By Indrawattie Natram
“CHRISTMAS comes once a year, and every man shall have his share” very beautifully captures the spirit of Christmas on the Essequibo Coast. In the Cinderella County of the Pomeroon-Supenaam region, Christmas is not only celebrated by Christians but by everyone who believes in the Christmas spirit. Cleveland Barlow, 60, of Devonshire Castle, said when he thinks of Christmas, he remembers exciting memories as a child.

Memories of “Hand drums”, “Bad Cows” and “Gifts” come to his mind. “I can vividly remember my mother telling me that I have to be a good boy throughout the year to get a gift. I would ensure that I was well behaved, so when I put my Christmas stockings, a gift will be inside,” Barlow said.

He said that despite his mother being a Christian and his father a Muslim, they used to look forward to the season. He and his siblings would wait an entire year to have special meals like Garlic Pork and Pepper Pot. On Christmas Day, long ago, Barlow said he and his siblings would eagerly wait for the “Bad Cow” to pass, but when they reached his house, he would run under the bed and hide.

Also reminiscing on Christmases of yesteryear was 80-year-old Bhagwandai Singh called, “Pran”, of Reliance Housing Scheme. ‘Aunty Pran’, as she is known, recalled that in the 1940s and 1960s, “Bad Cows” were only very popular, but they were also “wild”.

The elder said long ago, the boys in the band used to push children in the trenches and scare them off with ugly faces. Singh said she lost her mother at an early age; however, her aunts and other relatives used to invite her and her siblings for special treats during the season.

When she got married, she said she ensured her eight children received gifts.

“I make sure that my children get a gift, and we cook up we chicken curry and suh. We does mek we li’l Ginger Beer, and we does bake up we cake; it was a family time fuh we,” Aunty Pran said. Both Barlow and Singh reminisced on the traditional side of Christmas on the Essequibo Coast.

Tremacie Nauth, 21, of La Belle Alliance said that Christmas is all about family for her. She said it is a time of the year when a broken relationship is mended, and family bonds are strengthened. For Nauth, she anticipates the season for the foods, especially those foods that are not cooked during the course of the year.  Nauth, who is a mother of one, said this year she plans to ensure that her daughter enjoys the season by making sure she gets her gifts and the exposure to Guyanese “Bad Cow”.

Qurian Spellen, 30, of Anna Regina, said she will spend the entire season with her family.
Leading up to Christmas, she and her mother would decorate their house and living room. For Spellen, she said Christmas is not about richness or having more to eat, but it is all about celebrating it with those you love.

On Christmas morning, her family wakes up to a glass of Ginger Beer and Pepperpot Pork, and on Christmas Eve, her mother would bake a traditional black cake, which is shared with neighbours and relatives. Spellen said many people work hard throughout the year, and Christmas is the time to relax and enjoy with the people who matter the most.