Welcome, my lovelies, to the month of cheer, excitement and warm traditions. By virtue of my undying love for the Christmas season, I have always fancied myself as what I term a “Christmas baby”. Usually around August, I start spreading my own brand of Christmas happiness because I am so thrilled about Christmas. To be completely honest, it’s not celebration itself that gets me started, —don’t get me wrong, Jesus is the reason behind the season—but rather the atmosphere created by Christmas carols and melodies, as well as the scent of pure joy in the air, are what truly make this time of year so amazing. The love and camaraderie shared by families, friends and even strangers in certain instances.
Christmases spent in Lagos as a child were spent at parties, theme parks, churches, and, yes, knockouts. Even though I never used these knockouts, or bangers as they were popularly known, it was still entertaining to watch my brothers and other children shoot fireworks and knockouts into the sky. The first day of December marks the beginning of the holiday season in my family, when we decorate the home garden with ornaments and Christmas lights. Our lights are so beautiful and bright that they can be seen for miles around (this has occasionally led visitors to the house to take in the decorations, and it now feels more eerie than it did when I was younger, if I’m keeping it a buck).
The next stage of Christmas prep is shopping. As much as shopping really excites me, no be this kind sha. My siblings and I divide the labour of food shopping and head into the battlefield aka the traditional market to get the best prices and generous quantities of all items to be purchased. After that, we dash off to the supermarkets where we are welcomed by Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas, blasting through the speakers. By the end of the day, you are drained of all your energy, and you are barely surviving on a snack and soda, market style.
As Christmas vigil approaches, things sort of start to get better. My siblings and I were raised as Roman Catholics and were expected to attend vigil masses for the trinity of holidays: Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter. We present ourselves in our finest attire (you cannot touch our Christmas baffs) and arrive at the church for the liturgy with elegance. Carols have to be the greatest thing ever; everything always sounds so beautiful and angelic. We turn around and yell Christmas greetings throughout the crowded church as we enjoy special pieces performed by the choir and blessings from the priest.
Christmas morning food planning is akin to a strategic game. You see, my parents have this great tradition of exchanging food with all of our friends and neighbors, so by the end of the day, it really seems like a potluck. You eat till you nearly pass out, yet the only way you can maximize your time for your evening schedule is to choose the meal that is the easiest to make (If you chop my jollof, you fit marry me). If you do not want to spend the entire day grilling the turkeys, you must be sharp and highly calculated. There is something for practically every taste on the extensive and varied menu. When the family gets together to watch our yearly Christmas movie, that has to be the most enjoyable aspect of meal prep. We all watch Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can, although some may say the movie selection is a bit odd (Check out my other article on the movie review). Since my first watch as a child, the number of times we have watched it doesn’t matter. There is so much drama and humor in this film that we can’t stop watching it. Once the movie is done, we are all about Hallmark Christmas movies till infinity.
Everyone is normally left on their own in their own world as the day comes to an end in the evenings. We enjoy the season by attending concerts, comedy shows, intimate gatherings and Year end parties. Where I come from, Christmas is really all about family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Next year, we will gladly do it all again.
