By Indrawattie Natram

FOR many families, they wake up Christmas morning to a pot of traditional pepperpot and loaves of bread, however, for the Ramdeo family, it’s quite different. In this household, Christmas morning is just like every other morning and for them, Christmas has no special meaning. During an interview with Pepperpot Magazine, 59-year-old Bowandai Ramdeo, a resident of Anna Regina, said that Christmas is only special whenever the community brings over gifts.

Ramdeo lives with her eight children and 19 grandchildren in a small shack next to the Anna Regina Cereal Factory. Ramdeo has been squatting over 20 years on the plot of land however she has been given a house lot recently and has intentions of moving to the Onderneeming area. Speaking about Christmas, the matriarch said that every year she wishes for a better Christmas for her children and grandchildren.

She said that during the year she collects used toys from her neighbourhood and puts them in a carton box specially to give her grandchildren on Christmas day.

“I really can’t afford a new toy. My husband is don’t get regular work. My children are not getting regular work. We survive with lil bit money. Holiday after holiday is the same for us but we do want a better future,” Ramdeo related.

She said that she would usually clean her home for Christmas and would decorate it with used curtains and used mats given to her from kind-hearted persons. She said her grandchildren would listen out every Christmas morning for vehicles to blow in front of their home to see if anyone is coming to provide them with gifts.

“The holidays are special but for us. If we get chicken to eat it’s special, we are contented. I do try. I make broom to sell for a living,” she further explained.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Anuradha Ramdeo who was supposed to be in school said she didn’t attend because her mother cannot find her birth papers and the school was not accepting her. She was dyeing her grandmother’s hair when the Pepperpot Magazine visited. She said that Christmas for her is “normal” and she just wakes up and does her chores. Anuradha has a desire of wearing a Princess dress and to also attend Christmas parties but was never fortunate to do so.

“When we hear about parties I do want to go but we cannot afford it. I do want to go to eat apples and grapes and cake. We don’t get cakes often unless someone brings over,” Anuradha said.

A special meal for the family is chicken and rice and some Pepperpot. That was the most they ever had. Some of the other children related during the interview that they usually play with their used toys on Christmas morning. They also find joy in moving around with a cart that was constructed by their uncle Rajesh Ramdeo for them. On Christmas Eve, they would move around the town of Anna Regina on it. Some of the children were fortunate enough this year to attend Christmas parties fully sponsored by their teachers. The family is yearning for a better Christmas next year. Anyone who wants to help this family can contact Bowandai on 657-4063.