11/09/2026
from National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago
Parang History Month
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 🪇 Trinidad and Tobago’s history with parang spans several centuries. It is believed to have first been brought here as a musical art form called “parranda” by the Spanish.
“Parranda” is a Spanish term that refers to a fete or party. In Trinidad, “parranda” was also once used to refer to small musical groups that went out at night to perform at celebrations and were usually accompanied by the sounds of string instruments.
“Parang” is derived from “parranda” and represents a mix of Spanish, French, Indigenous, Venezuelan, and African musical practices that have evolved into a distinctly Trinbagonian genre. As a result of these diverse cultural influences, there are many different kinds of parang songs today.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spaniards who came to Trinidad brought with them string instruments and religious music, which is the root of many parang songs.
With the arrival of the French after the 1783 Cedula of Population, another branch of parang developed in Trinidad called cantiques de noel, which were sung in French patois. These Christmas songs were brought to Trinidad and Tobago from the French Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, and include lyrics about the birth of Jesus Christ.
Today’s parang is also heavily influenced by Venezuelans who came to Trinidad. While migration from the South and Central American mainland to Trinidad has occurred for thousands of years, many migrants came in the 17th century to work on cocoa estates and were referred to as Cocoa Panyols.
They brought many of their cultural practices, including music called Parranda navideña or Christmas parang, which were only sung during the Christmas period, from mid-November to January 6th. Some examples are the serenal/aguinaldo, anunciación, the nacimiento and the popular rio manzanares, which celebrates the Manzanares River that flows from Venezuela into the Caribbean Sea.
There are also other modern variations within the parang genre like chutney and soca parang.
This photo shows Spanish-style string bands, circa 1960. It is from the publication, “Trinidad and Tobago August 31st 1962: Lithographs by Caribbean Printers Ltd.” (1962). This book is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Reference Collection.
References: Mavrogordato, Olga J. Voices in the Street. Paria Pub. Co., 1996.
Taylor, Daphne Pawan., and George Alexander. Thomas. Parang of Trinidad. National Cultural Council of Trinidad and Tobago, 1977.
