CHRISTMAS IDEAS TO CONSIDER

The dry and dusty wind that blows from the Sahara Desert, with temperatures plummeting to unusually cold levels from morning to evening, the green landscapes and balmy temperature gone for the rest of the year, amidst the harsh and dry weather comes a time of celebration, a time of reconnection, a time of forgiveness, a time to share, and most importantly, a time to retrospect. A time-honored holiday that brings people together, reminding us of the importance of connection. Christmas, as it connotes a time of celebrating the birth of Christ and of course it comes with lots of goodies.

Goodyyy goodyyyyy!!! Aunty Fatima will always shout at the top of her voice, “If you’re still sleeping, you’re wrong,” she’ll say, waking us up for devotion with everyone being so grumpy, dragging feet to come to the sitting room for devotion. My friend, will you sit upright and sing before I land a slap on your cheeks? Children of nowadays are gradually forgetting Christ as the essence of living, preferring wayward lifestyles!!! Mum shouting at Meshach, on hearing that every one of us jerked back from dozing off the tiredness of Christmas preparation. Mum led the devotion, reminding us all of God's goodness over the years. We sang praises and prayed earnestly for such a great year despite the hurdles.
Aunty Fatima, Mum's youngest and only sister and definitely my favorite aunt, she was of the “Let's live the good lifegang; she could spend her last penny to ensure you all fed well. She has 3 ladies, and it was always great and a joyful moment having them all around; it felt like a leap of joy having them all home. Aunty loved cakes and would always bake a cake on Christmas, having us snap round the cake. I was always the impatient child, as I would always want to eat a share of the sumptuous bite of the baked cookies.
Setting up a Christmas tree, the home adorned with twinkling lights, colorful decorations, and unwrapped gifts beside it, the eagerness of wearing the new dress that was gotten months ago and kept under the box, almost as though I wasn’t going to have enough patience to wait to wear it, looking at intervals to the mirror with such a cheerful look, seeing how my new hair made me look more beautiful, enough reason to flaunt it around. Be mindful of your not-so-strong tooth, as it can hurt at the slightest provocation, Dada will warn sternly. Of course Christmas in my house was largely a day of merriment with so much to eat, from chin chin to the assorted meats to drinks, rice, and stew, the jollof always there with dodo, the zobo and kunu, then the tuwo and egusi soup mixed with ogbono for Dada, who easily gets fed up with rice.

Christmas comes with attending the joyous church service, then the gift-giving. Mum will always set portions of food into neatly covered plates on trays for my neighbors before the family gatherings, such a time of reuniting, coming together to share meals, stories, and laughter. Aside from the indoor celebrations, so many celebrations happen on Christmas Day, from the carnivals to sightseeing to picnics to having fun with Santa Claus to volunteering and giving back. Aunty always does that with orphans, taking on the responsibility of feeding them and making them partake. I could go on and on.

At its core, Christmas is about embracing the values of love, kindness, and compassion, a reminder to cherish our relationships, help those in need, and spread joy and happiness. Striving to embrace these values makes the world a brighter and more loving place.

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