A story of numbers

Mashramani and Easter

Mashramani and Easter are two popularly celebrated festivals in Guyana. Guyanese and non-Guyanese, from abroad, return to Guyana for the celebration of some of these festivities. Schools are closed and teachers and students have some time away from the usual “chalk and talk” to focus on the celebrations, for example the “MASH” parade, dancing competitions, kite flying, kite making and general time spent with the family. 

This year’s celebrations saw the former Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, now absorbed as a Department in the Ministry of Education, celebrating Guyana’s 46^th year as an Republic/Mashramani under the theme Celebrating with Liberty, Dignity and Greater Unity. In addition the cultural side is maintained where there is collaboration with various Government Ministries, for example the Ministry of the Presidency in sharing out kites to children across Guyana.

Along with these efforts by the Government ensures that these festivals are enjoyed by all, or at least it tries to provide avenues so that all could participate but, yet, not all participates in the celebration.

After interviewing 50 random persons, in Georgetown, Berbice and the East Coast of Demerara, about whether they celebrate MASH and, or Easter and why, these were their responses: 

In response, a “Mild” - 40% of the persons interviewed declared that they celebrated Mashramani while 60% claimed that they did. 

When asked about the reasons why they chose not to celebrate the national festival, 10% of the 60% of the persons who said they did not, exclaimed that this was so because of the vulgarity of the celebration and that they strongly believed that the celebration has lost its real purpose and has attracted one that promotes drinking and bacchanal of adults and minors, which according to them shines a bad image of the country’s festival celebration. 

10% said they did not because it was just a tradition within their family not participate or do anything in keeping with the festivities. 

10% of the 40% remaining indicated that it was not worth the spending of all that money just for one day.

30% posited that they focused on their children’s education and their own rather than utilising that time to celebrate Mashramani.

When asked about Easter many, in their responses, brought to our attention that Easter was a more generally celebrated event even among those who were not from the Christian denomination.

60% of the persons interviewed celebrate Easter while 30% thought it was religiously wrong and exhibited a mockery to Christ.

5% stated that it was too costly while 5% expressed the view that it was a day of relaxation.

In a comparison of the two festivals that is celebrated in Guyana yearly, 15% of the persons thought it was too costly to celebrate either activity.

There is a 10% gap between those who celebrate Mashramani and those who celebrate Easter. 10% is made up of those persons, who use the time to rest, and those that think that it is either wrong or not being done properly.  

While the difference of opinion and response remain, these two festivals are still among the most loved in Guyana. It is gloomy to know that finances can be a hindrance to people and the way they participate in a celebration. It can restricts enjoyment and self-fulfillment. The Government of Guyana could endeavor to do more to meet these specific needs rather than having the resources shared out for these festivals, randomly.

In addition, the “vulgarity” should be minimized, especially from those festivities that have the stamp of the national culture on them and all self-respect and respect for other cultural and religious beliefs should and be observed.

Produced for the course DPC 2204 - Online Journalism.
Centre for Communication Studies at the University of Guyana
By Samuel Gillis, Latoya Joseph and Dwayne Hackett
© April 2017