By Naomi Parris

GUYANESE are known to be extravagant during the Christmas season. During this time of the year most persons can be seen hustling and bustling and manoeuvring through the streets of Georgetown to start or finish their Christmas shopping; and one would have thought that with the ongoing coronavirus (COVID) pandemic, things might slow down.
However, Guyanese have proclaimed that ‘COVID ain’t got nothing on a Guyanese Christmas’

This week the Pepperpot Magazine caught up with Lizley Edwards as she was shuffling through some decorations at the Giftland Mall to complete her Christmas shopping.
The woman, in a brief interview, said that while there are limitations due to COVID-19 protocols, she will not be fazed with her plans by the pandemic.
“Well because of COVID-19 this year, we are shopping and we are celebrating Christmas, but we are doing it with a lot of precautions,” Edwards said, adding: “I won’t be going out and meeting with friends for the Christmas Eve night celebrations. We won’t be a part of that but for family, we will be having everything Christmas at home. COVID isn’t stopping us.”
Meanwhile, Lotoya Johnson who described herself as a Christmas enthusiast, noted that while she won’t be able to practise some of her traditional Christmas activities, she will be making the most of this year’s holiday season.

“For the holiday’s I’m just going to spend it with my family and just have a nice and peaceful Christmas. I think that what is the problem due to the COVID, I can’t get to go out as much with the kids, mostly Christmas Eve, we will go look at the different decorations and so forth, so that is one of the disadvantages right now for the holiday,” she said.
A Guyanese home would not be “Christmasy” without the smell of pepperpot or black cake emanating from the kitchen; hence, Johnson told the Pepperpot Magazine that she will be cooking up a storm for her family on Christmas Day.

“I’ll make my pepperpot, bake my bread. Christmas Day I’ll make a delicious meal for my family and I’ll just spend the day quiet,” she said.
Meanwhile, Amid Narine told the Pepperpot Magazine that while he does not make too much of a fuss about the Christmas season, he will be spending the holidays quietly with his family indoors to protect himself and loved ones from the virus.

“Quiet and normal, I just gon do the same thing — I gon just cook and stay home,” he said.
But for Shawne Persaud, Christmas this year will not be the same. The young man explained that given the current situation with the pandemic and the atmosphere, he does not feel like it’s Christmas. However, he will try to make the best of the season and try to observe all COVID-19 protocols.

Meanwhile, Bonita Prince, a young mother noted that she will spend her Christmas holidays a bit simply this year with her small family.
“I’ll be spending Christmas with COVID-19 at home with my daughter and fiancé …basically the COVID-19 is like a throwback for everybody with Christmas but [it] is not stopping Christmas; but then again we want to be careful because we want to live to see a new year,” she said.
The young woman told the Pepperpot Magazine that given the effect the pandemic has had on her and a few close friends, she will be observing all the necessary precautions to ensure that she keeps herself and family safe.

“I realised that this COVID-19 is serious because I have close friends that passed away from this thing. It was people like I just saw them and then you just hear that they died from COVID and I’m taking it very seriously, whereby party is not affecting me and I’m just doing what I have to do, wear my mask and just sanitise,” she said.
In sharing some advice to the general public, Prince said that during this time when there are restrictions on social gatherings and similar activities, spending quality time with family and close friends is the best thing one can do.

“Quality time is the best thing you could have for Christmas. Corona wouldn’t stop you from having quality time, whereby even if it’s on the phone you call somebody to wish them Merry Christmas; you don’t have to see them,” she said.