Christmas has always been and will always be my favorite time of the year. For me, Christmas is a season that brings so much love, laughter, happiness, and Jesus Christ into our lives. It may not always be a White Christmas (because it doesn’t snow in Nigeria, thankfully), but it undoubtedly is the most beautiful time of the year.
Christmas traditions in my family have been the same every year for as long as I can remember. Two days before Christmas, my parents, siblings and I would travel to the village to spend some time with my grandparents and a lot of our other relatives. On Christmas eve we would all go to mass at night and then at 11:59 p.m., the whole church would start counting down and once it was 12 midnight, everyone would shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, followed by a series of hugs, kisses, handshakes, and smiles.
On Christmas day we would just spend the entire day together eating, dancing, talking, and having a wonderful time. This is literally what we do every single year and there’s absolutely nothing I enjoy more (apart from studying for finals of course. No, not really). Some may find the monotonous nature of the traditions annoying, but to me it really doesn’t matter. I admit, at a point I wondered why we couldn’t do something different for Christmas, even if it was just once. Eventually, I started feeling very apathetic towards Christmas, until I spent one Christmas away from home; sad does not even begin to describe the way I felt. I knew exactly how my family members were going to celebrate Christmas. I knew what they were going to eat, who they were going to see, and where they planned to go, because it is the same every single year. But I still felt like I was missing out on something so wonderful and spectacular, and the truth is, I was. It doesn’t matter if we do the exact same things every Christmas, it’s the people we do it with and the love that we share that matter (cheesy right? I know. But it’s the truth). I guess that’s why I love Christmas so much. It’s the only time in the year I get to be with all my family members at the same time. I usually don’t notice it at the time, but whenever I reminisce I realize I’m always my happiest during these times.
What’s better than celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, spending time with loved ones, and eating until we can’t walk? Exactly, nothing. There is so much love in the air it’s intoxicating. ‘Tis the season of giving, although if you come from the kind of Nigerian family I come from, Christmas gifts are a myth, except you’re below the age of nine. Like my parents say when my older siblings and I ask for our gifts, “After I paid your school fees, is that one not enough?” We love our parents, they’re amazing.
Another thing I love about the season is that it’s so close to the new year. Do you ever imagine what it would be like if Christmas was not in December? Would be weird right? We wouldn’t get to say "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" at the same time. That would be sad.
I hope this Christmas brings everyone so much love and joy, and if you’re not a fan of the holiday I really suggest you give it a chance, you won’t regret it. All you have to do is be with people you love and spread love!
