CHRISTMAS celebrations around the capital city saw many citizens engaged in the traditional activities of attending church and participating in carol singing in the streets, while others were busy with last minute shopping and partying in the streets.

At St George’s Cathedral, as in many Christian churches in Guyana, the traditional mass was held on Christmas Eve night. Conducted by Dean of Georgetown, the Very Reverend Father Andrew Carto, the mass began with the blessing of the Nativity Scene. In his stirring sermon, Father Carto asked worshippers to look at the images displayed not as images to be worshipped, but to be used to reflect on the first Christmas and the promise of hope which it brought.

The mass commenced at 22:45hrs and the traditional Christmas greetings were exchanged at midnight before the celebration of the Eucharist, which ended the service. Another mass was held on Christmas morning for persons who were unable to attend the Christmas Eve Mass.

In another part of the city, the residents of Durban Street were treated to an evening of carols, music and dance as the members of the First Assembly of God church took their Christmas Service outdoors. This tradition, started a number of years ago, allowed the residents of that community and those doing their last minute shopping to be a part of the service, while putting the finishing touches to the decorations in their homes.

Members of the church entertained with singing, dances by the youth and children, and steelpan music.

Even as some chose to usher in Christmas in the traditional way, other participated in the not-so-traditional activities. In Regent Street, many stores remained open way after midnight as some persons sought to make last minute purchases of gifts and goodies to be consumed on Christmas Day.

Others, mainly the youths, enjoyed revelling in the area in front of the Stabroek Market and East Coast Bus Park, which was transformed into a street party venue as the merry making went way into the next morning.

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force were observed working through the night to ensure that shoppers, merrymakers and worshippers were all allowed to usher in Christmas as they chose without encumbering others.

(Raymond Cummings)