The holiday has already started in my house and the girls are super excited. School is no longer serious as they concluded their examination last week. They came back from school yesterday looking so happy. They told me that they watched lots of movies in school like encanto and so many others. Today they went to the school with their diaries ready to pen down their fun moments in school with their friends before they will vacate tomorrow after their school Christmas party and Carol of 9 lessons.
My plan on how to celebrate this year's Christmas is to travel to the village and have a lovely holiday with my family. It's been four years since I last stepped foot in my father's house. Since his demise I have been so skeptical about going back home as it doesn't feel like home without my parents anymore. My siblings also felt the same way but this time around we have all agreed to come back home and unite together because we have been apart for so long.
My girls are looking forward to meet their cousins, uncles and aunts. They were on call two days ago with my junior sister Oge who happened to be their favourite aunt. She promised them lots of goodies if they come back home for Christmas. After the call my girls ran to my room reminding me that we have to travel home for the Christmas holiday to see their aunties and uncles.
My other sister on the other hand has been on my neck since November reminding me to book our flight already. She wrote me on Sunday to confirm if i am still coming back home for the holiday but didn't give her a definite answer.
As of November, flight ticket was around 125,000 naira and it's going to cost me nothing less than 400,000 naira to get my children and I to the village. We are yet to talk about the other expenses that will come like food and buying fuel for the car in the village. If we are to go by road, God is Good motors or GUO are my best transport companies and we all know how the cost of transportation is during the christmas season. Last year my friend paid 25,000 naira. Imagine how this year will be considering the hike in the price of fuel. It will definitely be around 35,000 naira to 50,000 naira. So approximately the girls and I will be spending around 150,000 naira which is fair enough compared to the cost of flight.
Going back home to the village is actually the traditional way my igbo tribe celebrate Christmas. This is one holiday that brings us back home no matter where you are in the world. There are a lot of occasions and exciting activities like the masquerade dance which normally last for four days, the church harvest, the football tournament at the village square,beauty pageant, weddings, house warming parties and musical concert where many artists are invited. Last year phyno , flavour and P square were invited. There are just too many electrifying events to dance to. The most beautiful thing is that it's in this festive period that a lot of single women get to see their missing ribs. Just like in Bridgerton social season when young ladies attend balls dressed in beautiful gowns with intention of meeting eligible bachelors, this festive period is an opportunity for youngwomen to showcase themselves and meet their future husbands.
This is one season in the life of my junior sisters and cousins that I will never want to miss.
ALL PICTURES ARE MINE
