People in the Caribbean have a lot of similarities, especially as it relates to language, societal norms and cultural values. However, when examined closely enough, the differences come to light.

In the interest of good fun, Our Today asked students from other Caribbean countries, who are currently studying in Jamaica, just what sort of traditions they have in their country that they haven’t seen here.

Here’s what we learnt:

St Lucia and Dominica – Festival of lights and Bamboo Bursting

• FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

The Festival of Lights is an annual celebration that usually commences on December 13, marking the beginning of the Christmas season in St Lucia. It’s a festival that includes a Christmas show performance by locals highlighting various aspects of St Lucian tradition, including the lantern competition where locals and visitors craft colourful lanterns that are lit in the evening.

• BAMBOO BURSTING

Bamboo Bursting is a custom that exists throughout the Caribbean, where young boys make cannons out of large bamboo canes, and then kerosene is poured in. Once the end is lit, someone blows on the flame creating the bursting sound.

In St Lucia and Dominica in particular, bamboo bursting is used to signal the start of the Christmas season and it is common to hear the loud sounds throughout the season.

Antigua – Christmas lightning at Shoul’s Toys, Gifts, & Housewares

In Antigua, for Christmas, there is one particular store that has a big lighting event every year for Christmas. Shoul’s Toys, Gifts & Housewares was the first store ever to be established on the island and, as a way to give back to the country, started the tradition of kicking off the season with locals gathered for a massive event ahead of a countdown to the turning on of all the lights.

Trinidad – Parang music

Parang is a popular folk music originating from Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago that was brought to Trinidad and Tobago by Venezuelan migrants who were primarily of Amerindian, Spanish, Mestizo, Pardo, and African heritage, something strongly reflected in the music itself.

During the Christmas season, the land of soca and calypso transforms into a country united by parang music. Derived from the Spanish word “parranda” meaning “a spree or fête”, parang bands in Trinidad embody this translation with lively and colourful performances that exude the festivity of the season. In recent times there has been an emergence of soca parang, which is an energetic mix of traditional parang and the tempo of Trini soca.