Welcoming the new year in Guyana
New Year's Day is a national public holiday in Guyana. It follows Old Year's Night, when families and friends gather at home, in churches and at parties to see the old year out, often with fireworks at midnight.
The day itself is quieter: many people attend church services, rest after the celebrations or visit relatives. For many Guyanese families it is also a time to make plans and resolutions for the year ahead.
A time for new beginnings
For businesses, the first working days of January are when budgets and projects for the year are set in motion. It is a natural moment to plan construction programmes, so materials can be ordered and shipped in time for the drier parts of the year.
Traditions
- Watch-night church services on Old Year's Night
- Fireworks at midnight
- Family visits and shared meals
- New Year resolutions and planning