How one Guyanese in the diaspora is keeping close to her roots through the holiday season

GUYANESE are spread across the world in countless countries. On almost every continent, our people can be found. Some places are known to house Guyanese. Cities like New York are home to hundreds of Guyanese. But a place like Hawaii is not somewhere one would expect the Guyanese flag to be flying high. But not only are we present. There are Guyanese like Roxanne Hermanstyne, who are keeping their culture and tradition alive and well wherever they go.

Roxanne was born raised and has lived in the Land of Many Waters for several years. Since then, Roxanne, a certified pharmacist, philanthropist and military spouse, has called a few places across the globe home. Today, she is living and working in Hawaii, several thousand miles away. As the holidays rolled around and as they come to an end, Roxanne shared memories of how her family celebrated the holidays all those years ago, and how committed she is to celebrating an authentic Guyanese Christmas wherever she may be.

Growing up in Guyana, Roxanne experienced the holiday season like many young children. The intense Christmas cleaning, the Caribbean Christmas Carols that would be begin playing a week into December and the unforgettable aroma of Pepperpot and black cake. “Growing up, I remember Christmas; that was when the entire house [cleans]- from washing windows to cleaning chairs to washing your chair backs and all these different covers. Pretty much the entire house goes upside down for Christmas,” Roxanne shared.

Although Roxanne has not spent Christmas in Guyana for some years, she still remembers the core values of the authentic Guyanese holidays taught her. The cleaning, decorating and food were always for family. She shared that, to her, it was never about toys or overspending. But rather, the holidays were dedicated to family and ensuring their house felt like a home for the holidays.

Roxanne shared that, “I remember my mom just making sure that everything was set for Christmas. It wasn’t even related to toys. It was just making sure that the house was a home; making sure it was clean. The food was there as far as we have Pepperpot and bread and black cake the next morning.” Growing up, Roxanne’s family owned a stall in Stabroek Market. The sights and sounds that lit up the capital city on Christmas Eve and the atmosphere that creates something that Roxanne will never forget.

“Christmas Eve Day I do remember us going to walk down Regent Street getting whatever last-minute spare shopping done. Even being in the festivities from the music and, I felt like Regent Street or even going into the market was always a big party. I just remember as a kid every stall in the market was playing music, so you felt the activity of Christmas because everyone around you was preparing for Christmas,” she shared.

According to Roxanne, the warm, packed streets of Georgetown are not so different from Christmas in Hawaii. She spent her time in New York surrounded by family and friends. Roxanne says that as unique as the holidays in Guyana are, every holiday is a Guyanese one, as long as our people are present. Hawaii, as far away as it is, is not so different from Guyana.

It is these similarities that make Roxanne feel at home. The sunshine, welcoming people, and small homes are reminders of Guyana. As Roxanne said, “I was living in New York before I got married to my husband, and I think being in New York allows you to keep Christmas more, because there are so many Guyanese. I had a lot of family in New York. Now that I’m here in Hawaii, the locals here are big on Christmas, too, and I feel like I get the same feeling, minus it being Guyana.”

Of course, Roxanne still cherishes the memories she has made in her homeland. She urges other Guyanese across the globe to reach out to each other, and to remember the tradition taught to them. Roxanne shared that she will continue to pass her tradition on to her children: “I will pass the tradition to my children. As I got older, it was not merely about spending a lot for Christmas; I realised it was who I wanted to spend Christmas with. I want to pass that down to my generation, because there is something in our culture that not everyone could understand.”

To all the Guyanese who may be homesick, Roxanne says she understands what it feels like to miss home. She shared that, “To see another Guyanese, even if it is across the Internet on Facebook or Instagram, even if you may not know them, I feel as though that actually is one way to connect with one another during Christmas.” Keeping memories alive, having contact with other Guyanese in the diaspora and never forgetting what it means to be Guyanese makes any holiday special.