It's the holiday season y'all. It's that time of the year when there's more love in the air that we'd normally have throught out the entire year. Well, that may not be so for everyone, as everyone has different reasons they love or hate Christmas. Nonetheless, it's the season of "Ho Ho Ho..." We never had any of those around here, though.
Of all the things that many people would look forward to every season, mine may seem a little unconventional, but I wouldn't say that it is different from that of certain individuals. It's my favourite thing about Christmas.
You see, over here in Nigeria, we do not have that Santa Claus thing other people in other places are used to, or to say the least, it is not how we see it in movies. While there is snow, and expensive gifts under an expensive tree, wrapped in expensive boxes (or they could be old boxes), over here, the biggest thing on our minds would be to enjoy ourselves in the way that we can.
Party! Party! Party! Nigerians love to party! It is uncommon to not see parties in everywhere one may find themselves, especially if you are in the city of Lagos (that's where I grew up, at least). It may not always be the conventional parties, but it is always a time for celebration. And guess the most important thing about those parties...
Food !!!
Oh yes, that's right! You dare not host a party, especially around Christmas time without food, unless you are fine with leaving the party with one leg. I am sure you'll need both legs forever.
Anyway, what I am here to tell you about is how my favourite thing about Christmas is food. But first, there's a different story I'd like to tell you first.
My mother, the one that carried me on her back for many years as a baby, was born on the day that Christ was born - Christmas day. She is ever-loving and kind, selflesss and 100% leader material. And as a kid, I was a nerd for Avatar: The Last Air Bender.
How does Avatar come into play in this story? Hmmmm...well, if you do not know much about avatar, or if you do, Avatar Aang, the last air bender is a reincarnation of the Avatar spirit, and it has been going on like that for centuries; the reincarnation, I mean. You see what I mean by being a nerd? This did something to my thought process and for some reason, I thought my mother was a reincarnation of Christ. You know, considering how kind and good she is.
Any way, this is totally irrelevant to the topic for here and now, and...
I digress...
Christmas day being the day my mother was born and, you know, Christmas day, it meant sure celebration every year. And what this translated to, for me anyway, is the steady and abundant availablity of food.
All year round, we may not eat chicken that much, but at this time of the year, we eat so much and most definitely to our satisfaction. It always start from the moment of the arrival of the chickens like a week before. And we'd make sure to feed them well and take care of them for the purpose they were created for; to sweeten the metabolic processes in my belly.
Poor chickens...my favourite time of the year is Chistmas, but it's the opposite for them. I feel for them (not)
Mind you, the way to my heart, like the cliche, is my belly. If you can do one of these three things, then I may as well like love you instantly: come visiting with either a bunch of plantains, a bunch of bananas, or 5kg of chicken. You could even be super nice to get me all three, and I assure you, you have fed me with a love potion already. Now, back to the serious matter - food.
Around this time of the year, Christmas, is when we have different colours of soup in different sizes of pots. I really have no idea where the money comes from, but I know that 3-square meal around this time, with some extras too, is mostly certain.
The extras would be drinks. I love to drink. And it is around this time that I flunk my "no-soda" challenge and resume much later in the new year. Or did you think I meant actual drinking, like achohol? Well, that not a matter of concern in this post, so we move on.
Of course, the time we get to spend with our families, the respite we get, and the reminiscing of memorable memories with loved ones are very important. But what I came here to tell you is how food is my favourite thing about the holiday season, Christmas...periodt!
I hope with this few points of mine, I have been able to convince you and not to confuse that food is an important and also my favourite thing about Christmas
Zombie town image by vectorpocket
ℍ𝕖𝕪, 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕖𝕟𝕛𝕠𝕪𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥, 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕪 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥, 𝕣𝕖𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕘, 𝕠𝕣 𝕦𝕡𝕧𝕠𝕥𝕖. 𝕀𝕥'𝕝𝕝 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕖 𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕.