TODAY December 25th, Christmas Day, is the most celebrated holiday worldwide—a day that many consider as the happiest day of the year where families from all walks of life and religious denominations especially Christians converge and have a scrumptious meal, attend church service, enjoy lots of goodies, presents are exchanged, toys are bought and the kids have a frenzy.

The beauty about Christmas is that every family, region, county and country has unique ways of celebrating this auspicious day, for some it’s a tradition that has been passed on from their fore parents for generations.
In Region Six, East Berbice Corentyne, the “Christmas Spirit” is very much in the air, from as early as the 1st of December the Christmas shopping began and got more intense as the days wind down.

Yesterday, Christmas Eve day, the ‘B’ Division Ranks had to shut down the main road in Rose Hall Town from JC Chandisingh School Street to Outpost Street and divert traffic through the streets as thousands flocked to the stores for last-minute shopping literally bringing the traffic to a standstill. This continued late into the night as stores kept their doors open as late as midnight to accommodate their customers.

As this is ongoing, the sound of music, laughter and scent of Bar-B-Que fill the town as sound systems line the public road where the annual Christmas Eve lime took place.

Families can be seen in their red and white outfits synonymous with the holiday, flocking to the various photo studios and booths to get their “Christmas photo with Santa” taken.

The remittance centres of Western Union and MoneyGram had lines to the road as people flocked to collect their “holiday raise” from relatives and friends overseas. While the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Christmas village in Rose Hall Primary School Compound was filled to capacity with excited kids running around in awe at the numerous inflated Christmas balloons, toys and games. The parents can be seen in tow trying to get them still for a photo by the manger, which depicts a proud Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms.

Another must have item for Berbicians at Christmas time is their “ice apple” as the vendors try to entice as many customers as possible with their deals ranging from 7-15 apples for $1000. Earlier in the day many homes the housewives kept the men and kids busy as they made preparations for the big day today. Curtains were being hung, old furniture being moved to accommodate the new one, carpets being laid out and of course the kitchen was busy and the aroma of food fill the air.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the home of 68-year-old Amelia Stephen-Newland, a retired teacher of #68 Village, the aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air and as this reporter got closer the taste buds started to tingle and mouth watered as the scent of spice and pepper from her pepperpot infused with the scent of the bread.

Fondly called ‘Aunty Millie” or Miss Newland, Christmas Eve day she says, has always been the day to bake the bread, sponge and fruit cake and make her pepperpot. “Since I migrated from Essequibo in 1985, this is our tradition, we start one week ago in preparation for this one day, the black cake already bake, because that can keep but the fruit cake and sponge cake don’t really last as long so those will be baked when the bread finishes. I will finish almost at midnight with everything so that we can all eat be merry and enjoy the day”.

She explains that despite going to bed late she will awake early to attend the Christmas day Sunrise Mass at the New Testament Church of God with her family. The church also has a gift exchange for its congregation followed by carolling, and then the family will return home for breakfast of pepperpot and homemade bread, followed by the opening of gifts. Aunt Millie, a mother of four, says now that her children each has families of their own she is quite happy that they have been carrying on the Christmas tradition and look forward to seeing and spending time with each of them and her grandchildren and give thanks for life, health, peace and happiness.

While she did not make ginger beer or sorrel this year for Christmas, Aunty Millie says she surely will make for the new years as that too is part of the Christmas tradition. She will however still have her fill of both since her children made and will take for her. Ginger beer, mauby, Sorrel and in some homes, wines, are a must for Christmas and is usually prepared a week before and allowed to ‘cure’ for a better taste.

Most families on the Corentyne celebrate similar to Aunty Millie with many, especially the younger families, trying to wrap up their preparations by afternoon to either head to Corriverton or Rose Hall Town and New Amsterdam for the shopping deals, family portraits and lime. Houses are lit up with colourful lights that will remain until after the New Year. Many neighbours compete with each other to see who can outshine the other for the holidays.

Meanwhile, Apostle Kevin Pereira of Changing of Life Ministries, Williamsburg, says that while some have held on to traditions and the true spirit of Christmas, many are lost and need to take time out to be knowledgeable about what Christmas is all about. “Things has changed, growing up it was more church and the emphasis was bringing honour and glory to Christ, acknowledging Christ, but somehow or the other in today’s world , the modern world, some have a misunderstanding about what Christmas is all about, while at the same time some gets carried away with the activities of the world.

Christmas is about the birth of Christ. It was the beginning of God’s plan for humanity so people can be saved from their sins. People are more engaged in worldly activities so there a misconception of what Christmas is all about.”

Pereira recalled his mom would take him to church often, and during Christmas there is a special feeling of the birth of Christ. He recalled the excitement to be a part of plays portraying Mary and Joseph, noting that sadly those are not a regular feature for some. He encouraged all to enjoy the holiday season but be conscious that. “Jesus is the reason for the season” and not to lose sight of that by indulging in activities that are not in keeping with the season.