fbpx
  • Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • Opinions
  • Features
  • Letters
  • Videos
  • Editorials
  • Columns
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Indo Caribbean New Yorkers gear up for Holiday Season 2024

December 23, 2024
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

On 249th Independence, Guyanese are Grateful for Opportunities and will like country to become part of USA

July 5, 2025
Nisha-Ramracha

PM Modi visits Trinidad and Tobago and awarded its highest civilian honour

July 5, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Irfaan right not to risk partnership with USA

July 2, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

India is an economic asset with which Trinidad and Tobago should cement ties

July 2, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Guyana Port Mourant Day of Activities in NYC on Aug 2

July 2, 2025
Violation of Democracy to deny Independents right to seek Office in Guyana

Violation of Democracy to deny Independents right to seek Office in Guyana

June 30, 2025
Dool Hanomansingh

Gossip en masse

June 30, 2025
Vassan Ramracha

THE GREATEST POLITICAL PONZI SCHEME IN TRINIDAD

June 30, 2025
Capil Bissoon

Keith Rowley’s fall from power, as Prime Minister and PNMs Political Leader

June 28, 2025
Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

Should Stuart Young Receive the PM’s Pension

June 29, 2025
Dool Hanomansingh

NCIC hosted first quarterly lecture in honor of the late Professor Brinsley Samaroo

June 28, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

President Ali is Front Runner in Guyana Elections

June 29, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Condition
Sunday, July 6, 2025
  • Login
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News
  • Home
  • Columns
    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    On 249th Independence, Guyanese are Grateful for Opportunities and will like country to become part of USA

    Nisha-Ramracha

    PM Modi visits Trinidad and Tobago and awarded its highest civilian honour

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Irfaan right not to risk partnership with USA

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    India is an economic asset with which Trinidad and Tobago should cement ties

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Guyana Port Mourant Day of Activities in NYC on Aug 2

    Violation of Democracy to deny Independents right to seek Office in Guyana

    Violation of Democracy to deny Independents right to seek Office in Guyana

    Vassan Ramracha

    THE GREATEST POLITICAL PONZI SCHEME IN TRINIDAD

    Capil Bissoon

    Keith Rowley’s fall from power, as Prime Minister and PNMs Political Leader

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Should Stuart Young Receive the PM’s Pension

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    President Ali is Front Runner in Guyana Elections

  • Letters
    Guyana Rohee’s mocking of Illegal Guyanese & Green Card Holders in America

    Guyana Rohee’s mocking of Illegal Guyanese & Green Card Holders in America

    Charles Sugrim

    Authenticating Dr Bisram’s Poll in Guyana

    Gary Griffith

    United We Stand, Divided We Fall

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Democrats More Dangerous to Dragon Gas than Republicans

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Who Really Lost in the Junior Sammy Matter in Trinidad?

    Jai Lall

    A challenge to become the rainbow in Leonora’s cloud

    Rabindra-Moonan

    The opposition UNC led by Kamla Persad Bissessar has gone into meltdown mode.

    Jai Lall

    Residents of Leonora, Guyana are ashamed and embarrassed

    Kamla Persad Bissessar

    Trinidad & Tobago REPUBLIC DAY MESSAGE 2024 OF LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Crime has reached a high level in Trinidad and Tobago

  • Community News
    Indian Arrival Day in Guyana and Trinidad

    Indian Arrival Day in Guyana and Trinidad

    Remembering Aunty Betty of Port Mourant, Guyana

    Remembering Aunty Betty of Port Mourant, Guyana

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Exxon, Liability, and Guyana’s Growth

    English rendering of PM’s interaction with the brave air warriors and soldiers at the Adampur Air Base

    English rendering of PM’s interaction with the brave air warriors and soldiers at the Adampur Air Base

    Indian-Caribbeans Observe Hanuman Birth Anniversary

    Indian-Caribbeans Observe Hanuman Birth Anniversary

    Ram Navami 2023 Observed

    Indo Caribbean Americans Observed 2025 Ram Naumi or Navami

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Gowtam Maharaj: “Phagwa is much more than gulal and abeer; it is building family love and strong communities.”

    Queens Boro President hosts 2025 Holi (Phagwah) Celebration

    Queens Boro President hosts 2025 Holi (Phagwah) Celebration

    Indian-Caribbean Americans in 2025 Phagwah (Holi) Spirit

    Indian-Caribbean Americans in 2025 Phagwah (Holi) Spirit

    Indo-Caribbeans Spellbound by the Maha Kumbh in India

    Indo-Caribbeans Spellbound by the Maha Kumbh in India

  • Editorials
    cliff-rajkumar

    VANISHING FOOTPRINTS

    Kamla Persad Bissessar

    Trinidad and Tobago OPPOSITION LEADER addresses TOWN HALL MEETING ON EDUCATION IN SAN FERNANDO WEST

    Jai Lall

    Guyana Leonora’s villagers are inseparable

    Dr. Vishnu Bisram

    Indo-Caribbean to speak on India’s Soft Power in Delhi

    Jai Lall

    Empty vessels make the most noise – politics in Guyana

    Ashook-Ramsaran

    In Commemoration of the 23rd Anniversary

    Kamla Persad Bissessar

    Hope for UNC of Trinidad?

    Ravi Balgobin Maharaj

    Is there No Other Musical Instrument Indigenous to T&T?

    Guyana-map

    October 2024 Hindu Conference bring back memories of Humiliation of Indians in Guyana

    Jai Lall

    Is Kamala Harris the “Trump” card for the Democrats?

  • Opinions
    Dool Hanomansingh

    Gossip en masse

    Dool Hanomansingh

    NCIC hosted first quarterly lecture in honor of the late Professor Brinsley Samaroo

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Telling the UNC side of the Story

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Why you don’t need to think!

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Proud Indians

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Why the Hindu community remains weak despite personal achievements?

    Leyland-Chitlall-Roopnaraine

    A CHILD’S DEATH PLUNGES A COUNTRY INTO CRISIS

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Pakistan has always been a puppet nation

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Never too late for Dinesh to redeem himself!

    Dool Hanomansingh

    Bhadase and Sat were successful in so many ways

  • Videos
    Dool-Hanomansingh-003

    US Congress woman Tulsi Gabbard condemns the ongoing genocide of Hindus and other minorities

    Geeta-Vaahini

    Geeta Vaahini, President of the  Hindu Prachaar Kendra speaks on the social significance of Ganga Dhara Festival.

    Geeta-Vaahini

    Geeta Vaahini, President of the Hindu Prachaar Kendra speaks on the Hindu view of the environment.

    swami-brahmadeo

    Swami Brahmadeo – Hindus are top CEOs and Medics in North America and Europe

    Gowtam-Maharaj

    Gowtam Maharaj, a farmer of Barrackpore, South Trinidad, shares his challenges being a farmer.

    BAMBOO #1 Flooding – Frustrated Residents

    BAMBOO #1 Flooding – Frustrated Residents

    NATIONAL-LOTUS-THEATRE

    NATIONAL LOTUS THEATRE – Performance of Niyantran

    radica-jairam

    Story of RADICA JAIRAM from Orange Valley

    fisherman-trinidad

    Families of Orange Valley felt neglected by PNM Government

    Dr Subramanian Swamy

    Dr Subramanian Swamy – Dharma Rising London April 2015

  • Features
    ravi-ratiram

    Trinidad MP Ravi Ratiram Condemns Government’s Failures Amidst Rising Crime in Central Trinidad and Calls for Immediate Action to Protect Citizens

    Pandit Ramdular Singh

    Pandit Ramdular Singh on Guyana’s Dharmic Sabha

    Vassan Ramracha

    PNM bent on Africanizing Trinidad

    Baldeo_Chanderpaul-3

    West Indian cricketers must strive to emulate Shiv Chanderpaul of Guyana

    Jai Lall

    Who in Guyana will ever buy the PNC/AFC/APNU “honesty, integrity and decency” pitch again?

    cliff-rajkumar

    Non Indians Embracing Sanathan Dharma

    Mr. Rudranath Indarsingh

    INDARSINGH ON RELOCATION OF PRINCES TOWN FIRE OFFICERS

    Vassan Ramracha

    TRIBAL AFRICANS DO NOT CONDONE INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES

    Jai Lall

    Guyana President Ali and Cabinet Ministers Engaged West Coast Supporters

    Dr Jerry Jailall

    PPP Government responds quickly to changing “Negro” on Government forms, will they also add “Indian” to Arrival Day?

No Result
View All Result
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News
No Result
View All Result

Indo Caribbean New Yorkers gear up for Holiday Season 2024

by Dr. Vishnu Bisram
December 23, 2024
in Columns
0
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Dr. Vishnu Bisram

487
SHARES
3.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

This is the last weekend before Christmas and end of year festivities, and Indo Caribbean New Yorkers are gearing up for the season, gripped with holiday fever, shopping in earnest for gifts and food (drink) items for preparation of special holiday meals. Christmas and the related end of year season is the most celebrated of all festivals. An aura of excitement is in the air in Guyanese and Trinidadian residential and commercial neighbourhoods (Richmond hill, Jamaica, Ozone, Queens Village, Flatbush, etc.). The plowable snow on the ground and bitter cold temperature have not deterred people from going out to do shopping to celebrate Christmas and the season.

Guyanese Americans, as well as Trini counterparts including their American born and grandchildren as well as great grands continue to celebrate the season with the traditions as accustomed with in Guyana. They are out of Guyana in the diaspora but Guyana remains in their thinking, way of life, and cultural practices, including worshipping, entertainment, music, and food habits. The early Guyanese pioneers in America have transplanted many practices and traditions in their new adapted including those associated with Christmas liking making cake (black cake included).

Everyone, regardless of ethnicity and faith, take in the beauty of the season and engage in one kind of celebration or another. Homes are remodeled and decorated on the exterior with fancy electronic lights. Ditto the yards! The Guyanese neighborhoods are brilliantly lit up with a variety of colors. There is competition for best lit homes.

During the season as they do in Guyana or Trinidad, Indo Caribbeans acquire new clothing, special entertainment equipment, and prepare Guyanese meals (curried dishes, pepper pot, pachaoni, cake, pastries, bread, etc.). There was a lot of excitement in baking; children join in the preparation. Families prepare mauby, sorrel, ginger beer, eggnog (coog), all popular with the diaspora including those born in USA. Their American friends also like those drinks and Guyanese cuisine.

Christmas is a time for family get-together. Guyanese consume a lot of freshly killed animals (mutton, goat, chicken, duck, etc.) although more and more Indians are turning to vegetarian diets for health reasons. There are animal farms in the city catering to West Indians and Caribbean people. Halal meat shops and animal farms do well this season as do roti (dhal puri) shops; a lot of bara, phulourie, and pastries are consumed.

Shopping areas patronized by Guyanese and other West Indians drew large crowds over the last couple weeks as people shopped for gifts, decorations, drinks and food items. There is gifting especially to children to create joy for family members. As in Guyana, Christmas carols and related songs are very popular – (calypso, reggae, chatney and locals, Bollywood) at home and in shops.

The end of the year season is also a time for parties at businesses owned by Indo Caribbeans or where large numbers of them are employed. Several Mandirs also held year-end holiday concerts last weekend. The Indo-Caribbean Federation hosted a dinner for its executives and supporters in Ozone Park. Arya Samaj USA held a dinner last Saturday evening in Richmond Hill. Other organizations held luncheons for seniors in Little Guyana, a practice going back many years.

The Christmas holiday will be at fever from this weekend as many businesses have closed for the holidays, until after New Years. Schools shuttered only from last Friday.

Facebook Comments Box
Tags: carribeanDr. Vishnu BisramGuyanaGuyaneseindian cultureIndian diasporaIndian GuyaneseIndiansIndo Caribbean diasporaindo-caribbeanIndo-Caribbean communityIndo-GuyaneseTrinidadTrinidad and Tobago
Share125Tweet78Share31
ADVERTISEMENT
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Dr. Vishnu Bisram is Guyanese born who received his primary and secondary education in Guyana and tertiary education in the US and India. He is a holder of multiple degrees in the natural sciences, social sciences, and education. He taught for over forty years in the US. He is a specialist on the Indian diaspora traveling globally to research and write about Indian communities. He was among a small group of freedom fighters in America that combated the dictatorship in Guyana. Dr. Bisram organized many conferences on the Indian diaspora and lectured at several universities. He has published extensively on the diaspora and on various other topics.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Guyana Port Mourant Day of Activities in NYC on Aug 2

July 2, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Irfaan right not to risk partnership with USA

July 2, 2025
Dool Hanomansingh

Gossip en masse

June 30, 2025
Violation of Democracy to deny Independents right to seek Office in Guyana

Violation of Democracy to deny Independents right to seek Office in Guyana

June 30, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

On 249th Independence, Guyanese are Grateful for Opportunities and will like country to become part of USA

July 5, 2025
Nisha-Ramracha

PM Modi visits Trinidad and Tobago and awarded its highest civilian honour

July 5, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Irfaan right not to risk partnership with USA

July 2, 2025
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

India is an economic asset with which Trinidad and Tobago should cement ties

July 2, 2025

The most important world news and events of the day.

Get ICDN daily newsletter on your inbox.

ADVERTISEMENT
Indo Caribbean Diaspora News

© 2024 Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News. All rights Reserved

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Condition

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Columns
  • Letters
  • Community News
  • Opinions
  • Videos
  • Features
  • Editorials

© 2024 Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News. All rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In