Christmas through the eyes of senior citizens

Dec 25, 2012 News

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By Rabindra Rooplall

By far the most recent tradition is downloading Christmas ringtones to a cell phone. Whether you’re downloading a classic carol or a contemporary selection, having Christmas ringtones on your cell phone is also a good reminder to spread the spirit of the season amongst friends and co-workers.
However, back in the day, when there was not even a cell phone, persons would have had simpler ways of being in and sharing in the Christmas spirit. And according to 96-year-old Daniel Duncan, one way was the arrival of the various masquerade bands that helped with the festive atmosphere.
In reflecting upon decades ago, Duncan said that the masqueraders visited the streets and strut their stuff. “There would be the Mad Cow, Mother Sally. The little children used to run from the cow because they always scared. However, these days the masquerade is basically a dying event.”
Another comparison that the senior citizen made was the tradition of readying homes early for the holidays, since many families now decorate randomly or very close to Christmas Eve when they would be cleaning up the house.
“Especially if they are expecting family from overseas for a traditional Guyanese Christmas. Those people miss the local cuisine, the good-hearted spirit that characterizes our Christmas… they miss the parties and the general fun of the season. We loved having fun.”
Duncan noted that in the past, Christmas cards were something that everybody cherished, however those are gradually going out of fashion, with the advent of email and other technological advancements worldwide.
“In the past Christmas cards were so much that persons would arrange them in the shape of a Christmas tree and these would be pasted on a wall or strung up on a string,” Mr. Duncan reminisced.
“People were more understanding in the past,” the jolly old-timer said, “In the past people had more understanding and Christmas was much better than now. Relatives and family could have come by you and have a good meal and time in an atmosphere of love.  But now they behave ridiculous, not all but some…people invite you and then talk this and that about you now. It supposed to be about peace, love and understanding, and as long as somebody would cause you vexation you shouldn’t invite them.”
“Another thing…People long time used to be more uniformed, Duncan declared. People use to care about their business and dishonesty was not so rampant, now everybody got to get security guards and cameras in their homes and stores. Development now comes with a price.”
Duncan said in his youthful days children were respectful to everyone, even if they wanted to be or not, since the villages and neighbourhoods moulded children into being disciplined and mannerly adults.
“On the other hand the youths of today are behaving as if they are adults and parents have less say in their lives, which actually destabilizes their lives and make them less understanding as full blown adults.
“Children calling for what they want and they are not accepting what they get, in the past you have to accept what you get. Parents have to be parents and not allow their children to make their decisions for them. Who are really the parents in this generation?”
“In the past you had to accept what you get, and always be pleasant about what you receive. Now these days is mommy or daddy I want that, and if they don’t get it then is another story…Parents are the first teacher and if they drink rum and smoke in front of their children and cuss out, what do you expect the children to do?They won’t have discipline and listen to you anyway. If parent are vexed with each other for something, wait till the children gone to school or go on the seawall and row,” Duncan asserted.
Another elder, 82-year-old Evris Julian, in recollecting past Christmases, explained that they “were very wonderful” especially spending time with the family, church and friends.
“These times Christmas is not cherished and valued as it was back then. Everything is a business and life is just an unsatisfying desire to always want and never have to contentment of cherishing what is already gained. Life is just a race to the top without taking time to look at the things that should be really valued, like family, true friends and many other things.”
“Look for instance…in the past people would normally polish their furniture or take it to be upholstered, but in these times people would now buy new furniture instead of refurbishing the old ones. Just throw them out.
“To me, the past was much easier and delightful for families. These days it is more burdensome, with everything being a bill…. the cost of living is making living a trying task. Now everybody treasures money instead of the values that they were taught, so everybody says that if they have money every day is Christmas. What type of life are we living now. The Christmas values now are definitely different from the past.”
Julian opined that children are not attentive to their parents now, but back in the day, children cared what their parents thought and wanted to do what was pleasing and right, instead of doing what they witnessed elsewhere.
“Christmas had more meaningful value than today. Things like the television have stolen most of the core values. I think that young people should honour and cherish their parents and try to live within their means and not be carried away with by worldly desires.”

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