Easter and the Guyanese tradition

Apr 20, 2014 Editorial

Christians the world over will today celebrate the triumph of one man over death. The story has it that this man was born of lowly parentage, grew up simply but demonstrated intelligence beyond his years and preached the gospel.
He had many followers during his thirty-three years on earth and he set the tone for righteous living. But despite all this the people killed him. He never proclaimed to be the Son of God; the people who listened to him so proclaimed. All those who followed him agreed that he had come to save mankind.
His name was Jesus and he was designated the Christ, a title that he got shortly before he died. Research stated “Jesus took three of his disciples to a high mountain where they could pray alone. According to the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ face began shining like the sun and his entire body glowed with a white light. Then, the prophets Elijah and Moses appeared, and Jesus talked to them.
“A bright cloud emerged around them, and a voice said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This event, known as the Transfiguration, is a pivotal moment in Christian theology. It supports the identity of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The Scriptures proclaimed that Jesus died on the Cross, was buried in a sephulcre—a hollowed grotto in the side of a mountain—only to rise on the third day which Christians say makes this day the anniversary of his resurrection.
All this happened just over 2,000 years ago but a lot has changed since then. For one, there are so many branches and teachings of the religion that one is tempted to be confused. The first big split came when an English king, King James, wanted to divorce his wife for another. The church did not promote divorces so King James made a serious modification to the religion.
The old church did not permit priests to marry but King James then made this possible. That old church and its offshoot, the protestant church (the Anglican church as distinct from the Roman Catholic church) do recognize this festival which is the most celebrated in the calendar.
In Guyana, we celebrate this day in a most unique way. The Guyanese tradition is to fly kites, objects that people say symbolizes the resurrection. Kites are flown in other countries too, but only in one other country at this time.
Wikipedia notes, “In Greece and Cyprus, flying kites is a tradition for Clean Monday, the first day of Lent. In the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, traditional Bermuda kites are made and flown at Easter, to symbolise Christ’s ascent. Bermuda kites hold the world records for altitude and duration.”
“In Guyana, kites are flown at Easter, an activity in which all ethnic and religious groups participate. Kites are generally not flown at any other time of year. Kites start appearing in the sky in the weeks leading up to Easter and school children are taken to parks for the activity. It all culminates in a massive airborne celebration on Easter Monday especially in Georgetown, the capital, and other coastal areas.
“The history of the practice is not entirely clear but given that Easter is a Christian festival, it is said that kite flying is symbolic of the Risen Lord.
The exact origins of the practice of kite flying (exclusively) at Easter are unclear. Two anthropologists speculate that kite flying was introduced by Chinese indentured immigrants to the then colony of British Guiana in the mid-19th century.
Its link to Easter is said to be very accidental. The author of an article in the Guyana Chronicle newspaper of May 6, 2007 is more certain: Kite flying originated as a Chinese tradition to mark the beginning of spring. However, because the plantation owners were suspicious of the planter class, the Chinese claimed that it represented the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Chinese came to Guyana from 1853-1879.
Whatever the case, the believers have a reason to celebrate and the rest of the country has a reason to reflect on a good man who walked the earth, on a man who caused others to say, “He came unto his own and his own received him not.”

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Easter and the Guyanese tradition

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