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EveryParampara

Traditions of Georgetown

The capital of Guyana, with Phagwah and Mashramani, a wooden cathedral and a table of pepperpot.

Georgetown is a garden city of wooden houses on stilts, with a tall wooden cathedral. Guyana's peoples include those of Indian, African, Amerindian, Chinese and Portuguese descent. Phagwah (Holi) and Diwali are shared in public, and on 23 February, the Mashramani festival marks the republic with floats and masquerade.

Mashramani and Phagwah

Mashramani, called Mash, is an Arawak word meaning celebration after hard work. Bands, floats and costumes parade on the road. At Phagwah in March, people of all backgrounds throw coloured powder and water on each other and sing chowtal. Amerindian Heritage Month is held in September.

At the table

Pepperpot, a meat stew in a boiled cassava-root syrup is eaten at Christmas with bread. Cook-up rice, a one-pot dish with coconut milk and beans, and roti with curry are common. Black cake is soaked in rum for Christmas. Garlic pork, a Portuguese-Guyanese custom, is served at Christmas.

Signature traditions of Georgetown

MashramaniThe republic day.

Also part of it, and being written: Guyanese pepperpot (The stew.), Phagwah (The Holi.), Pelau (The dish.).

A trail idea for Georgetown

  1. Stabroek Market See the iron market.
  2. St. George's Cathedral See the wood.
  3. Botanical Gardens Walk.
About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

KindSpiritualFestivalRite of passageTable customSeasonalDressPerformanceEtiquetteCraftGameFolkloreHomeCeremony
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperTea-time and snacking customsTea, coffee and drinking ceremoniesSweets given and sharedFeasts and festival mealsFasting and breaking the fast
🇬🇾 Georgetown, GuyanaMashramani Guyana's national republic celebration filled with street pageantry, music and dance.Festival

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly EveryParampara

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