Dear Editor,

CHRISTMAS and the related end-of-year season is the most celebrated of all festivals by all communities in Guyana and in the diaspora; in Guyana and in the diaspora, everyone regardless of religious background, celebrates the end of year with shopping, gifting, worshipping, and varied festivities (parties, family banquets, and other fun activities).

In New York, the diaspora is gearing up for a traditional end-of-year celebration, in spite of increasing Omicron infections that account for over 75 per cent COVID infections that are ballooning in New York and America. The pandemic may worsen and Guyanese are urged to get vaccinated (booster) if they have not already done so.

An aura of the seasonal celebration is in the air in Guyanese residential neighbourhoods (where there are ethnic enclaves of Guyanese), as well as in the main Guyanese business districts such as Liberty Avenue (Richmond Hill), Jamaica and Hillside Avenue (Queens), Cypress and Flatbush Avenue (Brooklyn), Grand Concourse and Parkchester (Bronx), etc. In Little Guyana, Flatbush, and other shopping areas patronised by Guyanese and other Caribbean people, stores and restaurants are teeming with shoppers rushing to purchase gifts, decorations, drinks, cakes, fresh halaal meat, and food items.

Even amidst the pandemic, COVID-19, the fast-moving Omicron virus, Guyanese are out in their numbers shopping for their Guyanese-type celebration. New York Guyanese and other businesses are slowly recovering from the more than 20 months of slow economic activities, including lockdown and near lockdown. Business was down for most of this period, recovering over the last few months as the public have increased their spending.

Shops on the varied business avenues are well decorated (they have been so since Thanksgiving in late November and some since Diwali in early November). The avenues and in front of some stores are brightly illuminated and decorated with related paraphernalia comparable to other shopping districts in the city or in parts of Guyana. Christmas music emanates from many of the stores. In Little Guyana, Chutney, Bollywood songs, and Carols are blared from stores, including Korean vegetable markets. One can purchase virtually everything related to Christmas at any of hundreds of Guyanese and other Caribbean stores in the varied Guyanese enclaves.

Guyanese from outside the city or upstate such as from Schenectady, other states, and even from Brooklyn and Queens Village or Long Island, prefer to come to Little Guyana (Liberty Avenue to shop where they meet and reminisce about a Guyanese Christmas holiday. They also patronise one of dozens of Guyanese fast food restaurants; some even patronise the bars or rum shops or clubs for a drink and “chaser.” On the streets, a few men engage in rum or beer-drinking. Guyanese bars and night clubs have been busy. Traditional music (local Indian songs, calypso, parang, Bollywood and golden oldies from yesteryear) are blasted out at various shops on Liberty Ave.

One can feel the Christmas spirit in the Guyanese residential areas communities with homes exquisitely decorated as in a competition. Bright multi-coloured flickering lights, trimmings, and other paraphernalia are on display in front of homes in Little Guyanas all over Queens and Brooklyn. Trees are decorated next to fluttering Jhandis during this windy week. The spectacles have been drawing onlookers, many of whom take photographs or video the spectacle.

The season is usually one of expectancy among the large Guyanese population, regardless of racial or religious affiliation. As in Guyana, Guyanese Americans plan to prepare that special holiday meal and beverages and join in the Christmas spirit with other Guyanese and other Americans. Cakes, pastries and bread will be baked. Traditional Guyanese food, such as dhal puri and curried mutton, chicken, goat, duck, and alou, and fried rice, channa, and chowmein and delicacies such as bhara, phulouri, and black cake will be served just like back in Guyana.

The end of the year season is also a time for parties at businesses owned by Guyanese or where large numbers of Guyanese are employed. Several businesses hosted small parties observing COVID protocol.  Bashes at five-star hotels and catering halls are conspicuous by their absence unlike previous years. Several mandirs, masjids, and churches distributed food hampers over the last couple of weekends. Some mandirs, such as Tulsi, Durga, etc. are distributing hampers almost daily. Community advocate Vishnu Mahadeo’s Richmond Hill Association has been distributing hampers and anti-COVID arsenal.

Many Guyanese prefer to celebrate Christmas at home. Some have made the yearly trek or pilgrimage to Guyana to experience the good old Guyana Christmas. There is always a year for a Guyana-style celebration – replicated in the diaspora since most can’t travel home.
Christian churches in Guyanese neighbourhoods have mounted nativity scenes on their lawns. The religious people are expected to flock to church for midnight mass on Christmas Eve Friday night. There are even masquerade bands in Flatbush.

The Christmas holiday will be at fever pitch from Friday, when most offices and all schools are closed for the rest of the season. Schools go on break on Monday, January 3. The Christmas celebration is a welcome break after such a long time of being cooped up inside. But it comes with dangers of Omicron infection. Please be safe and observe protocols! Season’s Greetings to readers!

Yours sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram