Latest update October 1st, 2026 2:29 PM
Dec 13, 2024 Letters
Fifes, flutes, fiddles, kettle and boom drums, and shac-shac— festive music and beats of the masquerade band along the street.
Children ran to see the fun.
Every man and woman frolicking in sweet music.
There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing,
and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning.
Costumes—a patchwork of outlandish colors.
A mismatch never seen;
more bizarre with the ghoulish masks.
Men danced on stilts.
“Long Lady” brushed the clouds away;
it was a sun-drenched day.
Mother Sally gyrated with a big, big behind.
There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing,
and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning
Nani and Nana couldn’t wait; they pranced and danced by the gate,
and incited the band to raise the music like Jouvay on Christmas day.
Big Bertha brought out black cake, rum, sorrel, and mauby.
Every reveler on the street had a treat.
There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing,
and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning.
Then the music stopped,
The leader of the band raised his voice.
Revelers and onlookers listened to every word:
“Christmas comes once a year,
and every man shall have his share,
but poor brother Joe in jail
drinking sour ginger beer! Blow! Blow!”
Fifes, flutes, fiddles, kettle and boom drums,
triangle and shac-shac heeded the leader’s call.
The verve and energy flooded the street.
There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing,
and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning.
And the man with the “Bull-Cow” rushed to the crowd.
Children saw the lowered horns.
They saw the flaring nostrils;
they saw fire in the bull’s eyes.
They ran; they came back—
a dangerous thing to tease a mad bull born to gore.
But what a spectacle:
the sweet mischief of children and bull.
There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing,
and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning.
Sincerely,
Haimnauth (Cecil) Ramkirath
(The Masquerade Band)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Oct 01, 2026
…Guyana’s could seal Gold Cup berth against Dominica By Rawle Toney (Kaieteur News) – The Golden Jaguars will look to take another significant step towards a return to the Concacaf Gold Cup...Oct 01, 2026
(Kaieteur News) – I told the Guru about a Tik Tok video I had seen of a very wealthy man who had done something that, at first, seemed rather strange. He had spent much of his life building wealth. He had a comfortable home, good food, security and all the things that money can provide. Yet...Sep 20, 2026
By Sir Ronald Sanders (Kaieteur News) – Crime in Latin America and the Caribbean is no longer only a matter for the police. It is weakening societies, draining economies and obstructing development. It is also testing public confidence in courts, governments and democratic institutions. The...Oct 01, 2026
(Kaieteur News) – Ye Gods! The Justice Gino Persaud “visa review” public kangaroo trial is leading to some unlikely places. In his trial by fire, even the mighty U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Excellency Nicole D. Theriot, ended up with her own hair on fire. “We are not aware.” What...Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: glennlall2000@gmail.com / kaieteurnews@yahoo.com