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Cover Design 1
Merry Christmas!
May the traditions,
spirit and memories
of our Caribbean Christmas
remain with you this Christmas
and throughout the New Year.
Merry Christmas!
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Cover Design 2
O Holy Night!
Come Let Us Adore Him!
Oh, Come Let us adore Him!
At this time of praise and celebration,
Let us rejoice in the name of the Lord
and give thanks for His birth.
May the warmth of Christmas
bring you continued blessings
throughout the New Year!
Merry Christmas!
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Cover Design 3
Mom's Christmas Bonnet
To a Wonderful Mother
Mom, may you experience
the joy of the season,
and the blessing of the Lord
this Christmas.
Merry Christmas! |
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Cover Design 4
May the warmth of Christmas
warm your heart.
May the spirit of giving
bring you blessings.
May the peace of the Holy Spirit
comfort your soul,
and the love of God
be in all you do.
Merry Christmas! |
Cover Design 5
Let us keep our traditions
close to our hearts,
for its meaning never ends
and the spirit of sharing and love
is the warmth and joy
we remember always.
Merry Christmas
And Best Wishes
for the New Year!
Cover Design:
The Masquerade Band
A Guyanese Christmas Tradition
Christmas comes but once a year,
an' everyman mus' 'ave he share,
even de drunk man in de jail,
drinking sour ginger beer!
Play de Music!
Masquerade Bands exist in various parts of the Caribbean as
part of the Christmas celebrations and date back to the days of
slavery in Guyana and the Caribbean, when as part of the rituals
of our African ancestors, the religious features of the original
ceremonies were transformed into this living and dynamic
manifestation of our African heritage.
The main attraction in any Masquerade band is the group of
flouncers who with mournful faces and eyes turned heavenward,
show off the variety and skill of their steps, going down slowly
on one leg, the other stretched horizontally for the “pick-up”
which is usually a coin or dollar bill thrown by the audience.
The Masquerade Band is made up of musicians, dancers (flouncers),
a stilt dancer, a Mad Bull or Cow and Mother Sally or Long Lady
who is usually the crowd control agent. With her flailing arms,
she is derived from one of the protective matriarchal figures of
one of the West African tribes.
The musicians with their Fife, Kittle, Boom and Steel dictate
the movements of the dance by their melody and rhythm. It is
said that these instruments were originally borrowed from the
British regiments stationed in the Caribbean and later became
traditional. |
Cover Design 6
Christmas Morning Come Again!
As we celebrate
the season of Christmas,
Let us practice the principles of love,
sharing and unity,
and hold on to the positive
in all we do
throughout the New Year.
Merry Christmas &
Happy New Year!
Cover Design:
The Masquerade Band
A Guyanese Christmas Tradition
Christmas comes but once a year,
an' everyman mus' 'ave he share,
even de drunk man in de jail,
drinking sour ginger beer!
Play de Music!
Masquerade Bands exist in various parts of the Caribbean as
part of the Christmas celebrations and date back to the days of
slavery in Guyana and the Caribbean, when as part of the rituals
of our African ancestors, the religious features of the original
ceremonies were transformed into this living and dynamic
manifestation of our African heritage.
The main attraction in any Masquerade band is the group of
flouncers who with mournful faces and eyes turned heavenward,
show off the variety and skill of their steps, going down slowly
on one leg, the other stretched horizontally for the “pick-up”
which is usually a coin or dollar bill thrown by the audience.
The Masquerade Band is made up of musicians, dancers (flouncers),
a stilt dancer, a Mad Bull or Cow and Mother Sally or Long Lady
who is usually the crowd control agent. With her flailing arms,
she is derived from one of the protective matriarchal figures of
one of the West African tribes.
The musicians with their Fife, Kittle, Boom and Steel dictate
the movements of the dance by their melody and rhythm. It is
said that these instruments were originally borrowed from the
British regiments stationed in the Caribbean and later became
traditional. |
