Christmas memories we will never forget as Nigerians.

By Rebecca

26 November 2019

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No matter how old you get, there is this special feeling that comes with Christmas. It is undeniably exciting and has this pull that everyone can?t help but be attracted to.

Christmas in Nigeria is a time to make memories, meet with people and have as much fun to ease you the stress of the entire year.

Before the advent of the frequent visit to shopping malls and cinemas in Nigeria, the Christmas period is that special time of the year every Nigerian would not want to miss for anything in the world. As a child, Christmas was the best time of the year where you get to eat, drink, merry and visit places. 

This is the time Nigerians get to catch their fun to the fullest without worrying about having to wake up the next morning for work or school.

Here are 8 childhood Christmas memories every Nigerian can relate with.

 1. Holiday excitement 

 Apart from the feeling of taking a break from school bells, and office works, the Christmas holiday is a time to spend quality time with family. Especially the ones who do not stay close by. The anticipation that comes with seeing familiar faces that you get to share the years? experience with is always something to look forward to.

Various Christmas songs that you only get to remember once in a while pop up in the air from various angles and everyone is in a very hyper mood. The humming of the song ?Holiday is coming, no more ringing bells...? flashes more excitement to the mind. 

2. Christmas is a time to get new things

The memory of mom going shopping for the children keeps them up even before Christmas comes. The time the promise of a Christmas gift was used to make us behave better till we get them. When your mom had to measure your foot with a broomstick, so as to get your actual shoe size. You are sure of getting new clothes, shoes, underwear, and even jewelry, if you had behaved well. If you are extra lucky, you'd get new things for school at the same time too.

3. Christmas parties

Schools always had their end of the year party around Christmas period. They usually combine this with the Christmas carols where you had to put on your white and black uniform and dance to a regular tune like "Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Angels From The Realms Of Glory, 12 Days of Christmas".

The Christmas parties gave us the opportunity to show off to our friends those new clothes and shoes mom bought, complete with colored plastic glasses and wristwatches to spark up your look. The feeling of having so many kids to play with and a lot of goody bags to share was magical. We were so excited to visit Santa Claus (Father Christmas) and sing your favorite Christmas songs in his ears to get a special gift. 

4. Beautiful hairstyles 

Those days, as a little girl, you get to have that opportunity to do an elaborate hairstyle with various colors of rubber or beads. It is Christmas and you can look as extravagant as you like and no one is going to disturb you. The boys will also get a nice haircut.

5. Christmas season in Nigeria is a time of giving 

You remember those promise cards that have a list of what you want, the name of the giver and when he or she will pay their pledge? This is the time you get enough gifts, including money from visitors, uncles, aunts while your parents, especially moms keep the money. Most of the time they tend to not keep to their promise but the fun of having someone make a promise to gift you something was always something to look forward to.

It was also a period when people felt they needed to give alms and share more with their neighbors. Our mothers will make large quantities of food, especially on Christmas Day and we always looked forward to sharing the meals with other people because it was an avenue to make quick money. Who knows, you might be the one who will go give food to the wealthy neighbors and you get crispy N5, N10 or N20 notes to keep for your effort.

6. Fireworks (banger) 

This was very common among Nigerian children during the Christmas period. Even before it was December, people already started selling bangers and local fireworks (light of God - ina Olorun - as it was popularly called). You would have to listen carefully to be certain the next shot was actually not from a gun. Fireworks create a fun-filled atmosphere to compliment the season.

Adults too were not left out of the banger fun. Some of them even played dangerous dares with them. You should know that bangers are capable of inflicting ugly injuries and should never be misused.

7. Nigerian special dishes for Christmas celebration 

There are so much food and drinks during this season in most families. You get to eat till your stomach says no. The food is special because it is termed Christmas food, usually with lots of chicken and meat. Chicken is a special dish for Christmas and you get to eat it to your satisfaction.

White rice and stew is the traditional Christmas meal in Nigeria but the stew is not complete if it isn't made with chicken. Jollof rice is another popular Christmas meal. Moms are something else at Christmas -- you eat and eat and eat till you can no longer take it.

8. Make enough memories for your essay

Christmas season is a fun time for children. You don?t want to be left out when writing an essay about how you spent your Christmas holiday as soon as school resumes. This was always the typical resumption essay across schools for the new year. Perhaps that's the reason mom and dad ensure you have the best of the fun. Apart from visiting family members to see your cousins, the Christmas season also allows you to become a tourist to those exciting places you have only heard or read about.

9. The thrill of knowing you get to visit various places. 

During the Christmas period, you get the thrill of visiting houses as long as you promise your parents not to eat food from strangers. Then you go to your friends' house and play and eat to your satisfaction till someone from your house catches you eating at your neighbor?s house and goes on to report to your mom. The fear and the thoughts that run through your mind before you get home and then instead of beating you, she surprises you with even more food. Because, well, it's Christmas and moms are different at Christmas!

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