Christmas is one of the most important Christian and cultural holidays of the year, but what is the true meaning of Christmas? For Christians, the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a time for friends and family, and for reflecting on the past year. It has also spurred many inventive ideas. It is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. The name 'Christmas' comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus).
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The meaning of Christmas can vary for different people and cultures, but it is generally celebrated as a Christian holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas is a time of spiritual reflection on the important foundations of the Christian faith. It’s also a celebration. It’s when Christians celebrate God’s love for the world through the birth of the Christ child: Jesus. The Bible tells of his birth hundreds of years before fulfilling prophecies. It originates from the Old English Cristes mæsse or "Christ's Mass," first recorded in historical documents around 1038. This phrase evolved into Middle English as Cristemasse, beautifully capturing the heart of this holiday as a time to honor and remember the birth of Jesus Christ.
Every Christmas we celebrate what is called Ekpo" which literally means Masquerade, is a traditional secret society originated from the Ekoi tribe in Cross River State. The masquerade tradition itself is most popular in Calabar and the Oron nation of Udung-Ukko, Mbo, Urue-Offong Oruko, Okobo, as well as the Eket and Uruan local government areas in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria, and even western Cameroon. The Efik (Calabar) caste structure of Ekpe begins with the basic masquerade - Idem Ikwọ to Nyamkpe which is the most common of the highest level displayed only by senior mantle bearers. Members of this sacred cult are endowed as protectors of societal order along with the traditional ruler. We have a set of communication methods known as Nsibidi which includes two thousand year old writing system with some of the symbols commonly found inscribed on the Ukara (leadership) attire. Nsibidi also includes special gesture communications and ancestral vocalizations that can only be understood, interpreted and responded to by senior members of the cult.
This story that I’m about to relate with you is a true life story that happened on the 28th of December, 2018 in one of the villages in our hometown (name withheld). That day was a great day that masquerades use to move enmass from one village to the other to do their sacrifices and rituals.
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One thing is sure that female children or adult must not go close to them let alone see their nakedness except men who have joined them fully. We were deceived when we were small that the masquerade was our forefathers that have died. And that they will come and visit us from time to time and we believed them like that. They always move with matchet, cane, ashes and other dangerous weapons to harm people that are not in their society.
There was an annual Masquerade celebration that is set aside till today which is every 28th December. That day, everybody must come out to admire and chair them as they perform their dance in different styles. They have different faces with beautiful adornment, while some are very ugly to behold, and the ugly ones are the most wicked that harm children and adults.
In the same vein, there was a family that came from Lagos to witness the occasion and to show his children the culture of their town. However, many people came from different places to grace the occasion but that day was a terrible day with bloodshed. The man that brought his family from Lagos happened to be one of the masquerade carriers when he was at home some years back. The man was very violent when he was at home. Even he killed someone that came from oversees to watch the same masquerade some years back before he traveled to Lagos to settle down and got married with kids.
That faithful day, he came with the family with the hope that the case had died down without knowing that the case was still fresh in the memory of the people.
That day, he arrived with a beautiful Jeep with his children and his beautiful wife. The masquerades surrounded his vehicle and greeted him very well to make sure that he was the one. They ordered him to come out of the vehicle, he refused, the masquerades started damaging the vehicle, he then zoomed off and hit some of the masquerades and some other onlookers. To the surprise of everyone, the vehicle stopped when the masquerades started their incantation. The man was captured and burnt to ashes. The wife and the children was seriously injured but they did not die. The place was scattered.
Everybody ran for their dear lives. I did not run because I was small and I wanted to witness everything that happened to that man. I saw his belly burst out in the midst of fire. If you observe, human being is full of water and oil, that makes the man burnt very fast. Many people cried and pitied the wife and the children.
As little as I was, no one noticed that a female child was watching them. They cut off his penis and removed his eyes. When i reached home, oh God,, I was unable to sleep. This is to tell us that whosoever you sow, so shall you reap. He that kills must be killed also.
Nevertheless, December is a memorable month that can never escape my mind till date. Therefore, that year's Christmas celebration was celebrated in tears. We shall not end this year in sorrow in Jesus mighty name. Amen. Thanks for reading.