Easter in T&T

Hi Folks,

So we all know of Easter and the Easter Bunny and all that surrounds it.  Well it’s a bit different here in T&T; of course there is Mas and all the religious activities which accompany this significant Christian observance.  But I am not here to discuss that aspect; you got to remember Trinidad is a very diverse country which contains many races and religions, so not everyone goes to Church or Mas.   Nevertheless, we Trinis all like a “lil lime” (local slang roughly means hanging out) and would use any and every excuse to have a party and some drinks…

Collage of some Easter activities. Source: T&T media

Images:

Toco Beach

Boy with Mad Bull kite

Easter Bonnet parade kids

Hot cross buns

Easter kids

Goat Race

The rest of the country (non-Christians and some Christians too) opts  to go to the beach and camp out or rent a beach house or a rive lime for Easter; however unless a house is booked about a year in advance, chances are you are not getting a beach house and most of the beaches area extremely crowed with campers… A compromise of getting up extremely early on one of the days and going to the beach or river is usually done.  The beach lime entails lots of family, food, one must have curry duck or goat, hard fowl or a layers with lots of pepper and buss up shot roti; Pelau (rice and chicken cooked together) or calloo (my words would not do it justice to describe it, you have to experience this dish) with crab and macaroni pie and way too much alcohol if your doctor or the police has anything to say about it.  The river lime is much more than spending quality time with your love ones and good food; I would be sure to do an entire post on river lime soon.

Father with kids beating the Boboliee. Source T&T media

The lime actually starts on Holy Thursday when the boss man decides to provide hot cross bun for everyone, to which everyone leaves work early because they have “so much” to prepare and do; of course they all end up at their closest watering hole (bar, pub, etc).  On Good Friday, getting over the hang over with an early morning beer then off to making a Boboliee which is a dummy to represent Judas made similar to a scarecrow but with a Calabash (large inedible fruit) for a head; the Boboliee is then place by the road normally at an intersection until later in the afternoon when everyone beats the stuffing out of him.  Having an extravagant lunch, watching the 12 commandments and the story of Jesus on television, spending time with family, is what’s it’s all about.

Children participate in the annual Kite Flying Competition held on Easter Sunday. Source: Trinidad Guardian

I recall being in the USA and was told that the day after Christmas is when preparation for Halloween begins – and I am thinking wow, so long away for the next big activity or party.  Here in Trinidad, every holiday, especially the ones which falls on a Friday or Monday is a festivity fill with many activities to participate, similar to Thanksgiving or Christmas in the USA, families and friends come together, and much more… July is the only month which do not have a holiday – of course its school vacation so most folks would take at least a part of their vacation during this month.