‘Plastic kites’, parties and picnics…Kite flying at Easter a dwindling Guyanese tradition

Apr 02, 2018 News

By Enid Joaquin

It’s Easter Monday again, and children and some adults all across Guyana will make their way to various open spaces, parks, hilltops and community centre grounds to fly their kites.
Most are hoping that the sunshine of the past few days will continue and that there will be enough breeze to take their kites airborne.
But while the mostly younger children will be engaging in this activity, most of the older ones seem not to be too excited in kite flying of late.
Mark Allicock, a former resident of Lower Kara Kara reminisced on his Easter holidays as a child.
“I remember growing up, that Easter used to be a real exciting time, almost the entire community of families used to pack picnic baskets and head over to the dyke to fly our kites. It used to be real fun and it gave families the opportunity to do things together. ”

M.P Jermaine Figuiera shares out kites to children in Victory Valley

Allicock added that now, as a father, things are totally different, where his sons, though they were excited about kite flying when they were smaller, now seem to have lost interest in the activity. They prefer to just hang out and watch while others enjoy the thrill of kite flying.
A few youngsters asked to compare what obtains today as compared to long ago, said that things have changed.
“While people still fly kites there is not much excitement, like there used to be, when we were growing up.
“We used to start with the caddie old punch since before school closed, and we used to be out flying our kites long before Easter Monday.
Nowadays people wait until Easter Monday, so there is not so much fun and family interactions.” a young father opined.
He added that with the advent of ready-made kites that could be bought cheaply, fewer families are engaging in making kites, he lamented.
“Long ago fathers used to be busy with children getting their kites ready for the big day and even big brothers used to help out the smaller ones to put their kites together, so there was a whole lot of fun even before the actual big day of flying when everybody went out in a picnic-like atmosphere.”
A young mother of one said that “commercialism” is killing the real essence of Easter where most youths are more interested in going out to parties, getting dressed up, and if they do feel inclined to
Fly a kite, they purchase the cheap and readily available ‘bird kites.’
There is no prior preparation, with the anticipation and adrenaline rush to get the kites up, she said.
APNU member of parliament Jermaine Figuiera who yesterday presented a few children with kites, reflected on his own kite flying days. Easter for me as a child was a wonderful experience. It provided us not only with the opportunity to participate in the symbolism it represented (the Resurrection of Jesus Christ,) but an opportunity for my brother and I to spend quality time with our father. He took time to teach us how to make kites, to be creative and learn life lessons that continue to shape our lives today. He took great pride in those shared moments and
even helped us in getting our kites up.”
Figuiera added that at the time, he never truly appreciated the importance of what his father was doing. It was not until later when he started teaching where he observed the profound impact, the absence of fathers had on countless children.
“I do believe the Easter of my childhood has significantly evolved to a lesser family oriented activity that embodies the symbolism it ought to
represent. Easter is now more commercialised, it’s
more about making a profit; Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, hat shows, pageantry, barbeques, drinks and music. Parents seldom make kites for their kids because the mass production of those plastic kites and others makes it easy.
I believe the church is cognizant of this reality so the question is, what should and will be done to take back Easter if it’s possible, and allow the message of the Resurrectionto take prominence once more.”

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