— how Easter at Mahaicony maintains generational friendships 

WE often hear about Easter being celebrated at venues such as No. 63 Beach, the Kitty Seawall, and the Joe Vieira Park, but have you ever heard of the magnificence of an Easter celebration at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara? Well, to be fair, unless you are exposed by a resident or former resident, I doubt you would be privy to the grand affair; it is secluded, and despite the large numbers of patrons, the celebrations remain somewhat intimate, because everybody seems to know everybody. You see, no matter where life takes us, Mahaicony residents seem to adhere to this untold tradition that they have to return home every single year for Easter, with the exception of the pandemic period, of course.  Much like the rest of the country, Easter celebrations for ‘Mahaiconians’ take effect a few days before the lengthy holiday weekend, starting with the purchase of new clothes and picnic supplies, followed by the hunt for the most captivating kite-making materials, inclusive of the stickiest ‘gamma cherries’ one could find.

As a matter of fact, my earliest Easter memory surrounded the work of ‘gamma cherries.’ I was about six or seven years old and it was Easter Saturday. On mommy’s orders, I wasn’t yet allowed to play with the well-decorated kite atop the wardrobe, so daddy was there to help me devise a traditional Guyanese contraption intended for pre-Easter play – the renowned ‘caddy ole punch.’ I spent what felt like hours trekking with my father in the farmlands aback my grandmother’s house for ‘gamma cherries.’ Once we picked a handsome portion and returned from the hot sun, I was further tasked with gathering old newspapers and stealing ‘pointers’ from my grandmother’s broom. By the time the supplies were ready, my naptime senses kicked in and I instinctively dozed off in the hammock near daddy’s work station.

I don’t recall the length of my nap, but I do vividly remember waking up frantic, unable to detach two of my fingers from my face, apparently the work of the effective gamma cherry I had been rolling between my fingers when I fell asleep. I burst into tears as mommy sapped the blistered spots on my face with a rag soaked in warm water. Fast forward 20 years, I would like to think that I’m much wiser, but the truth is, at 26, a recurrence of such klutz-life behaviour is not exactly impossible. Nonetheless, once the picnic and kite preparations are solidly in place, a typical Easter Sunday at Mahaicony is celebrated within the home and among close family circles. For Christians, the auspicious occasion is marked with devotion and remembrance of Jesus Christ.

BUSH COOK

As Easter Monday approaches, it is typical for ‘Mahaiconians’ to begin the celebrations at the beach – a breathtaking foreshore that stretches beautifully, connecting the villages of Dundee, Novar and Good Faith. With the backdrop of a mid-morning setting, families would be nestled between the gaps of mangroves, armed with their hammocks, chairs, blankets, as well as buckets and baskets of ingredients and utensils for the customary ‘bush cook.’ The many dishes being prepared by the different families along the beach, however aromatic, would be enough to confuse one’s nose.
Dozens of kites would decorate the often blue skies, and music and laughter would bombard one’s ears from all directions.

Relatives and old friends who hadn’t seen each other all year, or perhaps even longer, would embrace and catch up over drinks, food and a healthy dose of nostalgia. These festivities would go on for hours, but as the sun threatens to set, the mosquitoes would begin sending a clear message that the beach play was over. It would then be time to back up, return home, and get decked out for the fetes at the Canal.
As carloads, busloads, and in some cases truck and tractor loads of patrons proceed inland, they would be greeted with the celebratory sights that adorn the pastures connecting Dundee, Novar and Good Faith. The music being pounded by two-three stations of speakers would get louder and the excitement would grow exponentially. This essentially marks the end of the picnic period and the commencement of the party.

CHILDHOOD CRUSHES

Once we showered and got dressed, the clock would read time for more fun, and more often than not, the parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles would head out to the party before the youngsters; we often require a little more time to get ready, because more often than not our childhood crushes and in some cases, old flames, are bound to be there.
Groups of cousins and close friends would stroll the stretch of pastures back and forth, dabbling in a host of fun games and catching up with the old friends they would catch up along the way. In the night skies, few kites would still be fluttering overhead, further decorating the scenes of reunion that plague the venue.

Persons such as myself who no longer live at Mahaicony, would intuitively search for the many familiar faces that often characterise the diverse and energetic crowd. I always counted on Easter at Mahaicony to catch up with friends with whom I went to nursery and primary schools, and as the untold tradition would have it, they are always there. I often get to revel at the sights of even my father reuniting with his childhood buddies, many of whom turn out to be parents of my childhood friends.
Easter at Mahaicony is nothing short of a spectacle that can be enjoyed by all, but there are many like me who show up every year, not necessarily for the jubilations, but in a bid to maintain and solidify the friendships and relations that have existed for as long as I can remember.

Any Mahaicony resident would attest to the fact that the annual Easter celebrations have aided in the longevity of bonds that seem to go on for generations, even before my father and me. Also, the photos taken each year provide an accurate account of how many of us have aged over the years.  Because of the Easter traditions at Mahaicony, one would hardly find Mahaicony residents becoming estranged. As my mother would often say, “ayuh navel string chook deh.” And she wouldn’t be wrong.

Unfortunately, the existing pandemic has forced us to halt our social traditions and celebrate treasured holidays in unprecedented ways. Of course, it is far from ideal, but the more we adhere to the guidelines, the earlier we could exit this period of plague. So for now, nostalgia remains the name of the game. And as we continue to observe the COVID-19 protocols, inclusive of maintaining social distance, I encourage you to embrace your memories and make use of technology to catch up with your beloved relatives and friends.  Fortunately, we are blessed with the tools to shift our physical traditions to virtual settings. Let us indulge for now.