A lot of traditions are tied up with the festive period ranging from travelling many kilometres just to go to the village and celebrate, ensuring that many chickens and goats are murdered, etc. But one tradition I want to buttress in response to @hivelearners community contest is as discussed below.
BUYING NEW OUTFIT
During this period, clothe sellers stock up their shops with outfits they hope to sell at exorbitant prices. Some even begin to stock their shops as early as October, especially those who sell shoes, in order to make more profit during the festive period. Why are clothes cheap other periods but expensive during festive periods? Why are people keen about buying new outfit, even if they just bought some not quite long? For those who can afford, they can buy as their heart desires, but what about those if little means? Is it necessary to go extra mile to purchase one or become sad of not being able to afford it? Some are ready to do odd things just to look good!
Tailors too are busier this period and many charge prices that are not that high during the previous months backward. Sometimes this makes me wonder and ask, "why?"
While not making rules for people, but I think clothe buying can be done at any time of the year. Some though, buy at other times but the one for the festivity is special. Like I said, those who can should buy but those who are struggling shouldn't make traders pocket fat while they wallow still in poverty. A woman I know was able to buy, but then again she was complaining. Let's see what she said.
I met her yesterday and she told me how she had bought three beautiful dresses for her daughter. According to her, the least among them costs N20,000. However, she told me that her daughter liked them and was very appreciative when she took her to the market to buy them. But as at yesterday, her daughter has not worn any one of them. Christmas is already over.
I asked her if they didn't go to church, why didn't the girl wear it to church? She told me that they didn't go to church, just to cook, eat and visit friends. She was disappointed in herself when she told me that even the friends they visited, there was no need for the daughter to dress so gorgeously with her ball gowns, instead she wore her normal everyday jean and a top. Then why the waste of money to buy new clothes?
I asked and said "Sorry I do not celebrate it, but how come it is another person's so called birthday, but you guys are the ones buying new clothes to attend it?" She was really dumfounded and knew that it shouldn't be a do or die affair to buy new clothes.
This woman went further to give me a gist about a disagreement and fight this holiday tradition had caused for a supposedly living family. It was about her neighbor who had fought her husband that Xmas morning. According to the neighbor, she had used all her saving to buy clothes for the kids and now needs money to buy chicken and cook good food for the family but her husband was giving her an attitude, claiming he has no money. That woman accused her husband of having other women he plans to spend the money on and so headed for the man's wallet. She found so much money and threw them at his face, asking if those weren't money.
The man who claimed to have reserved the for kid's school fees; because some resumes in another one week, got upset, not only at how the woman invaded his privacy but how a woman he married threw his own money at his face. So he beat the woman so mercilessly. He felt those clothes she had bought were not as important as food, especially when he too was saving for School fees.
According to her, the woman felt so dejected when everyone who ran to her rescue supported the man.
To what end? Just to wear good clothes and eat "good food"?. Haven't they been eating before that day or wearing clothes? Why does a loving family need to be having issues just because of one day celebration? Even at that, the man went overboard. He shouldn't have hit her beaten her.
Well, like I said I do not celebrate it and am not in anyway condemning those who celebrate it, I am just writing my view about one of the traditions that people engage in this festive period that leaves me worried if it is a do or die, especially if they do not have the means. This is in answer to the task given by @hivelearners.
I buy clothes for my self or the kids when I feel a need for it. I do not need a celebration to buy new clothes, except for a wedding especially if we are buying family attire or if I have a part to play in the ceremony. This is why I always have issues with my tailor. She would always ask what date is the occasion I need it for. And once she knows there is no occasion, she takes all the time in the World to sew just a fabric or two.
One thing I notice is that, after the festive period, all those clothes , shoes and other items which were very pricey become very cheap again. Sometimes, I wait to buy after all festivity; when traders had made so much profit and are now willing to auction others, 😅. Really, I find things cheaper at that time, especially bags and shoes. For clothes, you may not really get beautiful ones except if they were very expensive and many couldn't afford them.
The most important thing is having a good health and our life spared to cross into another year and beyond. So as we spend this festive period, let us remember that the celebration is just one or two days. After then comes other aspects of our lives staring at us. Save for your kids fees, transport and feeding as School reopens. I have paid my kids fees for next term and have stocked up the house with items that would make resumption easy.
How about you, what is the tradition about this festive holiday that you like to talk about? Have you bought your clothes too? I trust you have.💪
Thanks for checking up on me, I appreciate.
Yours,
@adoore-eu
