Like most people, Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year and while I tended to get more excited when I was younger, I still look forward to it even as an adult. I’d say that most of the Christmas Traditions I observe have been passed down from my family, my Mum and Grandmother to be specific although I’ve picked up a few others from friends and the world in general. Top of my list is Christmas Carols and my Mum gets all the credit because she always took us to watch Christmas Presentations and Carols at different Churches. I didn’t appreciate it then and in fact found some Choirs’ performances boring but I live for Christmas Carols now, so much so that I start playing Christmas Music in October! My Christmas Playlist is so long probably because I have up to 10 renditions of some Classics! I have lost family and friends around Christmas and sometimes I get this weird feeling that if for some reason I don’t make it to Christmas, I would have at least enjoyed my Christmas Music! Onto the tree and cards. I’m kind of old fashioned and would rather have a “real” Christmas Tree but the hustle involved in getting one is a bit much and I usually end up with a plastic one. At the end of the day, I just want to come home to a decorated house, Christmas lights, shimmering balls and all. I don’t do balloons anymore, in case you were wondering! I don’t send out Christmas either because people don’t appreciate them anymore but personally, I wouldn’t mind receiving them. I like the effort and thought that goes into gold old fashioned cards. I love the personalized messages and just the act of opening the envelope which you don’t get from an E-card or Emoji-filled text. Then there are gifts. Most people I know aren’t keen on gifts per se and by that I mean not the way people in the West are, so you probably won’t find gifts under the tree in your typical African home. What most people do is buy their children, parents or siblings clothes or shoes and such to wear on Christmas. Personally, I prefer giving someone money and they can then choose how to spend it. There was a time I felt I had to have something new for the Christmas Service. Not anymore. Of course I feel a certain way when all the people who didn’t attend Church all year suddenly show up in their expensive new outfits, making the rest of us feel underdressed. I don’t know if this counts as a tradition but I try not to travel on Christmas or even Boxing Day. I might visit friends and family but it can’t be out of town. Road trips are not on my agenda, knowing all kinds of people who’ve been making merry are out and about! Last but not least is the food. I may be biased but I still think my Mum makes the best Christmas Lunch and the few times I wasn’t home for Christmas, it was the one thing I missed the most. There’s something about spending Christmas with family and eating all your favourite foods without anyone judging you. And even after all that, my Mum always insists on everybody taking some leftovers! She’s that kind of Mum!
