Nigerian Christmas

Christmas means different things to different people. It could mean a time for a massive exaggerated celebration and display of wealth and affluence or it could be a time of sober reflection for some. The fact that this was the time Jesus was born into the world to save all of us from our sins. While for another set of people it is just another day in the 365 days of the year, nothing special about it.

However the day is to you, it still means something. Since Christmas is close to the end year the celebration goes together. All over the world people celebrate whether they are christians or not, it doesn't really matter to them. It is just a time to celebrate with friends and family, to celebrate the achievements made during the year and also to spend some time with family.

There is a lot of fun fare about it in the US, the whole Santa Claus thingy. It is at this time of the year that you hear a lot of Christmas songs and jingles. Most businesses putting up decorations for the season with the most important being the Christmas trees.

Also, a lot of children start to write down what they want for Christmas thinking it is Santa Claus that is going to get it for them not knowing that it would be their parents. Most parents also carry their children to go and see him or as we fondly call him in my country, Father Christmas. They sit on his lap and tell him what they want for the season and also take a picture with him after he has given them their presents.

This time is full with a lot of fan fare. Celebrities release songs about Christmas, love, sharing and what they think the season means to them. Talkshows host and also comedians make jokes and skits about Christmas trying to make their audience smile and laugh. All in all it's a time to have fun and make merry.

In my country, it is a whole different ball game. It is like a party competition, who can out do the other person or who can show he/she has money.

Here, we like parties more than anything else and it now becomes more prominent towards the end of the year. This is the time when most market men and women make the most sales. A lot of them become millionaires just during this period. People buy provisions in large quantities such as rice, yam, tomato, pepper, chicken, goat meat and fish for the parties they want to throw. Nobody will want to carry last.

Some might even rent event centers for their parties or they can get canopies and do it on an open field. They then go to invite almost everybody that they know. From their workplace to their neighborhood and even church, everyone is invited that is if you're on good terms with the people or person organizing it.

The morning of Christmas is the most busy morning of any day of the year especially if you are organizing a party. The kitchen is even more noisy than a factory because of the number of things that will be going on there. From the soups to the jollof rice and then the frying of the chicken (I really pity the person that is going to remove the feather of the chicken). Not forgetting the drinks and then there is the cake and fruit salad. It is really a crazy place.

I really commend our mothers and also the last borns, we do most if not all of the work. From preparing the food to preparing the house for the guests and then serving and attending to them, it is not easy. I have heard what a lot of children go through, the amount of chores they have to do. Some even go from house to house in their neighborhood giving people food. But all of this is not in vain as some kindhearted people give them money and it could be a lot at times so that makes the whole stress worth it.

I cannot forget the dishes. At the end of the day, it is like a mountain in the basin. The washing of plates is like an exercise on its own, the amount of time spent there seems like eternity. The tasks is usually given to the person that did not do any chores that day. You can call it a sort of punishment.

But then all this celebration makes you think that isn't this vanity. Isn't this just a display of wealth you think .That we are just celebrating and not even thinking about the main reason for the season. I think we need to change in this regard.

Even in all of this, I can say that Christmas is fun. You get to see family and friends that you haven't seen in a long time. You get to talk and remember the good times. You also get to meet new people and also make new friends.

For my own family, it is always a time of celebration. We did not make it an elaborate celebration this year, it was just something simple. I will tell you guys more about it later on.

I recently got a new sponsor and my old sponsor @DocLayla just renewed her sponsorship, thank you very much.

I have been busy recently and the festivities just made it worse. I will try to be more active here and engage more articles, you will see more of me.

Till next time and happy holidays.