Winedown Saturdays

Alegria! Alegria! It's live Parang starting this Saturday at your #1 'liming' spot. 

Come wine down and enjoy our bottle special.

See you there!.

 

What is Parang?

Derived from the Spanish word parranda, which means a spree or a fête. Initially it meant a group of four or more men who went to give a parranda at an event - a christening or a birthday celebration. The group sang to the accompaniment of musical instruments. However, in Trinidad, parang came to mean the songs that were sung especially during the Christmas season. What was brought from Venezuela to Trinidad was parranda navideña, which means Christmas Parang. 

Incorporating aspects of indigenous and South American cultures, parang has been called a fusion of "the deep spiritual aspirations of the Spanish people and the unfettered joyfulness of the Amerindian and African cultures."

Parang and Christmas in Trinidad

Parang has become synonymous with merrymaking at Christmas time. Groups of musicians called parranderos go from house to house entertaining members of the community. These visits involve singing and dancing as well as the sharing of food and drink. Today, this type of social paranging only takes place in a few areas in Trinidad. The main towns for parang are Arima, St. Anns, Santa Cruz, St. Joseph, Caura, Mausica, Lopinot, San Raphael and Rio Claro. One must, of course, add Paramin to this list.

              

               LOCAL PARANG BAND