Let's celebrate the holidays, Caribbean style!  Afropop Worldwide's "Holiday Celebrations Around the World" gives you a taste of the Caribbean Christmans experience.  In Puerto Rico, we visit the beloved Yomo Toro playing special holiday music called aguinaldos and tells us stories of how the holidays are celebrated there. Trinidadian friends revel in stories of parang music on the island. And a quick visit to experience a celebration of St. John's birthday in Venezuela.  Here's a sampling of holiday festivals in the caribbean.

December

Dec. 25: Bain de Noël (Frotte feuilles) or Fete des Membres (Haiti)

Dec.26-Jan. 1: Kwanzaa
  
Dec. 28: Young Saints Day / Hatillo Festival of the Innocents (Puerto Rico).
Mass, parade for costumed children carrying toys

Dec. 31: Réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre, New Year's Eve celebration

January

Jan. 1: Independence Day (Haiti)

Jan. 2: Ancestry Day / Forefather's Day (Haiti)

Jan. 6-8: La Fête des Rois (3 Kings Day), or Epiphany.
Wining and dining at home and in hotels, culminating in the serving of the traditional cake called galette des rois.

February

Feb. 25 - Mar. 1: Carnival.
Carnival start-ups throughout the region (weeks preceding Lent) marked by competitions for Queen, King, Prince and Princess.

See Afrpop Worldwide's "Highlights from Carnival 2006" in Trinidad and Haiti
  
Feb. 27: Independence Day (Dominican Republic)

Feb. 28: Mardi Gras, or Shove Tuesday.
Carnival at height of frenzy, with parade of floats, costumed red devils and dancing filling streets.


More holiday listings available from Earth Calendar.
http://www.earthcalendar.net/index.php