THE big day is just around the corner and so the Christmas shopping craze in the city has heightened as holiday makers, in a frenzy, try to get the best items for the festive season.

The traffic situation has intensified especially along Regent, Water and Camp streets and the Police may close several streets to vehicular traffic to ease the congestion caused by pedestrians who are expected to be out in larger numbers with the countdown to Christmas Day.

Christmas has long been one of the most celebrated seasons on the Guyana calendar attracting the participation of people of different religious backgrounds.

During the season many homemakers spruce up their homes by renovating, repainting or washing walls and shopping for curtains and new household articles to decorate the house has long been the tradition to complement this.

Store owners downtown had long since started stocking their stores to capacity to meet the demands of shoppers and had reported that they were continually restocking to keep up with the rush.

Floral arrangements, other decorations for the house and household articles are in abundance and at very competitive prices and business persons reported that the holiday sales of apparel, general merchandise and furniture have been increasing with the countdown to Christmas.

Shoppers yesterday said they are still trying to get the household items and many were trying to find the floral arrangements and decorations to match the colour of the new curtains and chair sets.

Several shoppers were seen with lengthy lists as they moved through the stores trying to get what they need while others simply priced items promising sellers to return as soon as possible to make the purchase.

Some of them have completed shopping for household items and are now concentrating on gifts for friends or loved ones and the appropriate outfits for the various entertaining activities billed for this time.

Most stores are offering bargains and discounts on items but some shoppers are complaining about the rising prices.

"Christmas time yu got to get money. Everything does raise then because the sales people know yu want the things to buy", one shopper said.

She was out to get curtains, a new coffee table and decorations but was still unsure of where to purchase the items. She said she visited several stores to find the "right price" and being unable to do so, may have to delete other "small things" on the list until later in the week.

Several customers argued with sales clerks for "better prices" claiming that they have to purchase other things and cannot afford to buy some items at such prices.

One customer, trying to purchase a set of fairy lights, complained to a store owner that the set she bought at another store just last week had stopped working. Visibly upset at the waste, she noted that she had paid "so much money" for the lights which she opined must have been in the store since last year.

Owners of some meat centres and grocery stores said they are however not getting the sales as yet but are anxiously awaiting the last minute shopping rush when shoppers come out in hordes to get the meat, vegetables and other items to make the dishes they look forward to at Christmas.

And adding to the shopping and festive atmosphere are bands of carol singers - one a donkey cart - and masquerade bands.