Christmas, widely known as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, is also a holiday that underscores the importance of togetherness. One place that exemplifies this is the Hinterland areas of Guyana. In Amerindian villages, Christmas is a holiday that many anticipate, as families not only spend time together, but the entire community gathers to eat, drink, and celebrate the gift of having each other.
One Indigenous village that celebrates Christmas in this manner is the Wapishana nation of Karaudarnau, located in Region Nine. Speaking with the Guyana Standard recently, Toshao Apollos Isaacs shared that Christmas celebrations are held in all Amerindian villages. He said it is a time where people come together at the community sports ground, regardless of background, to spend the holiday together.
He explained that during this festive season in his village, fishermen and hunters venture out days before Christmas to gather meat for the grand feast. Women prepare farine and parakari (an alcoholic beverage), while men collect toro fruit from palm trees for drinks. “Annually, we slaughter two animals, bake cakes, and villagers donate whatever they have—local provisions, drinks, and more—towards our celebration,” the Toshao shared.
According to Toshao Isaacs, these efforts are made because some homes and families may not have enough to eat or enjoy on Christmas Day. “So we come together to put smiles on our people’s faces,” he added.
Continuing these traditions this year, the Village Leader disclosed that this Christmas Day will be packed with fun activities. He mentioned that families who can afford it bring gifts to place under the Christmas tree to be given out, and if any agencies donated gifts, these will also be distributed. Among the celebrations, cultural items will be showcased by various cultural groups. “The village feast is the highlight of the day, where everyone brings their food containers to eat and drink together.
“All these events start with a joint service, and while the preparation is grand, it’s the gathering of everyone that makes Christmas special in the village,” he explained.
Toka Village
In another village in Region Nine, the beautiful community of Toka also comes together to spread the joy of this momentous holiday. Toshao Micah Davis explained that spending Christmas in Toka is when family members who have been away for months, return to reunite with their families. He said these individuals mostly come back from Brazil and Georgetown. “Those who left the community come to the village and initially gather with their families, and on Christmas Day we come together as a village. We kill a cow, bring food, roast, cook, and share our meals,” he described.
On Christmas Day, he noted, the day begins with a church service where everyone comes together to give thanks for their blessings before heading into the grand gathering. According to Toshao Davis, Christmas in Toka truly embodies the spirit of giving and spreading love among its people. “The community, as a family, meets to sit, talk, and share stories,” he added.
St. Cuthbert’s Mission
Another Amerindian community celebrating Christmas together is the culturally vibrant St. Cuthbert’s Mission (also known as Pakuri) in Region Four. Toshao Alvoro Simon shared that Christmas in the Mission is very family-oriented. During this season, most residents who live on the coast and children attending school outside the village tend to return home, making it a family affair in the village.
Recalling previous years, the Toshao mentioned that during this season, especially on Christmas Eve, families gather to bake cakes and prepare all the meats for the next day’s cooking. According to him, “Christmas has always been a very festive season in the Mission, where we all come together closely, visit others, and even walk around the village on Christmas Eve night to see how other families are doing.”
Leading up to Christmas, they host a Christmas Tree lighting and visit schools to share gifts with the children. Two social events are held: one for senior citizens and another for community workers to celebrate their contributions to the village. With three churches in the village, Toshao Simon stated that on Christmas morning, residents attend services before participating in the day’s activities. “The village is vibrant with music, greetings, and kids playing with toys during the Christmas season,” the Toshao shared. Later in the day, villagers gather to play sports like cricket and football, he mentioned.
The Village Leader noted that following a recent tragedy in the village where three individuals lost their lives, the Council plans to focus on spreading cheer and positivity this Christmas. “We want the residents to know that even though we faced a tragedy, we will overcome it and become stronger and more united as a people,” he assured.
Campbelltown Village
Meanwhile, in Campbelltown, Region Eight, Toshao Earl Gildharie highlighted that this Christmas, they plan to have a communal lunch for everyone in the village. They will distribute hampers to the elderly and have a gift.
Overall, the celebration of Christmas in the Hinterland areas of Guyana is a testament to communal unity and the spirit of giving. Villages like Karaudarnau, Toka, St. Cuthbert’s Mission, and Campbelltown certainly come alive with shared traditions, feasts, and festivities, all of which underscore the importance of togetherness.
