GUYANESE will soon be celebrating Easter with the traditional kite-flying and church services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday among other activities.
Although the practice of flying kites is symbolic of Christ rising from the dead, it has developed into a Guyanese custom. Hindus, Muslims and Christians all join in this festive activity.
With kites of all shapes and sizes being the order of the day, they are first made, string or twine procured and tails attached. With the help of strong winds, kite flying takes off every Easter weekend here in Guyana.

Andrew Higgins, aka Stevie, lives in that section of West La Penitence known as ‘The Island’.
Stevie is a veteran kite-maker, and has been in the business for going on 32 years. He started this trade at the age of nine, making simple pointer kites. He then graduated to making them with parts of the Etay palm, which he found in abundance in the Le Repentir cemetery not far from where he lives here in the city.
At about age 16, he began attending the Guyana Technical Institute (GTI) where he completed a course in Carpentry and Joinery. With this experience under his belt, he began improving on his product, making his kites out of wood. He soon became an expert at this and his fame spread. And the orders started coming in.
Each year, he gets his first orders around the month of January. He then begins to procure the necessary materials: Simarupa wood, paper, twine, glue, string and nails. Next comes the frames, which are cut out and assembled.
Sizes of kites range from 1½-ft (18”), 2-ft, 3-ft and upwards, according to how the orders are placed. Special gift paper is purchased for its design. The designs are cut out and used to decorate the kites.
Some orders are received from Guyanese living in Barbados, and from some regions around Guyana. When there is a large order, his niece and nephew pitch in to get the job done on time. Each year, Stevie ply’s his trade at the La Penitence Market. When Easter is over, he returns to his joinery. 
Stevie says that the kite-making business has been good to him; it helped send him to school, and he intends to keep this trade alive.
He remembers one Easter when he had completed many kites and had stored them indoors for safekeeping. Unknown to him, a hen decided that the stack of kites was an ideal place to make a nest and lay her eggs. By the time she was discovered, most of the kites were badly damaged or destroyed. Work had to begin all over again.

Charlston Scipio lives in the East Ruimveldt area; he too is a kite-maker of some repute.  He began plying his trade at the tender age of eight. Although it began as a hobby, he soon realized that this could be a lucrative business. While his friends played cricket and football, he made kites. He was very good at it, and it paid off. Pretty soon, he was able to help his family in many ways.
Charlston begins his preparations for the season just after the Phagwah holidays. He buys wood; Simarupa or any soft white wood. He processes this to required specifications. Nails, thread, twine, bamboo, paper and paste are some of the tools of his trade.  He specializes in many types of kites: The ‘Singing Engine’; the ‘Frillsy’ , which the ladies seem to like; the ‘Kankowa’, which is shaped like a crucifix; and the ‘Bird’, ‘Box’ and ‘Star-point’.
He remembers one Easter when all his kites were sold out, but little or no breeze blew. Many were disappointed.
According to him, in the good old days, big companies and organizations made and flew kites. Kites bearing the names of Russian Beer, Banks D.I H, Bookers were very popular.
Charlston’s places of business are at the head of Regent Street and the Bourda Market. He promises that nobody will be turned away because of price.
“Kite-making calls for a lot of patience and concentration,” he remarked while he worked on some frames. So far, he has received orders from around Georgetown, but hopes that persons in the far-flung regions will place their orders. A few overseas-based Guyanese usually buy a few kites to take back with them.  He is hoping that this encourages foreigners to start flying kites and employing Guyanese kite-makers.
When Easter is over, he returns to his regular trade, selling sweet tamarind around the city.
Though the skies over Guyana will be dotted with all kinds of kites, thousands of other Guyanese will be seeking alternative forms of entertainment.
Many will find themselves at locations like Camp Jubilee, Splashmins, Hope Beach, The Number 63 Beach, The Seawalls, Botanical Gardens, National Park and Yarokabra Resort to name a few. The Lethem Rodeo and Bartica Regatta are sure to be popular spots as well.
For the less adventurous, there is always the TV and DVDs as watching a good movie seems the easiest alternative. Even the faint of heart would find this to their satisfaction. So, whether you’re fit or infirm, old or young, adventurous or just chillin’, this Easter promises to be one to remember.