Mashramani – Republic Day.
The main holiday of the country is Mashramani, or Republic Day (February 23, the word “mashramani” is translated from Native American dialects as a “celebration after the joint work”). On this day, held a colorful parade, a carnival, “Mashramani”, the parties heatedly compete in the art of dancing, playing musical instruments and steel drums.,
           go through various ceremonies, sporting events, music, dance and theatrical performances.

 The very idea is very similar to our May Day demonstrations, in which each region or a large company lined up in convoy passed a festive march through the city center.
I remember how happy we were preparing for these demonstrations. Themselves to make flowers from tissue paper, ribbons, pins. Inflated balloons and all proudly bear no demonstration.

 Here, too, all the decorations are made from the material at hand, it is rather poor, but happy.
It should be noted that Guyanese generally love and know how to have fun, even if this is no special reason. Dances and songs just at work or on the way to the store absolutely commonplace. Just hearing the music from a passing car, people they go to dance. And I must say that the music from passing cars is heard loud enough. Simply amazing how the driver, pointing at the rear window a huge number of columns, not oglohnet himself.

 Well, back to Mashramani.

Each region of Guyana, organizes his column. Every large enterprise, including religious rganizatsii trying to tell us about yourself in a beautiful presentation.
All of these columns are on the streets, rushing to the National Park, where the stadium sits jury, which assesses performance.
Of course, all this is done in a very different ethic. It is hard to imagine, for example, that on this May Day demonstration could go girls in thong, dancing with a reggae. But the essence remains the same. People demonstrate their achievements.

This year, for example, the first column was the Church of Corpus Christi, singing Hallelujah. Behind them one of the regions of Guyana. For them, the National Library.
  I must say that the nature of Guyanese are very plastic, and all

this backing dancers move rhythmically in a column and beautiful.

The Muslim Diaspora Guyana has a lot of different good traditions. Ranging from child-rearing. This, incidentally, I liked the most in Guyana.

How much would a child not crying, crying, tantrums, and fought in hysterics, he would not give what he demands is not to say “Please.” I must say that the result of such education in the face.

Rarely in modern times where you see such a reverent and careful attitude to parents in an Indian or a Muslim diasporas Gayany.No one of the Muslim custom of Guyana, particularly caught my attention.

At the end of the post in September begins a holiday (they called it Ida, I do not know how to it is our Muslims are not strong in the religious traditions and terminology).

So, on this feast of the Muslims of Guyana collect children from the most-the most remote areas of the country, the most-the poorest families and bring them to Dzhordzhtaun.Ustraivaetsya all the money donors. Do not forget that Guyana’s most expensive – it is petrol. Its gone, and accordingly purchased abroad. Hence, all trips, deliveries and the resulting prices are quite high.

Children bring to school buses almost antediluvian across the country. First, children read poetry, dance, sing. Well, someone that is prepared for them umeet.Potom unpretentious entertainment that is served on all holidays of all nationalities and religions of Guyana – rice and chicken.
In separate bags for each child prepared a small gift to a sweet, just like we do on a Christmas tree. Well basically for Muslims this is Christmas. For many of the kids is the only way to see the world. But it is this way.
And then they arranged for some simple fun. Placed trampolines, carousel and roller coaster.

And the kids are happy. You bet. Such an event. Just look at these kids a little older litsa.Dlya ustraivaetssya game in the ring. Need to throw a ring on the prize, and if hit, the prize is yours. As prizes are set to simple cardboard korodki such bank peas, or ketchup, or a piece of soap. But the main thing is not the prize, and the fact that you won!

This is an annual festival of popular colors, the spring festival.
Holi – is a very ancient festival, and most likely it for several centuries older than Christ. The holiday marks the onset of summer.
Previously, Holly was named Holick. So called his sister legendary king of demons invulnerable to fire. The king of demons has received a gift from Brahma invulnerability – he could not be killed, “day and night, and neither the house nor outside it, either on earth or in heaven, neither man nor animal.” As a result, he was so proud that imagines himself the master of the universe. However, the demon king’s son Prahlad Vishnu revered for his father was angry at him and even made several unsuccessful assassination attempts. Finally, he ordered his sister to put Holick Prahlad on her knees and taken away with him to the stake. The fire was not to cause harm but Holick Prahlad began to ask for help from Vishnu, and it so happened that it was burned down evil Holick burned down.
The coolness was still alive, his life and then chanting Vishnu – God of truth and the law. To the fire coming national storytellers telling about the great deeds of Vishnu, the huge flying bird Garuda – Slayer snakes.
The holiday is celebrated for 2 days (usually in late March – early April), the full moon.
In a multiethnic country, where peacefully coexist with each other a lot of diverse cultures, languages, gods and religions, traditions and customs and spring holidays are more than enough, but Holly is unique in its own way. It is dedicated to the god of love Kamadeve whose bow, according to traditional Hindu iconography, is made from sugar cane, arrows – from the stalks of flowers, a string consists of a swarm of buzzing bees.
On the night before the second day of the holiday throw a huge fire, which burned Holick. In the morning people are out on the street, and the fun begins – all pour colored water each other’s red, green, yellow, blue and black and throw colored powders. Previously, the necessary facilities and materials – dyes, bamboo bryzgalki, powders – were made independently, but now you can buy them in stores. Resent those who have poured your costume, on this day is not accepted, so prim chistyuli completely avoid going out (by the way, the streets are also decorated with bright – colors and elegant fabrics.)
Many researchers believe that Holi – a festival in honor of Krishna and his love games with girls.
Happy Holi due reverence for the tree, called the “Tulsi”, especially the one on which grow red – the color of fire – the flowers.
It almost leafless, and the flowers are large, a little like a magnolia.
They are harvested, dried and triturated to a powder. And then, on the feast day, sprayed a diluted paint the hands and face.
I have never met such a fun and fiery feast.
At that time erases all Class and caste distinctions. Out on the street all who celebrate this holiday. Sprinkle and pour each other canned paints, hugging each other, dancing and wishing each other “Happy Phagvah”. We were extremely surprised to see a dancing crowd of painted and embracing all of the president and prime minister.
During the holiday, we, like everyone else, have been sprinkled, poured and painted so many colors that define race, nationality or even who is who was really quite impossible.
Especially fun youth. Paint smear anyone who gets in the way, so warn tourists not to leave the hotel or too prepared for different eventualities. Unfortunately, today is too complicated cooking quite friendly paints from flowers.
Much easier to buy ready-made chemical dye. The next day the mother can not wash clothes his rebyatni, spread out on the pavement crimson spots, and teenagers go for a week with red faces and hands.
In recent years, the ban on the use of colors other than natural.
As a result, many have skin irritation. Also heard many calls the organizers of the holiday is not to draw water for breeding colors of the nearby ditches. It remains to hope that law-abiding Guyanese heeded the call. Anyway, we all live.

Feast of kites in Guyana.
I was not able to trace where in Guyana, there was a tradition to celebrate the holiday of kites.
None of the neighboring countries of South America and West Indies, there is no such holiday.
Of the six nations that form the basis of the people of Guyana, has two nationalities, coming from countries where there is a tradition zapuskaniya kites – China and India. Maybe that’s the secret origin of the holiday kites in Guyana.
              It has been suggested that the festival of kites in Guyana is a way of celebrating the resurrection of Christ in the Easter days.
On Good Friday, all enterprises in Guyana are closed, no films in movie theaters.

 In many churches held services. The mood is not joyful.
But the fun starts on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
In the sky fly thousands of kites. All colors, shapes and sizes.
Prepare for the feast of kites begin long before Easter.
Children buy construction paper and make their kites. Everyone tries to make the snake to fly above all, singing the loudest.
Especially jealous attached to its tail the serpent blade that could cut off during the flight string of other kites.
Of course, some are upset because of such barbarism, but most people accept it as part of the game, part of the holiday.
I can not say with certainty that the festival of kites for Easter. Indeed, in this celebration on the streets with the kites out and Muslims and Hindus. People of all nationalities, religions and ages.
It’s especially pleasing, of course, children.

Diwali or Deepavali (Diwali, or Deepavali), which in Sanskrit means “fiery bunch” – the festival of lights, is celebrated everywhere in Hindu countries, including Guyana. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. Occurs at the beginning of the month of Kartik (October-November) and is celebrated for five days.
There are several legends associated with the holiday. A variety of legends depends on the variety of Hindu otvetstvleny.
Vaishnavites align the beginning of the celebration of Diwali with the coronation of Prince Rama, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. On the night of his enthronement happy throughout the country was set up illumination.
According to another version, the wise rule of Rama signified deliverance from spiritual darkness. Lights fires symbolize the return of humanity from darkness to light, thanks to the legendary Prince.
Another version. Diwali is dedicated to the Goddess of wealth and fertility of Lakshmi, the wife of Lord Vishnu. Home thoroughly cleaned, all the lights are lit, as the Goddess does not like the dark look to it with a prayer, bring her milk, which is omitted from a coin, but at night left the doors and windows open so it was easier to break into the house.
There is a legend and that the festival of lights symbolizing the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura. In this day of victory of good over evil Hindus themselves lavishly smeared with coconut oil, which cleanses them of sin, as this ceremony is considered equal to the value of bathing in the holy Ganges.
Some of the Diwali Hindu devotes the worship of Goddess Kali, the black, which embodies the cult of power. On this occasion, before the images of the Goddess for ten days make a prayer, and then these images are immersed in water in rivers or ponds.
Diwali is celebrated by Muslims and marking the arrival of Lakshmi, the lights and playing cards and dice – because Lakshmi brings good luck.
In this day all the streets and houses in villages and towns lit up by numerous fires. Traders in the day put in order book of accounts, clean up shop.
In the evening shopping and home illyuminiruyut oil lamps or strings of electric lights.
As a carnival through the streets of the city under the Indian music are decorated with lights cars, one brighter than the other, competing with each other in brightness and beauty.

The machines are arranged theatrical performances of legends of the holiday.

Christmas in Guyana celebrate at home. This is a public holiday. However, Guyana – a country of many religions, and Christmas is not for all the big holiday.
Muslims, Hindus celebrate the New Year in their own way. But all the Christians of Guyana – and it all sorts of Protestant, Adventist, Baptist branch richly decorate their houses and palm trees near the house lights, lights. Exhibit figures of deer, Santa Claus, buying gifts, and Christmas Day is celebrated at home, with a numerous family. Organize their Party in the open air, since the temperature is held at Christmas about 30 degrees. Although the rainy season, of course.

It’s funny how poor Santa Claus is steamed in its coat, hat and beard. Despite the two fans, it’s not sweet. Especially since we first saw a black Santa Claus.