With flickering fairy lights and well-decorated homes, many non-Christians in West Berbice, join in the celebration of Christmas and splurge on their shopping while sharing the joy with gifts and goodies.
Many persons look forward eagerly to the season and as Savitree Singh, a Hindu, puts it “some of the nice things we get at Christmastime [and the offers] are not available all year so we have to shop them when we get them.”
When this reporter caught up with Savitree about two weeks ago, she had already cleaned and decorated her house for Christmas. She had also purchased new carpets, furniture and other household items.
Admitting that she does not know the true meaning of Christmas, she said she celebrates “because it is a national holiday and I like to cook nice things for my children on holidays.”
She said when she was a child her mother used to take her and her siblings to Georgetown or New Amsterdam so they “would see and shop nice things and take a picture with Santa.”
She said she keeps up that tradition and was planning to take her children for a trip to the city providing it did not rain. Savitree also planned to “buy toys for some poor children who live nearby and share food and treats to them for Christmas.”
Meanwhile, some staunch Muslims and Hindus who this reporter spoke to, related that they do not celebrate Christmas, as it is not a part of their religion. They said they just see it as an ordinary day, but a few admitted, “we does try to buy toys and gift items at this time and keep them for when our holidays come around.”
In villages like Bush Lot, Bath Settlement and Rosignol many persons start the celebration on Christmas Eve day. Dressed in their best outfits they go for walks to get ice cream, or to have their photographs taken with Santa Claus.
They also use the opportunity to do their last minute shopping. The drinking spots in these areas are usually crowded until Christmas morning while some residents capitalise on the opportunity to make extra cash by setting up roadside barbecue grills.
In villages like Hopetown and Belladrum, Christmas Eve dances are held and at midnight persons would usher in Christmas with firecrackers.
Many Christians prefer to spend Christmas Eve night and a part of Christmas morning in church, singing carols, giving praise and in some cases, exchanging presents.
A practising Christian and a member of the Lutheran church, Sandra Baldeo of Bath Settlement said, “Christmas is a time to put yourself good with God”. Therefore, she celebrates “in church and share whatever little we have.” She recently hosted a party at her house and provided presents for over 200 less fortunate children in the area.
On Christmas Eve night she goes to church with her family and after that they visit the homes of church members and sing carols. She recalled, “long ago we used to walk down the road and sing carols from Bath to Number Seven Village but now we cannot do that because we are afraid people would interfere with us.”
Apart from the fear of crime though, she said persons no longer paid much attention to their singing because “they are distracted by Santa Claus at the stores and the hustle and bustle…” Though Bath Settlement is made up of persons of various religions, almost everyone is out on the road to be part of the fun.
Sandra is of the view that “many persons do not celebrate Christmas as it should be celebrated
