It’s Christmas already?

Celebrating beyond lights and gifts.

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” is the song that came to mind when my folks started packing for our annual travel to the east. This is a familiar habit among the Igbos in Nigeria, particularly those in Lagos. I always looked forward to it as a kid. It’s odd how fast this year’s Christmas came. One moment it was COVID-19 lockdown, next it was December.

The Christmas holidays mark the opportunity to catch up with family members and just enjoy the break.2 weeks ago, I was oblivious to the cheer around. Don’t get me wrong. All the memories of being a child around this season kept coming like ants to sugar.

First, the memories of my mum measuring our feet with sticks for our Christmas shoes. We would await her market trips as she returned with black bags of clothes and goodies to doll us up for the outings the season afforded.

What about the Christmas hair? While I endured the torture of making braids for hours, the mandatory snacks and beauty at the end compensated for the stress. Christmas rice and chicken were another highlight. Something was special about those things.

Fast forward to my adulthood and responsibilities. Now I’m at the other side of the slide. I’m making a list and buying whatever I’ll need. No Christmas shoes…