EVERY year during this festive season, we look to bring you a glimpse of how persons in different parts of society celebrate Christmas. For some it is more difficult than others, but it is always good to acknowledge that joy can be found in many places.

This year, the folks in Tiger Bay said they are hoping for a cheerful Christmas, particularly for their children, despite their shortcomings throughout the year.

Senior citizen, Kenneth Samuels told the Pepperpot Magazine that he lives in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, but during the week because of work he usually stays in Tiger Bay with his son.

He said Christmas in the ‘ghetto’ is just like any other place where people come together to make merry and celebrate.

CHRISTMAS VIBES
Samuels related, “In Tiger Bay, it does be nice because everybody does be out on the road, partaking in whatever they have such as foods and drinks.”

This elderly gentleman was sitting outside his son’s house just ‘taking some breeze’ when the Pepperpot Magazine visited the community. He stated that this year, he will spend the season at his house in Tuschen with all his grandchildren,which number more than 20.

He noted that Tiger Bay is a close-knit village and the unity in the village is one where the folks ‘make do’ with whatever they have to brighten each other’s Christmas.

This Christmas, Samuels, a security guard, said he will not be working and is looking forward to spending the season with his loved ones.

THE SEASON HAS CHANGED
Meanwhile, Norma Kerr, who was manning a cook shop in Tiger Bay said Christmas these days is not like before because of the changes, but reminisced that as a child she did enjoy the festive season.

At 83 years old, Kerr told the Pepperpot Magazine that she sees the season designed these days for young people as such, she takes backstage and lets the youths enjoy.

For her, cooking is her thing and on Christmas Day, she will be doing the same for her children, grandchildren and countless relatives.

Like many folks in the community, they are waiting to see what money they get to try to make a Merry Christmas for their families and like always ‘something’ will work out one way or the other.

When the Pepperpot Magazine caught up with Wilford Prince, he was washing some clothes with his daughter and said this time of the year is ‘pressure’ on the men- especially if they are fathers, because children look to them to make things ‘merry’.

PRIVATE SECTOR SPREADS JOY
He pointed out that usually on Christmas Day persons from the private sector and other communities would come to Tiger Bay with van loads of toys and goodies for the children in the village.

“Them rich people, who own stores and so does come every year and give stuff to the children and it does really be nice and it is a nice time in Tiger Bay especially for the children,” Prince said.

The 31-year-old added that the children always look forward to this gesture and they are also given food and drinks.

Being a father, Prince said this year, he is hoping they get the same blessings since things are not going so well financially.

Amelia Andrews, 10, told this newspaper that she is optimistic that toys will come her way since she has been “good all year”.

ALBOUYSTOWN
At Hogg Street, Albouystown, the Pepperpot Magazine met Kevin Massiah, who said that as a child he liked Christmas but the holidays have somewhat simmered down over the years.

He, however, admitted that he as a local, he prefers a traditional Guyanese Christmas than to spend it anywhere else.

Having spent a few years abroad, he is relieved to be home because he believes that without black cake, ginger beer and Pepperpot, it isn’t a Guyanese Christmas.

NOT A REGULAR CHRISTMAS
For Massiah, however, like many other folks, they are not really feeling the Christmas spirit just yet.

Others gathered in a group with him, added that maybe with some money in hand that feeling might change because people are just waiting to acquire cash to ‘fix up their house’ and make Christmas merry for their families.

Massiah explained that in Albouystown, Christmas is all about the children which the community has a large number of.

He related that unlike other villages, the private sector does not visit during Christmas to make a donation of toys to the children and that is indeed sad.

Massiah noted that it would be nice this year if that can happen at least for the children because as is, things do not look too promising given the economic situation in their homes.

The men told this newspaper that during this season only the Dharm Shala really brings joy to the children of the community by way of a Christmas party, in which they go all out to spread joy in the village by gifting children with toys, and a sumptuous meal accompanied by beverages.

Being one of the biggest ghettos in the city, Joe said it would be nice to see more private sector contributions because that community has a lot of children, and they should at least have something to look forward to this time of the year.

“These days no one comes around here and it is like we have been forgotten and that’s just not right, at least make it merry for the children,” he said.

For the Albouystown residents, Christmas in the ghetto is all about caring, sharing and whatever they have counts, because “everyone has to eat.”

This year, they will make it happen somehow because it is that time of the year when even the poor have something to share.