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Though I spent my first Xmas in British Guiana as an infant, my mother, a Grenadian, took me to Grenada, where I had a part of my schooling, and I spent Christmases there until I became a teenager, when I returned to my homeland, where I have been spending all holidays, especially Christmas, with the famous garlic pork and pepperpot.
One would naturally conclude that the two experiences in both countries gave me the right to speak with authority in relation to Christmas as I see it in those two countries, and make me able to compare the Xmas events that I know with other Xmas events that are publicized throughout the world at the festive season.
As already mentioned, my first Xmas in British Guiana was as an infant, and therefore there is nothing to be told.
But, in Grenada, I did not only spend Christmases, but I had my early schooling there, until I returned to British Guiana, where I completed my education at the Central High School; Guiana Graphic; Cuffy Ideological Institute; and the University of Guyana, where I obtained a Diploma in Public Communications.
I enjoyed the Christmases spent in Grenada.
On Christmas morning, I would look forward to my toys. Though there was the belief among some people that Santa Claus was the donor, I, at that tender age, did not share that view, and was convinced that the gifts were provided by a parent or someone else.
Christmas in Grenada was accompanied by carol-singing by choirs, who would move from house to house performing their renditions.
There were also bands of musicians performing in the streets.
I can remember one year I was in a mishap, when a car driven by a young lady who had gone through the band without stopping hit me down and ran over my lower legs. I was attempting to cross the road to get at my home at St. Paul’s when the incident occurred, on Xmas Day that year.
One good thing was that, on my hospital bed, my mother told me that the lady who was driving the car P68 admitted liability, but told her, “You are a lucky woman. After hitting this child who had run across the road, I did not expect to see a living child.” I had escaped with swollen ankles.
Be that as it may, I nevertheless enjoyed that Christmas as well as all the others in Grenada.
A favourite dish on Xmas Day in Grenada is rice and pigeon peas with either roasted pork, roasted beef, stuffed chicken, stuffed red snapper etc.
The drinks that I would receive in Grenada would include sorrel, ginger beer and the like.
Christmas in Grenada, as in any other country in the world, is associated with Xmas greeting cards, signifying the festival of Christ’s birth and devoted to family reunion. However, I find that the celebration of Christmases in Guyana has always been more exhilarating, and exciting and entertaining than in some of the other countries.
In Guyana, for this holiday, in addition to the masquerade band, we used to have the wild cow, Mother Sally, Long Lady and the steel Band.
However, we still have some of the mnasquerades….some of them have made their advent already. They see it as not only providing enjoyment for others, but as a money-making affair.
Christ is in Christmas, and whether one could be styled Christmas worshipper for attending church on Xmas Day, such a worshipper would be welcomed, since Christmas is a day when the good, the bad and the indifferent should unite and remembrer that Christ came.
While I go to church every Sunday at the Church of The Transfiguration, I would implore all members of other denominations to partake in the celebration of Xmas.
Because it is Christmas, at all homes, be it those homes owned by Christians or non-Christians, one would expect to find all the favourite dishes, such as garlic pork, pepperpot, black cake, baked chicken, stuffed chicken, ham, ginger beer, sorrel and your favourite drink.
Here, at Christmas in Guyana, we attend Xmas parties where the high and the mighty and the lowly all unite in their own social way.
I recall the days before Xmas in years gone by, when reporters, journalists from the Argosy, the Daily Chronicle and the Guiana Graphic would don fancy Xmas paper hats as we moved to the Press Association and various assignments.
I also recall when our employers used to entertain us at Xmas parties at the most up-to-date hotels or eating places in the country.
The president of the country used to attend, and ministers of the government also.
At one such party, I recalled Dr. Cheddi Jagan was there. At another, I recall that Mr. L F.S. Burnham was there. Minister Nagamootoo also was at a party at the Pegasus.
Why no more of these parties? This is Christmas, and I would like to see a return of what used to be.
As a freelance writer and a shareholder of the Guyana Chronicle, I wish the management, staff and colleagues a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
