As the last month of the year, december is always so colorful, with lots of festivals bringing family and friends together. December is not just like every other month it is filled with so many traditions in my family creating memories. December reunites my family members though we wouldn't be complete this year because my favorite brother is no longer in Nigeria. As the family expands the house will be full of excitement, laughter, shouting, and sharing of experience, all these strengthen the family bond
We have always had some traditions over the years, attending my church end of year Thanksgiving together. All members of my family travel down for these activities. it's compulsory and we are to contribute no matter how little we have, we wouldn't want to miss the prayer my parents always make after contributing to make Thanksgiving a success. We buy the best product to offer to God with the money at hand.
This year thanksgiving is on 10th December and the house and church are already booming and filled with excitement. The church hall is embellished with decorations giving a sense of reverence and gratitude. The Sunday service is always so colorful with almost every member of the church wearing the same clothes. It's my favorite sunday though they close late, but you can never get tired of dancing throughout the service and also thanksgiving food and drinks are also distributed at the end and it is always so unique.
After Thanksgiving before Christmas, we always host our friends, tenants, and relatives. It's just a mini party where we eat goat meat pepper soup and drink palm wine. That day was always so exciting I got to drink lots of sweet palm wine, my dad was always pushing me away from the big keg but being the good daughter, I always ended up convincing my dad to let me take out of it. We get to share exciting stories, have fun, and discuss important stuff.
In the rhythm of December, our family's tradition also includes renovating, rearranging, and painting the house, it marks a season of renewal and transformation. We get to paint every place in my house to have a new and fresh look. That day is always filled with work moving things so as not to get stained, one thing am happy about is that I won't be the only one working as the house will be full. We also get to dispose things that are not useful, cleaning the house to make it spacious. It's funny how we say we are re-arranging but my mom won't like to dispose some things telling us to keep them but with lots of conviction she threw the things out, she's a maximalist.
These traditions will be held this year also with an addition of celebrating my niece's birthday on 13 December, she will be clocking 1 year. Plans have already been put in place for the celebration. She hasn't started walking on her own maybe a Miracle can happen before then so that the photo shoot and party will be a blast.
Thank you all for reading to the end