Trinidad and Tobago Culture

Trinidad and Tobago are an island country home to an interesting, and energetic culture. With a total of 1.3 million inhabitants, 96% of the population lives on Trinidad, and 4% live on Tobago. 35% of the population is Indo-Trinbagonian, 34% is Afro-Trinbagonian, 23% of the population is of a mixed ethnicity, and the remaining 8% identify with another ethnicity.  Most people who live in these islands originate from India, or west Africa, along with some Asian countries.
English is the country's official language, but there are many English-based creole languages spoken along with English including Trinidadian Creole, Tobagonian Creole, and French Creole. English spoken on the islands has a recognizable accent and dialect.
Trinidad and Tobago are home to many religious groups including Christianity (63% of the population), Hinduism (18%), Islam (5%), and many other various religions. In Christianity, there are six major denominations.

Trinidad and Tobago, because of the variation of ethnicity present, have a very mixed style of cuisine. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner each have exciting different variations. Breakfast is often times savory and includes vegetables, where lunch and dinner often times include chicken or fish, and use curries. All of these foods have different backgrounds: from India to Africa, Trinidad and Tobago cuisine has exotic flavors. Street food is also popular, as vendors scatter beaches along the coasts. Slushies, ice creams, and popsicles are popular on hot days, and sausage rolls, steamed buns, and pies are popular all year round. Here are some pictures of street food in the islands:

Carnival is a popular and exciting time of year in Trinidad and Tobago. The islands have large parties, festivals, and parades during this time, and the cities are full of color, people, music and performances. People spend can spend a whole year preparing for carnival, and it is an extremely popular activity to be a part of a carnival band. Here is a picture of carnival in Trinidad:

It has become so popular, that people come from all around the world to celebrate with the islands. While carnival may be the most well known festival in Trinidad and Tobago, there are many more holidays celebrated by the citizens. Trinidad and Tobago also celebrate Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas, Muslim holidays like Eid Al-Fitr, and many other religious holidays. Special national holidays that Trinidad and Tobago celebrate that the United States do not have include Indian Arrival Day. and Emancipation Day.

Fashion and music are a large part of Trinidad and Tobago's culture. Fashion is vibrant in these islands as they hold a yearly fashion week, and through the year prepare fashionable carnival outfits and costumes. Music in Trinidad and Tobago is diverse ranging from dance hall music, to traditional sounds, to modern day American influenced pop music. Famous musicians from Trinidad and Tobago include Billy Ocean, Patrice Roberts, and Destra Garcia.

Trinidad and Tobago have vibrant cultures. Branching from places all around the world, the culture is not only interesting, but also diverse and accommodating to all many types of people.