It's Christmas holiday again, the 28th Christmas holiday of my life and I can't stop reminiscing over previous Christmas holidays I have had. In the past years, I have been spending the holiday with my family which at first consisted of just my mother and siblings. Then, it was a family of eleven people including my mother.
We often prepare for the Christmas holiday about two months before the actual celebration. Mum will instruct everyone to begin saving some cash for the season. Those of us that were too young to take care of our little savings had mum as our accountant. She makes sure that all we brought to her for safekeeping was indeed kept. I know by now you would be wondering how we could save as young as we were.
Apart from my older siblings who were able to save from their earnings, those of us that were younger saved from gifts received from relations and visitors. At the end of the two months savings, mum will use the cash to purchase our Christmas party wears and shoes. Our older siblings will join efforts with mum to provide our different Christmas meals. Mum had always ensured we had all that was needed to make the holiday really exciting. We lost our dad quite early but mum was always strong enough to play the role of the both father and mother.
As life has continued, our family has grown bigger and larger. Some of my siblings got married and began to procreate. From 11 people to 15, from 15 to 20 and now, it's about 28 people in the family, counting all children, grandchildren and in-laws.
I have never spent the Christmas holiday elsewhere because it has always been a culture that no member of the family is permitted to travel during the period. Even if a family member was outside the our state of residence for any reason, as far as it is Christmas holiday, such member is expected to return home. Christmas holiday for my family is always a time to renew the family bond. A time for merry making, love sharing and reunion.
Everyone is expected to be home at least 3 days to the actual Christmas day.
The period is usually accompanied with lots of cooking, singing and dancing. Meals like fried rice, Niger jollof and other traditional meals peculiar to our culture are always prepared by mum and every female child of the house since cooking in the African society is a thing for the female gender. The meals are served to both family members, friends and visitors who stop by as it customary for the season.
Another important thing that happens during the period is giving gratitude to God. As a family, we always go to church for a thanksgiving service. The entire family must be in attendance and this act is always very solemn. This is always the most important part for mum.
This year's Christmas holiday is meeting me married and it saddens my heart that I am going to miss my all-life Christmas experience because hubby and I won't be traveling home to my family house for the Christmas holiday. It is going to be my first Christmas holiday without the entire members of my family and if wishes come true, I am only wishing for one thing. I wish to travel home with my hubby to spend the Christmas holiday with every other members of our family.
