New York Latin Culture Magazine®

World-class Indigenous, European & African Culture since 2012

Trinidadian Culture

Trinidadian culture is a unique blend of South Asian Indian, African Diaspora (including Indigenous), Chinese, Spanish, French, and English traditions. Culture in the Lesser Antilles, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana are related.

Trinidad’s most important culture is Trinidad Carnival, “the Mother of Caribbean Carnival.” Trinidadian traditions are celebrated around the world, including at New York Carnival (AKA West Indian Day Parade, Brooklyn Carnival, or Labor Day Carnival), and London’s Notting Hill Carnival.

Traditional Trinidadian culture includes calypso and steelpan.

Contemporary Trinidadian culture includes soca, a musical blend of South Asian Indian and African Diaspora rhythms.

The Trinidad Orisha (Shango) faith is a Caribbean Yoruba tradition.

Trinidadian Culture in New York City

Dance Parade NYC 2023 DanceFest Gets over 10,000 New Yorkers Dancing in the Streets

DANCE PARADE
Chelsea, Greenwich Village, East Village

African, Afrobeat, Afro-Cuban, Bhangra, Bollywood, Bomba, Break Dancing, Caporales, Carnival, Dancehall, Flamenco, Folkloric, Hip-Hop, House, Jazz, Latin, Majorette, Mexican, Moko Jumbies, Reggae, Salay, Salsa, Samba, Soca, Street, Tammurriata, Tap, Tarrantella, Tinkus, and more. 🇧🇴 🇧🇷 🇨🇺 🇨🇴 🇩🇴 🇮🇹 🇯🇲 🇲🇽 🇳🇬 🇵🇪 🇵🇷 🇪🇸 🇹🇹

DANCEFEST Tompkins Square Park
🇧🇴 🇨🇺 🇲🇽 🇵🇷 🇪🇸

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Continue Reading Dance Parade NYC 2023 DanceFest Gets over 10,000 New Yorkers Dancing in the Streets

Trinidadian NYC

Trinidadian NYC is centered in South Ozone Park, Queens; and Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, & Flatbush, Brooklyn. There is a Trinidadian community in Nassau County, Long Island.

The Trinidad and Tobago Consulate is in Manhattan’s Financial District. 🇹🇹

NY Trinidadian Dance

One of Dance Theatre of Harlem’s signature pieces is “Dougla,” Geoffrey Holder’s 1974 ballet about a Trinidadian wedding joining the African and South Asian Diaspora communities. 🇹🇹

NY Trinidadian Festivals

New York Carnival and the West Indian Day Parade 🇹🇹

J’ouvert 🇹🇹

Christmas Day and Boxing Day 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇹🇹

Divali and Holi 🇮🇳 🇹🇹

NY Trinidadian Food

Ariapita in Flatbush, Brooklyn. ariapita.com 🇹🇹

Kokomo in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. kokomonyc.com 🇹🇹

Trinidadian Archive

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago are the two southernmost islands of the Lesser Antilles. They are close to the coast of Venezuela. We are Trinbagonian.

Public Holidays in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago’s public holidays reflect the country’s diversity.

  • New Year’s Day celebrates the start of the year in the contemporary Gregorian calendar on January 1. ✝️ 🇹🇹
  • Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day celebrates the 1917 repeal of a law that prohibited the Christian tradition brought to Trinidad by African Americans who fought for the British in the War of 1812. It is celebrated on March 30. ✝️ 🇹🇹
  • Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the Friday before Easter Sunday. The date varies. ✝️ 🇹🇹
  • Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday, the Christian celebration of the renewal of spring. The date varies. ✝️ 🇹🇹
  • Eid al-Fitr is the Muslim feast that end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. The date varies. ☪️ 🇹🇹
  • Indian Arrival Day celebrates the arrival of South Asian indentured workers in Trinidad and Tobago in 1845. 🇮🇳 🇹🇹
  • Corpus Christi celebrates the Catholic tradition in which the wine and bread of communion represent the blood and body of Jesus Christ. ✝️ 🇹🇹
  • Labour Day commemorates the Butler labour riots against the exploitation of oil and sugar workers in Trinidad in 1937. 🇬🇧 🇹🇹
  • Emancipation Day celebrates the end of human enslavement in British colonies on August 1, 1838. 🇬🇧 🇹🇹
  • Trinidad and Tobago Independence Day celebrates the country’s independence from Britain on August 31, 1962. 🇹🇹
  • Trinidad and Tobago Republic Day celebrates the founding of the country’s own government institutions on September 24, 1976. 🇹🇹
  • Lakshmi Puja is a Hindu festival that honors Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wife of Vishnu. They are the supreme gods in Vaishnavism, one of the main Hindu traditions. The date varies. 🇮🇳 🇹🇹
  • Christmas Day celebrates the traditional birthday of Christ on December 25. ✝️ 🇹🇹
  • Boxing Day is an English tradition of giving gifts to the poor on the day after Christmas. ✝️ 🇹🇹