By Leon SuseranNew Amsterdam, Berbice- When we mention the term ‘tea party’ today, we certainly cannot escape talking about the rich history of tea that began with the Chinese centuries ago. But if there is an event that is dying out in our culture these days it is the tea party.It was the perfect event (at least in the past) to bring people together for chit- chat and catching up on each other’s lives. The religious community has therefore used this same concept to host tea parties as well.This year was no different for the Roman Catholic Church of the Ascension in Berbice, which hosted its second annual Grand Tea Party, recently, on the Church lawns. The tea parties held by the Catholics over the past two years have been touted as the best in quality many have witnessed in a long time, trying as hard as possible to retain the exact elements and features of tea parties brought to us in Guyana by the British.But before we talk about tea parties and their interesting features, tea had to have been around in order for this event to be pulled off. And there is an interesting history of the beginning of tea. It started with the Chinese.According to legends, in 2737B.C. Emperor Shen Nong,Cheap World Cup Jerseys, was thirsty after a long journey. He then asked his servants to stop and ordered them to boil some water, since the water in those days was not pure for human consumption. During boiling the water, some leaves from trees above fell into the pot and gave the water an interesting colour and taste. The Emperor tasted it and loved it. That was the beginning of tea drinking.After the Chinese and Japanese influence on tea- drinking,NFL Cheap Jerseys, tea made its way to Europe . It grew to popularity in England so much as to replace ale as its national drink. And it was so that tea parties were being held. The British popularized this event during the colonial period in Guyana .And so, it was a bright sunny afternoon where the parishioners along with a number of members of the Berbice community (and also visitors from Georgetown ) gathered for the second such event of this kind.The lawns were neatly arranged with tables and chairs, to accommodate four and five persons. The environment was conducive to such an activity where persons could have shared a common space with each other relaxing and enjoying the cool afternoon breeze.Veteran Educator in the area,? Catherine Archer, delivered welcoming remarks. Last year that task fell to Deputy Mayor of New Amsterdam,Jerseys From China, Ms Hyacinth James.Persons kept flowing in, dressed elegantly for this late afternoon occasion; families, couples, even individuals kept making their way to the table of their choice, or to where they saw someone they knew. Tea was being served. The waiters were youths from the parish church.The women were stylishly dressed in Chinese attire, in keeping with the tradition of associating tea with the Chinese.Then, the Guyana Police Force steel band, which came all the way from Georgetown ,Cheap Jerseys From China, commenced their steel pan medleys. Oh, they played so skillfully, living up to the quality and the name of this top steel band group in the country. Attired in sport shirts,NFL Jerseys Cheap, the members of the band pounded the steel pans with their sticks and soothing tunes that many of us who attended could’ve put sweet words to, were being played.From national songs to oldies to spiritual tunes, they were played by the Guyana Police Force Band. The atmosphere became more relaxing. People hardly spoke to each other. They sipped tea and nibbled their snacks while soaking in the soft sounds of the steel pan band. Many opted for iced- tea,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, probably because it had been a very hot day in the town of New Amsterdam, but quite a few persons treated their taste buds to the traditional beverage at these events and that was the good old tea cup filled with nothing else but tea. There was even a tea- set display with chinaware 100 years. Parish priest, Rev Terrence Montrose, was the man behind the hosting of such an event. Last year during an interview he said that the idea behind such an event was to bring his parishioners closer together in a family- friendly atmosphere without all the negativity of the outside influences of drinking alcohol and other unhealthy practices which so much exist at other secular events.His idea was a hit. People liked the idea of attending such an event.You don’t hear much about tea parties these days. The Anglicans in New Amsterdam held their tea party during their Annual Bazaar last December. You will find religious places play host to such events more than any othe