A Growing Tradition
By Francis Quamina Farrier
A country becomes a more cohesive nation when traditions which encompass all citizens, are maintained and improved upon over the years. There should be no let-up in maintaining our good traditions. For example, the way in which Guyanese celebrate the upcoming festive season is a prime example.
One of the newer Guyanese Christmas traditions which begins the earliest, is the COURTS Christmas Tree Light Up. That annual event takes place within the southern block of Main Street in downtown Georgetown from mid-November and is up-kept until the end of the Christmas Season. Although relatively new, Guyanese have shown their interest by attending the event every year in their numbers. Most of the adults arrive with their young children and grandchildren; they include many fathers who are seen giving quality time to their young children, even though such men are hardly ever recognised by the wider society.

This COURTS pre-Christmas tradition, which is staged within the southern block of Main Street in Georgetown, is in fact, one of those Family Fun events which children really enjoy. The Christmas spirit comes alive with a stage show at which some popular artistes perform some of the favourite Christmas and non-Christmas songs. Being there with their parents, grandparents and guardians, enjoying the stage entertainment, the lighting up of the trees in the avenue, and finally the arrival of Santa Claus, usually riding on the top of a large vehicle, make for a marvelous start to the Holiday Season for those youngsters who are privileged to attend. They are all hyped up, singing along with the artistes on stage, and joining in on the countdown for the switch to be thrown for the lights to go on.
What is of note as regards the stage entertainment, is the performances by the COURTS choir; members of COURTS staff, who come together as a choir, to sing some of the more popular Christmas songs. The COURTS choir, is a splendid example of Social Cultural Cohesion.

Over the years, there have been many local celebrities present at the COURTS Annual Christmas Tree Light Up; including mayors and First Ladies, who would address the audience and also throw the switch which turns on the thousands of lights which are strung along the top branches of the trees in that section of the Main Street avenue. This year, Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo, the wife of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, was the honoured guest, and was given the opportunity to address the audience. She spoke almost exclusively to the children and encouraged them to be good students and good citizens.
Of interest, is the COURTS CHRISTMAS ROAD SHOWS, which are staged after the Georgetown event. There are similar on-stage entertainment, as well as lucky Courts customers receiving up 100 percent reduction on recent purchases made. Some of the principal venues where the COURT ROAD SHOWS are held include New Amsterdam, Mahaica, Parika, Richmond, Bartica, and Linden; all part of this COURTS Guyana Christmas Tradition.

It must be mentioned that there is a humanitarian element to the COURTS Christmas tradition. Quite a number of agencies, both government and non-governmental, receive tangible gifts to assist with their service to the public. In Georgetown, the Children’s Pediatric Ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital is one of the recipients, and in New Amsterdam, the Alpha Children’s Home has been receiving assistance from COURTS over the years. Many schools, including the Diamond Special Needs School, as well as a number of religious organisations, receive assistance from COURTS at Christmas time.
So here is a relatively new Christmas tradition by a Corporate Citizen – COURTS (Guyana, Inc.) – which others may well desire to emulate and bring a bit of the Good Life to Guyanese during the Christmas Season.