Parang – The Way We Celebrate Christmas
What is Parang Music
Parang is a popular folk music coming from from Trinidad and Tobago. It was given to the islands by Venezuelan migrants who were mostly of Amerindian and African heritage, something which is highly reflected in the music itself. The word parang originates from two Spanish words: parranda, which means “a spree or fete”, and parar meaning “to stop”. What was actually brought from Venezuela to Trinidad was parranda navideña, meanings Christmas parang. It is primarily sung in Spanish. Parang music is heard mostly around Christmas time in Trinidad and Tobago.
In the past, it was a norm for parang serenaders to pay nighttime visits to the homes of family and friends, where part of the enjoyment was waking the residents of the house from their beds to tell them of the birth of the Christ-child.
As mentioned before, parang music is mainly performed and heard around Christmas time, when vocalists and instrumentalists (jointly known as the parranderos) travel from house to house in the community, commonly joined by friends and next-door neighbors family etc. making use of whatever instruments are to hand. Popular parang instruments include the cuatro (a little, four-string guitar) and maracas (also known as chac-chacs). Various other instruments used are violin, guitar, claves (locally called toc-toc), box bass (a native instrument), tambourine, mandolin, bandol, caja (a percussive box instrument), and marimbola (an Afro-Venezuelan instrument). In exchange for the entertainment, parranderos are typically provided food and drink; pastelle, sorrel, ponche crema (a type of alcoholic eggnog).
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Over the years, parang music became quite popular in Trinidad and Tobago and global secularization took it’s toll on the art-form that once spoke primarily of the birth of Jesus Christ. Just as sinfulness has driven mankind to want to celebrate Christmas without Christ, so too many parang songs are composed that have precious little to do with Christmas. But there is good news! There are those who have organized competitions among the schools to compose and perform parang as it once was – centered around the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Earlier today, one of my co-workers asked me to assist her with an assignment her daughter had; and it was to find an traditional parang composition that spoke of the birth of Jesus. So there is great hope for this most beautiful art-form that started out giving glory to our God.
Christmas is fast approaching. It is the time of year when we should remember the extent to which GOD went to prove His love for us – by sending His only Son; born of the Virgin Mary; into a sinful world, to eventual give His life in our place. All of this HE did so that we might have eternal life with HIM. As we celebrate Christmas, please do not leave Christ out of it. Include Jesus in your Christmas celebrations. in fact, include Christ in all that you do – in Christmas and out of Christmas; whether you’re paranging or not, and I guarantee you that your life will be tremendously enriched when it is Christ centered.
