When he a cut a Bajan-American's hair, the next morning he found ten Bajans outside waiting their turn.

The story brought the house down. But , deep down, the gathering knew the Barbadian people, as with peoples' worldwide, generally don't have that scrounging, advantage taking mindset.

This is no more apparent than at this time of year with Bajans displaying the traditional Xmas spirit, with family gatherings, church going, sharing and general wellwishing.

Among those caught up in the season's festivities are the thousands of Guyanese immigrants to the Eastern Caribbean island and the hundreds of contract workers.

Barbados,unlike neighbouring islands, have never in the past been changed hands among the European ruling classes since the English monarchy lay claim to it nearly four hundred years ago. The Xmas season's culture reflects this historical influence , mixed with some cultural traits from the majority population of African descent. Anglicans, Methodists, Evangelical groups and Catholics making up a large part of the Christian majority.

Christmas trees are in most homes. The well- to- do buy the imported pine trees from North America while others are satisfied with plastic versions. In the old days, some people would paint up limbs from the casuarina, or "mile" tree, a tall evergreen tree found on coastal areas.

Over the last two decades, many Barbadian home owners "light up" their places with electric lights. Bonnets, a residential area in St.Michael Parish, has every home so decorated . Families come from miles around to look at the sight. Neighbourhood committee people ask visitors for donations to pay for the high electricity bills.

The capital Bridgetown, on the occasion of the 375th anniversary of its founding seems to be really aglow with lights this season. Their multi coloured beams wash over the Boardwalk made of Guyanese greenheart wood along one side of what they call a "River" (you can actually step from one side to another) in Barbados, the Constitution River.

As in Guyana, ordinary Barbadians throng the hardware stores for paint, curtains and floor tiles (not much linoleum these days for the increasing number of concrete "wall" houses) to spruce up their homes.

Christmas Day itself is spent quietly with family gatherings. In the preceding days, the island's Grantley Adams Airport is packed with "Bajans" coming in from all over.Talk about Guyanese living all over the world ! There's a saying here "Wherever you go in the world, you will find a Bajan !" They bring in ten or twenty suitacess packed with gifts. Down at the Deep Water Harbour, the warehouses are filled floor to ceiling with barrels brought in by ships.

Those Guyanese with Bajan roots living in places like Mahdia (hello Archie Dear, fire one for me !) and Linden will readily tell you that Christmas Day meals is rice and peas, leg ham, baked pork and macoroni and pie and salad. "Jug Jug" is made by old timers. The latter is like a pie made of freshly picked green peas, guinea corn, small bits of ham and spices.

Pepperpot is also in Barbados, brought here by (who else) immigrants from then British Guiana. "I remember eating it in 1929 so it must have come here long before. I was told by my parents it came from BG," said retired archivist at the Barbados Advocate newspaper, Tony Hinds, in an interview.

Cucoo , made of corn flour, or breadfruit or green banaas (whichever way you like it) and okras , is also on the menu. And don't forget, Bajans always tell you, the national rum of Barbados is is "Mount Gay" !

Shilling, the great , late Barbadian folk singer Shilling has a beguiling Xmas song titled, fittingly, "Bottle of rum". Among the lyrics: "Endorse the cucoo, give me another share." The word "endorse", in the wonderful Bajan dialect, means to "present" or "make available".

As with other peoples, its a time for children to receive gifts and extra helping of love and affection. Philantropists such as Guyana's own (formerly of Radio Demerara) "Auntie" Olga Lopes-Seale campaigns for gifts to the poor and needy..

Barbados is a very conservative church going society. So you will find the main churches filled for midnight mass while there are others services during the morning.

Some people go afterwards to Queen's Park , a small park about five minutes walk from the centre of the capital. It is not just a matter of going there but going in your best finery.

The next day, the two daily newspapers carry two and three pages of photos of couples and individuals proudly displaying their beauty and their own creative wear.

For Guyanese living in Barbados, they seem to have extended into the Xmas season their year long assimilation into Bajan society. Says David Deonarine, a carpenter who has been living in the island for 19 years: " I am a Hindu but one cannot help but be caught up in the spirit of the season. It is a national holiday and we enjoy it."

Deonarine, orginally from Meten-Meer-Zorg, adds however he still remembers the Xmas's in Guyana. He sends warm greetings to his son Jairam and the rest of the family and friends.

Sometimes, especially for the contract workers who chose to remain in Barbados, it can be a trying time. They are away from their loved ones, but they seem to get together with the fellows for a few beers and cake. It is perhaps one time of the year you don't see Guyanese workers on the many construction sites in the islands.

Many of the workers go back home for the holidays. A check with the airlines in Bridgetown show that by mid-December it is very difficult to get seats to Guyana.

For those "Guyanese-Barbadians" who have residency status, there is also sometimes a sense of isolation and alienation of not being fully assimilated. A small minority of Bajans exibit intolerance, sometimes cruelty, to people who don't sound or look like "100 per cent Bajan", as the catch phrase for the buy local campaign here goes.

These new comers, along with peoples of other lands who have made Barbados their new home, pray and hope that everybody will listen more carefully to Barbadian calypsonian Bumba's plea in his Xmas song: " Let this Xmas feeling..... let it last throughout the year".