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January 1, 2025

The Hummingbird Newsletter

A Word From Our President

Home for the Holidays

A Reflection on Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago

This year, I decided to spend Christmas at home—in Carenage, Trinidad. It had been a while since I last did this, and I wasn’t sure if it would feel the same. To my delight, it brought back memories of long ago.

The days leading up to Christmas were spent preparing the house, transforming it into a festive haven. Trucks loaded with furniture passed by, the air filled with the inviting aromas of fruitcakes, sweetbread, and freshly baked bread.

Strolling through the market was a nostalgic treat. Vendors offered fresh pigeon peas, sorrel, and ginger beer. In Port of Spain, the unmistakable sound of Parang music filled the air. On Charlotte Street, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Chinese Parang—a unique blend that added to the festive spirit.

Christmas Day was all about family—sharing meals, enjoying drinks, and reminiscing about old times. It was a heartwarming experience, reminding me of the joy and connection that the holiday season brings.

To those who say Trinidad isn’t the same, I must disagree. Trinidad is beautiful, vibrant, and full of life. There truly is no place like home for the holidays.


Julie Jones-Hewitt

President TnTGA

Trinbagonian Culture

Christmas Celebrations

CHRISTMAS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago is a very joyous occasion. Families commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ by going to church. For many this means an annual pilgrimage to church on Christmas Eve to celebrate Midnight Mass. Christmas is also a memorable event that is celebrated by large gatherings of families and friends. Sumptuous meals are prepared, and visitors are invited to partake of the feast. These visitors include not only friends and family, but also those groups of people who go from house to house serenading the members of the home with indigenous Spanish carols, known as Parang.

Traditional food served at Christmas time consists of generous helpings of ham, turkey, pastelles, fruit cake, sweet breads, and other selected delicacies, along with traditional drinks such as sorrel, ginger beer, and ponche de crème.

Christmas is a very important time in Trinidad &Tobago. It is the fusion of the end of year excitement while ushering the imminent Carnival season. It is a time when loved ones gather to reminisce on the past year while celebrating the presence of each other. It is a time of food and drink, music and celebration, and peace and love, as the birth of Christ is honored and celebrated.



CLEANING AND DECORATING

Homes are given elaborate preparation beforehand by cleaning, painting and general repairs. According to budget and taste, new curtains may be made and hung, and various decorations from the simple to the elaborate may be seen festooning homes. It is an annual ritual for many people to not only engage in cleaning and decorating, but to make last-minute preparations and purchases on Christmas Eve.

Various public places and homes may be given over to elaborate embellishments with wreaths, garlands, lights and Christmas trees etc. A popular thematic depiction is the creche: a nativity scene of the Three Wise Men, Mary, Joseph and Jesus as a baby in the manger.


HOSPITALITY

Visitors to the average household during the Christmas season are normally treated to local fare by way of food, drinks and music. Invitations from friends and neighbours are normally accepted in the period between Christmas and New Year's Day.

MUSIC

Two types of music are associated with the Christmas season. There are the traditional hymns and Christmas carols, and Parang music. Both types may have either a religious or non-religious theme.

There are basically two types of our indigenous folk music - French and Spanish parang. The French parang or creche is no longer as widely sung as the parang of Spanish origin but can still be heard in villages with a strong French influence. Renditions of parang, our popular folk music, is part of our Spanish heritage and originated over 400 years ago during Spanish colonization.

 

In the past, it was traditional for parang serenaders to pay nocturnal visits to the homes of family and friends, where part of the fun was waking the inhabitants of the household from their beds. Today, a new form of parang, soca parang, has emerged. Soca parang is a combination of soca and parang.

Christmas Symbols

POINSETTIA

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrmia) or Flower of the Holy Night is accepted as a Christmas symbol in North and South America. It was discovered in Mexico by Dr. Joel R. Poinsette US Ambassador to Mexico. Its sale and use are popular around Christmas time as a decorative item for the home.


COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS

Merry Christmas Party

Many Thanks!

To everyone who Supported our Christmas Party - Thank You.

We greatly appreciate the volunteers, members and friends who donated

and worked to make this event a success.

Please Support Our Sponsors
Senior Nuggets


*In your senior years, you hold the keys to unlocking life's most profound mysteries*



*Never forget that you are a source of inspiration for generations to come*


*Age has its challenges, but it also brings a reservoir of strength and resilience*

Coming Events

Annual General Meeting


First Meeting of the Year


Sunday, January 19th, 2025

4 pm - 6 pm


IN PERSON MEETINGS


Exchange Park Recreation Center

2771 Colombia Drive

Decatur GA 30034



Thank you for your continued support


Covenant House Volunteers

Thanksgiving / Christmas / New Year

"Today, Covenant House opens doors of opportunity and hope to youth experiencing homelessness and escaping trafficking. We welcome all youth and invite them to learn how to open their own doors, hearts and futures. Our door is open to anyone regardless of race, sexuality, creed, gender, or the circumstances that have brought them to our threshold."

Covenant House Volunteers

Thanks to the members and friends of the Trinidad and Tobago Association of GA, Inc. who provided meals for the young adults at Covenant House.

Meals were prepared and served for Thanksgiving Day and on

Christmas Day.

Thanks To The Community

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Trinidad & Tobago Association of Georgia, Inc.

P.O. Box 370197

Decatur, Georgia 30037-0197


Tel.: (770) 356-2097

E-mail:  ttassociationofga2003@Yahoo.com

Website:  www.tntga.org

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