Grade Six Social Studies
How was your week? I hope you are intensifying your studies. As you know, your examination is fast approaching. Please take time to revise all your subjects, work with your personal study timetable and your study journal. Use your journal to paraphrase work given by your teachers, try to practice past examination questions, this would help greatly in preparation for NGSA.
Stay Safe!
Topic: National Holidays
Specific Learning Outcomes:
• Classify national holidays.
• Identify the main religious groups in Guyana. • Describe national holidays in Guyana.
The National Holidays in Guyana maybe classified as follows:
1. National Religious holidays which are observed by the three main religious groups in Guyana.
2. National holidays which have no religious significance, but which are linked to some aspect of Guyana’s history.
FACT/TIP: In Guyana, there are three main religious groups: • Christians
• Hindus
• Muslims
There are some very sacred festivals associated with these religions and most are observed as National Religious Holidays.
Let’s Look at Christianity!
Christianity, less commonly referred to as Christianism, is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world’s largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.4 billion followers representing one-third of the global population.
Place of Worship:
Christians worship in a building called a Church.
In ecclesiology, the Christian Church is what different Christian denominations conceive of as being the true body of Christians or the original institution established by Jesus.
Holy Book
Christian’s study using a holy book called the Holy Bible.
The Bible is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthology – a compilation of texts of a variety of forms – originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek
Christian Religious Holidays Christmas
A festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is observed on December 25, every year. Christians throughout the world hold special services in their churches to give thanks for the birth of Christ.
Christmas is a time of merry making, feasting and giving. Wherever it is celebrated, there is the spirit of goodwill and peace towards all men. This was the message from the angels who brought the news of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. In many homes there is carol singing, eating and drinking of such foods and drink as pepper pot, garlic pork, black cake, baked chicken or turkey, sorrel, ginger beer and rice wine.
Why is it called black cake?
But what truly makes it black cake is the burnt sugar – known as “browning” poured in seconds before the cake goes into the oven, giving the dessert its distinctive, rich dark color.
In the streets, masquerade bands parade and the pulsating music of fifes and drums can be heard as little boys and men bounce to the beat of music.
The Christmas season lasts from December 25 to just around New Year’s Day, and greeting cards are sent to friends both at home and abroad. Most of the cards send a wish for good cheer, goodwill and peace. Everyone enjoys Christmas, regardless of their religion.
Guyanese Masquerade is an exciting and colourful performance that moves through the streets of the South American country around Christmas time. An important part of masquerade are the costumed characters who perform to a band’s music, collecting money from audiences.
St. Stephen’s Day/ Boxing Day
Saint Stephen’s Day, also called the Feast of Saint Stephen, is a Christian saint’s day to commemorate Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr or protomartyr, celebrated on 26 December in Western Christianity and 27 December in Eastern Christianity. The Eastern Orthodox churches that adhere to the Julian calendar mark Saint Stephen’s Day on 27 December according to that calendar, which places it on 9 January of the Gregorian calendar used in secular contexts. In Latin Christian denominations, Saint Stephen’s Day marks the second day of Christmas tide. Saint Stephen was stoned to death. It was the custom long ago to take gifts to friends and relatives in boxes- hence the name Boxing Day. Guyanese observe this day by visiting friends, picnicking and going to parties,
Let’s Look At Good Friday
Good Friday is observed at the end of Lent- a season of forty days, during which some Christians fast and pray. It is the most solemn season in the Christian calendar because it marks the death of Jesus Christ.
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, and Black Friday.
Christians throughout the world go to church to commemorate this solemn occasion. A custom on Good Friday is the selling of Hot Cross Buns.
They are symbolic of this significant day in the Christian faith when Jesus was crucified. Each bun is decorated with a cross made from flour paste, which represents the cross on which Christ died.
These Hot Cross Buns are lightly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and studded with tangy craisins or raisins.
Let’s Look at Easter!
Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary.
Christians throughout the world go to church and sing joyful hallelujahs because Christ has risen from the dead. On the day following- Easter Monday there is jollity everywhere. Kites of all description and sizes are flown. The sky is dotted with tiny specks and the air is filled with the hum of the ‘singing engines.’ Families also take the opportunity to picnic and spend time together. Kite flying reminds Guyanese of the risen Christ. It is enjoyed by everyone regardless of religion or race.
A kite is a tethered heavier-than-air or lighter-than-air craft with wing surfaces that react against the air to create lift and drag forces. A kite consists of wings, tethers and anchors. Kites often have a bridle and tail to guide the face of the kite so the wind can lift it.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!