Guyana_Chronicle_Christmas_Supplement_2021 by Guyana Chronicle

GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

Guyana Chronicle Christmas Special Adding value and patriotism to Christmas

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s a m t s i r h C y r r e M Knitted ‘chair backs’ still a a11 traditional Christmas decoration

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

Adding value and patriotism to Christmas By Rehana Ahamad THE Christmas holiday is, undoubtedly, the most expansive gift-giving time of the year. In addition to relatives and friends, many of us also receive gifts and gift cards from various companies and government ministries and agencies; this year is no different, except that the cards and gifts we got from government entities this season were all locally made. You see, just as we were heading into the holidays, President Dr. Irfaan Ali took a decision to distribute gifts that are value-added along with hand-made cards that ooze patriotism. “For Christmas, I said to Cabinet, the official gifts of the government will be cassareep, honey, crab oil [etcetera],” Dr. Ali told those attending a Christmas dinner and awards ceremony hosted by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Limited (GMSA) earlier in December. The President said that the move is intended to not only promote “all things Guyana” to its local, regional and international partners, but also boost morale and financial independence within certain key communities. “Our Christmas cards will be made locally by single mothers, people with disability and [persons from] the Amerindian communities,” President Ali noted. Even more impressive is the fact that the cards were projected to contain little intriguing pieces of information such as where they were produced, and a brief history of the person or persons who produced them. President Ali is confident that such cards will contribute to more social wins, and I could not agree more. If you know me, personally, then you’d know that I am a nostalgic hoarder; I have a tough time letting go of things that once brought me joy, especially people and Christmas cards. Let me explain: When I was growing up in Novar, Mahaicony, my grandmother, Zabeda, and my late ‘Aunty Doll’ always maintained a beautiful showcase corner for the many Christmas cards they would receive, year after year, after year. Come to think of it, it was almost an untold and unexplained law to not discard any of those cards;they were treasures, it seemed. ‘Twine lines’ would be strung on nails, and the lovely Christmas cards, much like laundry, would be hung in a little nook for all to see. At one point, I remember the twine breaking under pressure, and in an instant, cards were scattered on the living room floor. I was probably about eight at the time, and I loved to read. I would read everything that crossed my path; I still do this, mind you. Nonetheless, that day, I sat on the floor and read in excess

Thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture, I will now be able to restart my Christmas card collection of 45 cards, mostly Christmas cards, one by one. They were all from relatives overseas; aunts and uncles that I had only heard stories about, but had never seen. I recall some of the cards being even older than me at the time; the designs were captivating, and the words melted my young heart. I understood, in that moment, why my aunt and grandmother held on to those things; they really were treasures. Unfortunately, the tradition of those treasures seemed to have been lost with the passage of time. OVERLY NOSTALGIC As I sit here at my desk at midnight, typing this article, I am becoming overly nostalgic. I wish I at least had photographs of those cards to see for myself, and share with you our readers. I wish I was able to get actual glimpses of what those cards looked like. I wish I was able to hold them, smell them, and read the heartening little messages they contained. In the 27 years that I have been on this planet, I had only ever received one Christmas card; one! It was from my Aunt Renu in Canada. Unfortunately, my mild hoarder personality clashes with my mother’s need to discard of old things. I still remember how much I cried the day she burned my typewriter. I might even still have some residual PTSD from that incident; it wasn’t easy to stand there and watch as that piece of history turned to ashes. Well, if I’m to be honest, it took several days to completely burn, but still, it was tragic. For as long as I can remember, I have desperately tried to hold on to things that face threats of extinction. I have such a nostalgic personality that I keep old perfume bottles; don’t judge me. Here’s the thing: I never use the same fragrance

more than once, so every scent is like a time machine; it sends me back to the period of my life where I flaunted a particular fragrance. For instance, a whiff of those AVON cucumber-scented body mists transports me back to my days of attending Covent Garden Secondary School; a backbencher, surrounded by my dearest friends, laughing non-stop during our lunch breaks. Unfortunately, the wonderful scent that is Gucci Bloom has been tainted by this Jumanji-like year of 2020. If I were to decide to procreate, smelling that Gucci perfume will be a poignant reminder of stories to tell my grandkids; the horrors of forgetting to wear my mask, or wash my hands every few seconds. Truth be told, I don’t fear change; I fear things being lost:Traditions, memories, photographs, etc. There are so many things that I don’t wish to see fade with time; one such thing is the tradition of sending hardcopy cards, especially at Christmas. The question of whether Christmas cards are becoming obsolete has been bothering me for the past few years, but I am now a tad bit relieved, having received a single card, which will now go towards restarting my collection. And, you should know that I no longer live with my mother, so, my fear of her disposing of my cards are not as strong, especially since she lives at least five hours away. This year, my Christmas card collection was restarted with a card I received from Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha and his team. As promised by President Ali, the cards were customised, and the appreciation basket contained authentic cassareep and other locally-manufactured products such as achar and plantain porridge, etcetera. In the meantime, I can’t wait to receive more Christmas cards, so that I, too, can have a nicely decorated and immensely intriguing card section set up at my home. Admittedly, **the corner that once adorned my grandmother’s house is no longer there, and even though I am constantly reminded of the fact that hardcopy Christmas cards are becoming obsolete, I am determined to keep the tradition alive, at least within my family circle, for now. Nonetheless, as we brave another Christmas amid a pandemic, I hope that you have a merry time, even those of you who’ve replaced your hardcopy Christmas cards with the electronic ones.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

The history of Christmas

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back to a monk named St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey around 280 A.D. He gave away all of his inherited wealth and travelled the countryside helping the poor and sick, becoming known as the protector of children and sailors

CHRISTMAS is celebrated on December 25 and it is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870. HOW DID CHRISTMAS START? The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man

called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight. In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year. The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking. In Germany, people honoured the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside. SATURNALIA In Rome, where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, slaves would become masters. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun. Also, around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honouring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year. IS CHRISTMAS REALLY THE DAY JESUS WAS BORN? In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 to 14 days after the 25th. This is because Western churches use the Gregorian Calendar, while Eastern Churches use the Julian Calendar, which is 13 to 14 days behind the Gregorian Calendar. Both Western and Eastern churches celebrate Epiphany or Three Kings Day 12 days after their own respective Christmases. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger. By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today’s Mardi Gras. Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the “lord of misrule” and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined “debt” to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens. TURN TO PAGE a7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

Christmas on the job similarities. Some of the similarities are the decorating of the offices, the bonding with ‘work family’ and the patients, prisoners and passersby and the special Christmas meals, to make the ambience as close to home as possible.

By Richard Bhainie

CHRISTMAS DAY is a day when families are gathered, and loved ones are near; when the home is filled and there is nothing but joy in the air. It is a day when most people are away from work, and persons travel from far and near to be together, to wine and dine and spread the Christmas cheer. But while this might be the tradition engrained in Guyanese Christmas history, some persons spend Christmas day on duty. The Guyana Chronicle reached out to a few essential workers – doctors, nurses, firefighters and prisoner officers, who shared their experiences of spending Christmas on the job. These individuals play an indispensable role in keeping the gears of Guyana grinding. They work tireless and excruciating shifts, to provide services, for the benefit of the public. THE DAY ON THE JOB The consensus amongst the professions is that Christmas is a

Roddy Denhart, Assistant Superintendent, currently serving as the second in command of the Georgetown Prison ‘A’ time when the work environment is transformed to accommodate the festivities the day brings. While the Christmas celebrations vary to some extent based on the industry, there remain some

Dr. Shaunell Taitt-Griffith, a medical officer at the Accident and Emergency Ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

Glyndon Griffith, acting Section Leader of the Fire Preventions Department

Dexter Williams, an Operations Manager at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for the last eight years and recently appointed COVID-19 team captain, has worked on Christmas Day for the last eight years. He disclosed that his department would make donations to various elderly homes and orphanages on Christmas Day, an experience that he looks forward to. He explained that seeing the smiles on the faces of the individuals at the organisations, fills him with warmth and creates a welcoming atmosphere, which contributes to enlightening his Christmas on the job. Roddy Denhart, Assistant Superintendent, presently serving as the second in command of the Georgetown Prison ‘A’, has been a prison officer for 20 years, 15 of which he spent Christmas on the job. Denhart explained that while Christmas in prison is unique in comparison to the wider society, his team makes it as homely as possible for the inmates. At the prison the day begins at 05.00 hours, where preparations are made for the special breakfast, after which there are a list of activities the inmates partake in, such as domino competition, football competition, poetry and caroling. At the Guyana Fire Service while the Christmas spirit is fostered, they limit it, as the officers have to remain on “high alert” for any eventuality the day may bring. AWAY FROM FAMILY, BUT WITH FAMILY Family is considered utmost amongst the list of imperative things on Christmas Day, and while these individuals will be spending Christmas away from their biological family, their work family is as equally as important to them. Franka Thomas, Section Leader attached to the General Office at the Guyana Fire Service, has been in the service for 15 years, to which she spent seven Christmases on the job. Thomas, a mother of four, highlighted the importance of family within the Guyana Fire Service. She shared that the to-

getherness within the service somewhat mitigates from being with her biological family on Christmas Day. She also explained that when persons sign up to join the Guyana Fire Service, they are well aware that it is a 24-hour job and, as such, they would be able to prepare themselves and their families for the reality of the job. Similar sentiments were shared by professionals in the medical field and the Prison Service. They took an oath to execute their duty, and it will be done to the best of their ability.

Dewon Richmond, a Staff Nurse and Midwife at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)

Dexter Williams, an Operations Manager and COVID-19 Team Captain at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) A MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS ON THE JOB While duty takes away from the activities of the day, some experiences have stuck with these service men and women, that they cherish and help them to get through the job on holidays. Assistant Superintendent Denhart explained to this publication that while the Prison Service was planning Christmas for the inmates, to their surprise, the inmates were planning Christmas for them. One Christmas the inmates at the Georgetown Prison presented Denhart and his team with a painting and a paper mâché swan, which they worked on secretively. The gesture by the inmates touched a soft spot in Denhart and he has kept the painting and the craft to this date. Meanwhile, Dewon Richmond, a staff nurse and midwife at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, who is in the medical field for 10 years and has spent five Christmases on the job, also share her memorable moment. Richmond explained that a great joy to her is having experience the birth of a baby on Christmas Day. She recalled a particular situation where the father of a new-born was not expected to be in the country when his wife gave birth. However, to the mother’s surprise, the father appeared and there was great delight that filled the atmosphere. It was an indescribable moment of fulfilment that stuck with Richmond throughout the years.

PLEADING WITH THE PUBLIC Dr. Shaunell Taitt-Griffith, a medical officer at the Accident and Emergency Ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, who has been in the field for three years, to which she spent two Christmases on the job, is pleading with the public to practise safety. Dr. Taitt related that she believes that persons have grown relaxed and comfortable with the idea of COVID-19. She is asking that if while everyone is indulging in the festivities, that they think twice about their actions because not only are they putting themselves at risk but also the health system that faced the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic since March, 2020. She recommended that persons continue to wear their masks and practise social distancing, and abide by the COVID-19 guidelines. Glyndon Griffith, acting Section Leader of the Fire Preventions Department, an officer of 13 years, who spent 12 Christmases on the job, is asking the public to practise fire safety. He explained that witnessing the grievances of persons who would have lost their property or family to fire is a heart-wrecking moment for him. He is pleading with the public to practise safety and exercise caution during the Christmas season as well as regularly. He noted that fairy lights are common around Christmas so if persons are going to have those lights installed in their homes, they should ensure that they are used when adults are at home. He recommended that persons do not overload electrical circuits, that they monitor all cooking activities, pay keen attention to children, teach children fire safety and have adults supervise their activities. The individuals mentioned took the opportunity to extend warm season greetings to the Guyanese public, and are encouraging the public at large to continue to be patient as they weather the storm, that is the COVID-19 pandemic.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

The history of Christmas...

FROM PAGE a4 WHEN CHRISTMAS WAS CANCELLED In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday. The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christ-

mas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident. After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favour, including Christmas. In fact, Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870. WASHINGTON IRVING REINVENTS CHRISTMAS It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centred day of peace and nostalgia. But what about the 1800s piqued American interest in the holiday? The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During that time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city’s first police force in response to

a Christmas riot. That catalysed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America. In 1819, best-selling author, Washington Irving, wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent., a series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house. The sketches featured a squire who invited the peasants into his home for the holiday. In contrast to the problems faced in American society, the two groups mingled effortlessly. In Irving’s mind, Christmas should be a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday bringing groups together across lines of wealth or social status. Irving’s fictitious celebrants enjoyed “ancient customs,” including the crowning of a Lord of Misrule. Irving’s book, however, was not based on any holiday celebration he had attended—in fact, many historians say that Irving’s account actually “invented” tradition by

implying that it described the true customs of the season. A CHRISTMAS CAROL Also, around that time, English author, Charles Dickens, created the classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol. The story’s message-the importance of charity and good will towards all humankind-struck a powerful chord in the United States and England and showed members of Victorian society the benefits of celebrating the holiday. The family was also becoming less disciplined and more sensitive to the emotional needs of children during the early 1800s. Christmas provided families with a day when they could lavish attention-and gifts-on their children without appearing to “spoil” them. As Americans began to embrace Christmas as a perfect family holiday, old customs were unearthed. People looked toward recent

immigrants and Catholic and Episcopalian churches to see how the day should be celebrated. In the next 100 years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards and gift-giving. Although most families quickly bought into the idea that they were celebrating Christmas how it had been done for centuries, Americans had really re-invented a holiday to fill the cultural needs of a growing nation. WHO INVENTED SANTA CLAUS? The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back to a monk named St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey around 280 A.D. St. Nicholas gave away all of his inherited wealth and travelled the countryside helping the poor and sick, becoming known as the protector of children and sailors. St. Nicholas first entered American popular cul-

ture in the late 18th century in New York, when Dutch families gathered to honour the anniversary of the death of “Sint Nikolaas” (Dutch for Saint Nicholas), or “Sinter Klaas” for short. “Santa Claus” draws his name from this abbreviation. In 1822, Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore wrote a Christmas poem called “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” more popularly known today by its first line: “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The poem depicted Santa Claus as a jolly man who flies from home to home on a sled driven by reindeer to deliver toys. The iconic version of Santa Claus as a jolly man in red with a white beard and a sack of toys was immortalised in 1881, when political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, drew on Moore’s poem to create the image of Old Saint Nick we know today. (History.com)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

A Hinterland Christmas

- A wholesome dose of togetherness, food and drinks By Tamica Garnett THE Christmas season is well-known as a time that fosters the coming together of family and friends, and, for many Amerindian villages in Guyana, this is an aspect that they take really seriously, celebrating the day with huge village-wide cook-outs, inter-denominational church services, and lots of friendly sport

competitions. Councils for the villages would often take charge of coordinating all and sundry to play a part in a wide array of activities, ensuring that there is something for everyone in the village to feel the love and spirit of Christmas, even if that person is just a mere visitor. The past two years have been quite different due to the COVID -19 pandemic,

but even so, “Christmas has always been a wonderful time,” shared Dwight Larson, 31, a native of the hinterland village of Isseneru in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region (Region Seven). That particular indigenous community is home to a population of just over 300 persons. Larson currently lives on the coastland, but usually makes the trip back home for the holidays, es-

pecially to take his two children, a daughter and a son, to learn about their culture. “On Christmas Day, the Village Council takes over the festivities. A lunch is planned and prepared for everyone including families, friends and visitors. Gifts are also distributed by the Village Council to every household and budding young families. There are also planned concerts, football or other

Dwight Larson (centre) dresses in a Santa Claus suit, flanked by his cousins while celebrating one of his Christmases in Isseneru, Region Seven games arranged by the sports group, in which the young and old take part,” Larson told the Guyana Chronicle. For the villagers in Isseneru, Christmas Day rolls out with an inter-denominational midnight church service. “Isseneru Village has two main churches, the Allejuah and the Anglican churches, and despite the variation in the two forms of worship, both denominations would collaborate to usher in the Christmas holiday. Everyone attends the church service, greeting and hugging families, friends and visitors. There is always laughter during the wee hours on Christmas Day. This has been the tradition for many years,” Larson elaborated. For Isseneru, the Christmas Day festivities reaches its climax with a huge village luncheon, where everyone in

the village brings out food and meets at one location to celebrate the day together. “It’s a tradition that was passed on by our foreparents,” Larson said. He continued, “I remembered when I was little, they would blow the horn for families to gather in the mornings to eat and drink. That has passed on to our generations. Every family contributes to the Christmas lunch.” TUMA POT Patrons get to enjoy the traditional Amerindian dishes such as tuma pot, which is made with meat that includes deer, fish or labba, and of course this is eaten with cassava bread; however, usually up for grabs is also a wide array of dishes from other cultures such as chicken curry, fried rice, roti and cakes. And then there are the

An aerial view of the hinterland village of Isseneru, Region Seven beverages, and naturally it’s Larson said, adding: “There not an Amerindian event are a variety of things cooked without piwari but other for the Christmas lunch. We beverages include Cassiri, have the various traditional potato juice, and cane juice. foods and drinks, roasts and “Food is never enough, we other Guyanese cuisines.” eat, we share and we take Notwithstanding the home. It’s all about enjoying COVID-19 situation the resthe holiday and sharing the idents of Isseneru are love on Christmas Day,” TURN TO PAGE a11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

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Knitted ‘chair backs’ still a traditional Christmas decoration

By Tamica Garnett

THERE are many things that have become uniquely associated with Christmas in Guyana; one such staple is the “chair back” which Guyanese rush to use as part of their decorations at home. When Guyanese hustle and bustle around the city doing their Christmas shopping and walking around, vendors can often be seen knitting, creating pieces that will soon grace the back of some sofa set. Those in the business say that, while there has been some decline over the years, for varying reasons, Christmas is still a peak period for business. “Knitting will always be in demand around this time,” shared 53-year-old Joan Adams. Joan has been knitting since she was a teenager; most of her work is done on order, customised to the needs of the client; however, she often also markets pre-knitted pieces. She said a lot has changed in the business of knitting over the years, but many persons still enjoy the beauty that knitting brings when used in decorating a home. “Your home is your castle, and at Christmas time when you finish dressing your home it’s nice to see the knitting craft work. When you look on your chair decorated in all these creative things you feel very proud, you feel that you don’t even want to leave your home; it’s so comfortable and so decorated, you feel your home is like heaven,” she noted. From adorning the chairs and tables to even the walls, the

A Hinterland... FROM PAGE a10 planning to share the love, and enjoy the festivities in a manner that does not defy the health protocols. At Phillipai Village, located in the Upper Mazaruni, also in Region Seven, the atmosphere, celebrations, and spirit of togetherness during the Christmas season, are pretty much the same as Isseneru. “The village council arranges for a big pot of food to be cooked. In addition to that there are pots upon pots of tuma, with meat, or fish tuma, or smoked fish. Cassiri is in abundance and it is shared around to all the residents. Barrels, upon barrels of Cassiri, there’s cassava bread and the men are sent out to hunt or fish, especially to celebrate Christmas,” said Laura George, who is a native of that village. Though a little bigger than Isseneru, having a population of some 1,500 residents, togetherness still permeates the Amerindian community of Phillipai. COMMUNITY SPIRIT “We have a big community spirit in Phillipai. Everybody just come together and eat together and it’s just such a big celebration. It reminds us of how grateful we are for being together. To me, that’s very unique about Christmas in Phillipai,” George expressed. She added: “All the residents come out and we sing

Christmas carols and people from the different satellite communities and neighbouring villages would also come out. Persons always say they love how we celebrate the Christmas in Phillipai, so they would come to celebrate with us and we’re happy to have them.” After eating together, it’s time to play together. “After the lunch, the big communal lunch, there’s usually time for games. We may have a friendly football match, or cricket match and we would have competition between the young and the old, or the men and the women, so it’s a really fun time,” she related. “After the games we would close off with a snack time and then persons would go off into individual groups and they would even have further celebrations there.” Again, it’s not just a celebration for one day. “These celebrations even though it’s for Christmas, it lasts for days and even into the New Year as well,” said George. And even as time ebbs on and society changes, and in some places, traditions may change, many of the ways in which Amerindian villages celebrated their togetherness before is just how they still celebrate it in present day. “Christmas in Phillipai hasn’t changed much at all. Something that will always remain is our spirit of helping each other.

eye-catching pieces vary in colour, style and sizes, and offer an instant energy to the rooms they decorate. “When you go through the [vendor’s] Arcade, this is the time you see all kinds of knitting, people just creating things, you see Christmas tree, the ‘God Bless This Home’ patterns, sometimes you create birds, trees, leaves. You can create so many things with your hands out of knitting; that’s why people love it so TURN TO PAGE a13

Joan Adams surrounded by some of her knitted work

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

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Knitted ‘chair backs’ still a traditional...

Knitted chair backs and table centre pieces are often a staple in Guyanese homes at Christmas FROM PAGE 11 living. “Since I was young, like around 17-18 I involved in much,” she told the Guyana Chronicle. knitting. I had dropped out of school and I didn’t have any Though initially done as a means of earning a living, for one to give me a financial support in my teen, and that was Joan knitting has become more than just a business, it is a in Burnham time when he insist that if you don’t have a passion, and a means of expressing her ingenuity. sound education you have to have skills that you can bring ART in an income. And that even self your husband don’t want “Knitting is about art. It’s about being creative. When you to work you can make money at home independently,” you finish doing it and you see the beauty of it you cherish she said. your hands. It’s like when you go by Main Street and see Aside from knitting for customers, Joan also enjoys those men doing these carving work bringing something beautiful out of wood; it’s like that and it’s a very special knitting for her own personal use, so she can also enjoy her home as her own little heaven. gift from God,” she expressed. But like any art form, she said knitting is about a lot of intricate work and mistakes can become time consuming. “If you make one mistake you have to rip out everything, so you have to focus, your brain, your eye, your hands have to be focussed. Sometimes to loose it out you feel so discouraged because of the time you will have to do it all over again… but you have to loose it if you want to economise on the thread,” she said Also in the business is 61-year-old Volda, who, this Christmas, enjoyed a peak in orders. However, she points out that customers making untimely orders too close to Christmas often stymie the amount of product that can be created, given the amount of time that has to go into production of the lattice pieces. “You does get an increase at Christmas, but the knitting orders does got to come in early,” Volda explained, adding: “At Christmas a lot of people does want to order late but when they come in early you would able to do more knitting. Some patterns you can do two pieces in one day, and then other patterns you would take two days to complete one piece because of the design.” Though many knitting pieces come as part of a set, the pieces can also be sold separately, with the price varying according to several factors. A LOT HAS CHANGED Over the years, a lot has changed about the business, including the cost for the material, as well as the amount of work that has to go into a piece. Because of that the pricing for the knitting has changed. “It used to be like $5,000 for a five-piece set, but then the sets used to be single thread, and the knitting thread used to be like $500 a bag, and the thread used to be more compact too. Now it’s like $780 for one thread, and the pieces knitting using double thread [technique], so because of that the price for knitting has gone up,” she related. “It all depends on how much fine work involved and how much time you spend on it. Now the price fluctuates depending on the pattern the customer wants, more pattern more thread. Long time you used to fix the price [before], but the knitting was single thread, so the thread used to carry you a far way. Like two balls could’ve give you a five-piece, so you could’ve covered your expense, your time and everything, now sometimes you have to charge $2500 [per piece],” she notes. Both Joan and Volda learnt the trade as part of a vocational training programme at their community centre, on the West Bank of Demerara. The programme was taught among a collection of trades by older women in the community. “Since I was 16, I knitting, now I’m 61 [years old]. At the village office they had a women’s group where they had big women, and they used to get the little girls them in the village and they used to carry we to learn to knit, and do different, different things, make Chinese sauce, cook, icing cake, sewing,” Volda related. Joan said she got involved as a means of being independent since the business gave her a chance to make a

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

Symbols of Christmas

By Pat Dial

A SYMBOL is an object which could be three-dimensional or otherwise which encapsulates a story or a concept or concepts. Symbols are used to communicate meaning in an easily understood form, and crosses the barrier of linguistic differences. The Christmas Festival, in its progression over two thousand years through different cultures and languages, has accumulated within itself, a

large number of symbols. In this offering, we will mention a number of the most common Christmas symbols which are known or used in Guyana. Very often we see “Christmas” written as “Xmas”, but is yet pronounced as Christmas’. This symbol of writing “Christmas” as “Xmas” is one of the oldest Christmas symbols. “X”, in the Greek alphabet, is pronounced “chi”, and was used by the early Christians who were being persecuted as a code for “Christ”; thus the usage

of “X-mas” as a symbol for “Christ-mas”. Another ubiquitous symbol of Christmas is Santa Claus or Father Christmas. Santa Claus is depicted as a kindly and jolly old man clothed completely in red, wearing Medieval-style long boots. Santa loves children and brings them gifts on Christmas Eve when they are asleep. Santa Claus is a symbol for St. Nicholas, a Bishop who lived in the 4th Century in Asia Minor, and who was legendary for his practice of

the highest Christian spiritual, moral and ethical values. He loved the poor and those in suffering, and in particular children to whom he showed great loving kindness. Over the centuries, St. Nicholas was depicted in many ways, but the tradition of always being clothed in red persisted, since his Bishop’s vestments were red. His present depiction as Santa Claus dates from about the 17th Century. The Christmas Stocking and Santa’s carriage overflowing with gifts for children are

two symbols which are sometimes used for Christmas itself. On Christmas Eve, when children are asleep, Santa visits and fills the stockings which they would have hung up. Santa flies through the night sky on his carriage drawn by his six reindeer, and leaves gifts in the living room or under Christmas Trees. St. Nicholas was believed to be able to fly, so Santa’s ability to fly is derived from that tradition. The Christmas Stocking and Father Christmas’ carriage symbolise universal love and protection of children. There are a number of botanical symbols associated with Christmas, and most of these were derived from the pre-Christian religions of northern Europe. These include the Pine and Fir trees, and the Holly, Mistletoe and Ivy. The Yule Log is taken from any of the large evergreens of the temperate zone. Branches of the Pine or Fir trees are used to make Christmas Trees in the home, or in public spaces in cities. The Yule Log was either a long log which was burnt in fireplaces in homes over a long period, or short log pieces which were decorated and then burnt. The Yule Log is one of the most auspicious Christmas symbols, as it signifies prosperity, protection and health and divine blessings throughout the year. Its importance is shown by the fact that Christmas is often called Yule. The holly and mistletoe were dark green, and they stood out against the white snow. They were symbols of God’s love and the love of human beings for each other, and signified love which would last forever. The Pine and Fir were endowed with divine properties, and were often regarded as symbolising the Gods themselves and worshipped. The Christmas Tree symbolised peace, prosperity, protection, plenty and good health throughout the year. The one botanical Christmas symbol which is derived from the Caribbean is the Poinsettia, a large deepred leafy flower on branches of floppy green leaves. The flower was discovered by the French Caribbean explorer, De Poincey in the 17th Century, and was named after him. Some Americans claim that the flower was named after Poinsette, an American who visited Mexico in the 19th Century, and brought the flower to the United States. The flower is widely used in Christmas decorations, and exudes a sense of freshness and joy. The Guyanese Christmas

Mr. Pat Dial Tree is usually decorated with the main Christmas symbols, and, as such, we will envisage the Tree when dealing with the other Christmas symbols. This will also help to make the Christmas Tree more meaningful. At the apex of the Tree is usually the Star of Bethlehem, which symbolises the star which guided the Magi, or Wise Men of the East, to the place of Jesus’ birth, so they could worship the new incarnation, or Avatar, of God. In the hands of the Magi were three boxes containing gold, frankincense and myrrh, which were gifts for the Baby Jesus. These gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh symbolised the life, work and death of Jesus. On the Tree are usually hung golden balls. In ancient Anatolia, there was a young woman, who could not be married since she had no dowry. St. Nicholas placed some golden balls in her home, which she used for her dowry, and became happily married. The golden balls symbolised that event and St Nicholas’ Christian loving kindness. Together with the golden balls are balls of green, red and blue, signifying the four colours of Christmas. These colours are also used in the fairy lights which decorate the Tree. Gold symbolises God, the Sun, Light and Enlightenment; Green symbolises Peace, Prosperity, Good health; Red symbolises the blood of Jesus, who allowed himself to be crucified for the Salvation of Mankind. Blue is associated with the Virgin Mary, and recalls the miraculous birth of Jesus. Silver Bells symbolise the welcoming of the birth of Jesus. In Medieval times, the churches, at midnight on Christmas Eve, would have their largest bells pealing to welcome the birth of the Lord, and the silver bells reminisce that event. The Candy Cane is usually made of peppermint, and is white signifying purity of the Lord, with its red spiral signifying the blood of Jesus. It is shaped like a shepherd’s crook, symbolising Jesus, the Good Shepherd. When the crook is turned downwards, it becomes the letter “J”, signifying Jesus.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Christmas Supplement, 2021