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Christmas traditions are common worldwide

Dec 30, 2012 News

By Vishnu Bisram

Growing up in Guyana, Christmas was a secular kind of holiday as it signaled the end of the year. In Berbice, I remember the season as being celebrated by every religious group though non-Christians didn’t partake in the religious aspects of the festival.
Everyone, regardless of faith, used to look forward for the season as it was a time for new clothing and special meals.  It was a time when the races got together and when there was hardly any conflict.
Some of the secular activities associated with the Christmas are going shopping for new items such as clothing and decoration for the home, gift-giving, feasting, exchanging cards, charity, listening to music, watching the masquerade bands, going to the horse races, and visiting friends and relatives for meals.
The season offered the opportunity for renewal within the home – the equivalent of a spring-cleaning in New York and many Caribbean people still hold on to that practice in North America and England. Preparation for the holiday started weeks before Christmas, even among non-Christians and the
poorest sections of society.
Hindus and Muslims were ready for the holidays which are a continuation of their festivals of Eid and Diwali.
People wanted their homes to look nice, so one of the activities was remodeling the home. Old curtains were washed or replaced. New cushions may be in place along with new spreads on the beds and new pillows to welcome the new season.
In some homes, polishing and varnishing of old furniture and the floor were done. The yard was clean as a whistle.
The Christmas tree is up or a tropical tree on the front yard was lit up.  In the past, few people could afford a Christmas tree or even decorations.  But as family members migrated and sent home remittances and or decorations, more and more people began putting up trees and decorating their homes with fancy lights. Even the poorest have lights strung up.
The homes and neighborhoods are festooned with trimmings, balloons and other decorations.  And the shopping districts are also well decorated but perhaps not as elaborate (except for the wealthy) as in some of the busiest areas in NY.
No Caribbean Christmas is without special music.  As in North America, Christmas carols are very popular – the same ones are heard in South America although there are local ones as well.  Businesses advertised their Christmas goods and services early and as such radio and television stations started Christmas programming much sooner than in North America — around mid-November.
The music of the masquerade band was evident almost everywhere.
Christmas music was also performed in churches in regular worship services. Church members also performed as carol singers in public places to raise funds for the church.
The season is associated with giving gifts — to relatives, friends, business associates, children, and the needy. Children were told that their gifts were brought by Father Christmas and that they should hang socks. They were encouraged to go to bed by midnight so that Santa can bring their gifts.
Gifts were opened in the morning, generally with squeals of delight from the children.
Families prepared food, cakes and other goodies served with traditional home-made drinks. There was a lot of excitement in baking bread or cake.
The season is also a time for new movies and many people would go to the cinemas to view hit movies from India or Hollywood.
Christmas Day is over but the season remains.

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