Culture of Trinidad and Tobago
The culture of Trinidad and Tobago reflects the influence of Indian-South Asian, African, Indigenous, European, Chinese, North American, Latino, and Arab cultures. The histories of Trinidad and Tobago are different. There are differences in the cultural influences which have shaped each island. Trinidad and Tobago is an English-speaking country with strong links to the United Kingdom.
Historical membership in the British Empire left a major influence on the country, including the differences of the English language and the popularity of the two top sports in the country, football, and cricket.
Festivals
Carnival
The most influential single cultural factor in Trinidad and Tobago is
Mas'
The daytime of Carnival Monday and Tuesday are dominated by costumed masqueraders. Until World War II, most of these masqueraders portrayed traditional African influenced characters including the Midnight Robber, Police and Thief, Wild-American Indian, Bat', and Jab Mola individuals gave way to organized bands, which today can include thousands of masqueraders. Peter Minshall is often considered the greatest mas' designer.[why?]
Carnival fetes
Carnival takes place most heatedly during the week before the actual parade of bands on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. However, traditionally, the Carnival season begins on Boxing Day December 26 and soca and calypso music reign supreme over the airwaves. The fetes that take place from year end through carnival (usually in February) are generally carnival-themed and feature live music from bands and soca artists who are promoting their song contributions for the year.
Christmas
In
Divali
Hosay
Phagwah
A Hindu spring festival, celebrated as a festival of colours.
Maha Shivratri
A Hindu Festival celebrated annually in which thousands of devotees spend night in over 400 temples across the land, offering special jhal (a mixture of milk, dahi (yogurt), honey, flowers, bael leaves, pipal leaves, paan leaves, sugar-cane juice, and sugar) to Lord Shiva.[4]
Music
Calypso
Calypso is a style of
Soca
Soca is a dance music which is a mix of Trinidad's calypso and Indian music and rhythms, especially
Chutney
Chutney was born out of the East Indian influence in Trinidad, and derives elements both from traditional Indian music and popular soca music.
Chutney Soca
Chutney soca music is a crossover style of music incorporating
Rapso
Rapso is a uniquely Trinidadian music that grew out of the social unrest of the 1970s, though it is often described as a fusion of soca and calypso with American hip hop.
Parang
Parang is a music with Caribbean and Latin American cultural influences. The word is derived from two Spanish words: Parranda, meaning "a spree or fete" and Parar meaning "to stop". Parang is a popular folk music originating out of Trinidad and Tobago, it is part of the Island's Hispanic heritage that originated from over 400 years ago during Spanish rule via Venezuela.
Pichakaree
Pichakaree is an
Steelband
The
Cuisine
The
African Creole food commonly includes
Theatre
The first permanent folk-dance company and theatre in Trinidad was the
Literary scene
Trinidad and Tobago has produced many noted writers, including Nobel laureates Sir Vidia Naipaul, and other award-winning authors such as Earl Lovelace, Lakshmi Persaud and Michael Anthony.
Religion
The largest religious groups are the
References
- ^ "Trinidad Cornmeal Pastelle - Simply Trini Cooking". Simplytrinicooking.com. 29 November 2008. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ Vanished UK drink is toast of Caribbean, an April 2007 article from the BBC website
- ^ Korom, Frank . Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Texas, Austin. Imagining India(ns): Cultural Performances and Diaspora Politics in Jamaica (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Grand Shivratri Carnival celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago. Devotees also stay up to midnight chanting the lords name". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ^ "Home". Pantrinbago.co.tt. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2017.