, and many people hang out together.
As Christmas is a social celebration, parties are held in the streets with everyone having fun and joining in. As mentioned previously, many locals sing Parang carols, which is a Venezuelan-Trinidad hybrid and usually in Spanish. There are also Soca Parang carols which are sung in English for the visitors.
Most of the food that you will find being served will include fruits such as apples and grapes and feature egg nog. In terms of meats, ham and turkey are popular during Christmas time, while there are also spicy vegetables. Many locals also make their own bread and have their own local wine and ginger beer. For deserts, fruit cake is very popular. It is also common for locals to share with friends, family and neighbours.
Something many people will recognise is the Christmas tree, in which locals put up artificial trees to signify Christmas.
Across the two islands, you will find people on the streets having parties and celebrating with their friends and family near Christmas time. Many cities will be covered in decorations and lit up with Christmas lights. Some people may also spend their time on the beach, which is a once in a lifetime experience for visitors – spending Christmas on the beach in glorious sunshine! While there are no specific places to head to during the Christmas period, head to the Port of Spain for the biggest parties.
Port of Spain on the island of Trinidad is one of the best places to look for a hotel to stay during Christmas, with its lively, exciting energy. The Hilton Trinidad, a 4-Star hotel is located right amidst this energy, and every room has a balcony so you can overlook all the street parties. There are also 25 acres of gardens, a spa pool and a tennis court and is the perfect place for active holidaymakers. Another great place to stay is the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, also located in Port of Spain. This 4.5-star hotel features a waterfront as well as a gym, pool and spa. It’s also downtown and thus you are already in the middle of the party.
Scarborough is a city in Tobago and where you can find a cluster of hotels, particularly the Bacolet Beach Club which is a 4-Star hotel with an all-inclusive option available. This luxurious, boutique hotel also boasts a beachfront and is downtown, meaning parties will be on your doorstep.