• Families celebrate small moments, family togetherness, and cultural traditions as the community hosts a kite-making workshop.

For the children of Leopold Street, Easter has historically been more than just a holiday; it has been a time to connect, celebrate, and create memories. However, tradition has changed in recent years, with many parents saying today’s festivities are not what they used to be. This is why the community is working to revive some popular Guyanese Easter traditions. Through a collaboration with the community’s Werk-en-Rust Transformation Project Youth Group and several government agencies, the community saw one of its first kite-making workshops earlier this week. Speaking to a few of the mothers who came out with their children, they told the Pepperpot Magazine that their Easter was vastly different from what their children celebrate today. Three mothers from the community, Amy Gonsalves, Charlene Welch, and Malika Boxhill, shared why these simple activities matter so much. In efforts to continue the traditions of kite-making, cross buns, and community togetherness, their voices capture Easter’s deeper meaning: family, culture, and connection.

Born and raised in the community, Amy Gonsalves says she takes every opportunity to have her children participate in activities like kite-making. Speaking on the importance of keeping these traditions alive, Gonsalves shared that events like these not only preserve the craft of kite-making but also give children a new and exciting experience. “I came out today to bring my children so they could have a great time at this event. I usually bring them out to activities like these. They always have a fantastic time,” she added. “I do not know why more parents do not take part in these activities and bring their children out. It gives them a chance to socialise, enjoy themselves, and just be children. It is really a great event.”

Recounting her childhood days in Leopold Street, Gonsalves said it was an authentic Guyanese Easter celebration. Retelling an Easter that many Guyanese are familiar with, she said it included making kites, with children finding creative ways to play, connect, and make memories. “Easter, growing up, was lovely. It was about friends, family, and neighbours. It used to be something really special. Back then, we did not have all these fancy things our children have now, so we had to be creative and make our own fun.” For Gonsalves, Easter is above all a time for family. “Easter is definitely a time for family and friends to come together. Children need that love and attention, especially in this fast-paced generation. Even small outings like this mean a lot to them. Teaching them how to make kites and spending time together may seem simple, but it really matters to them.”

Sharing a similar retelling of Easter in the community, Charlene Welch said she remembers it as a time when every child rushed to make small paper kites and get them in the air, often weeks ahead of Easter. “I have been living on Leopold Street for about fourteen years. Growing up, things were really good. Easter was always exciting. We used to make kites, even simple paper ones, and everybody would be rushing out to fly them. It was something everyone looked forward to.” Today, however, the mother of three boys said that children are not as captivated by kites, noting that electronics and the internet now capture much of their interest. “Today it is very different. Children today are not as excited about flying kites like we were. A lot of them prefer to stay on their phones or tablets, playing games like Minecraft instead of coming outside.”

While it may be difficult for parents to take away phones and tablets completely, Welch believes it is vital to keep the tradition of kite-making alive. Speaking directly to parents, she urged them to pass on these traditions actively. “I think it is important for parents to take them away from the screens and bring them out to activities like this. It helps them reconnect with our culture and understand what Easter really represents.” She added that it also fosters family bonding and connection. “I want to encourage parents to stay focused on their children and bring back some of the traditions we have grown up with. Take them off the phones and tablets, spend time with them, and let them experience these moments. It can really make a difference for them.”

More than family, and perhaps even more than tradition, Easter fosters community. A major part of the Werk-en-Rust Transformation Project Youth Group, Boxhill said, activities like these help bring the younger generation closer together. Citing the strong support the initiative received, with community members, leaders, families, newcomers, and lifelong residents all coming out, Boxhill said the event reignited the community spirit of Leopold Street. “It is great to see parents, community members, and youth leaders all working together with the children. The kids are interacting, learning how to make kites, and enjoying themselves with each other. That is what makes it special,” she added. “Easter has always been a fun time in the community, with different groups and ministries coming in to support the children. Even from the time I came to Leopold Street as a teenager, it has always been a place where people come together, and it is still beautiful to see that continue.”

Leopold Street is one of many Guyanese communities seeking to reintroduce and reignite the vibrancy of a traditional Easter. With workshops like this continuing across the country, Guyana is celebrating Easter at the national level, with leaders placing renewed emphasis on the holiday celebrated in the homes and hearts of all Guyanese. A Guyanese Easter is poised to live on. As Boxhill emphasised, Easter and its traditions are more than pastimes; they are a reflection of who we are and who we will continue to be as a people and nation moving forward. “As a parent, it means a lot to have my child out here interacting with others, meeting new people, and spending time in a positive environment. Activities like this allow children to connect not just with each other, but with adults in the community as well,” she added. “This Easter, I just want to encourage everyone to share love and hope. We have a bright future ahead.”