₦airaland Forum

This is how Christmas used to be growing up in Nigeria in the 80's, and early 90's

We start our first term/end of year exam in november

Then comes the result and prize giving day after a long wait

And finally, the December harmattan that has been knocking sets in with its haze

You know December used to be third term and promotion

The holiday begins ,and travel preparation to the village begins, buying of bag of rice and vegetable oil is a must

Then comes the day to the bus park ,we hit the luxurious bus park,and within few hours we riding down the Lagos Ibadan expressway

But some who are more fortunate make the journey with their private cars usually the ever reliable Peugeot 504

The excitement includes the stop by at ore or Benin city to eat, bakers along the expressway,hawking bread and other stops at the several toll gates, and brief stops to relief ourselves

After few hours Onitsha bridge is in sight, the excitement increases,the village is nearer

Finally we the village ,and excitement cannot be quantified as we are welcomed by relations and neighbours, there is the smell of Christmas all over that comes with harmattan breeze and burning farms

It doesnt take long for us to blend with other kids, playing and going to d stream and playing around the village

I thought you were narrating how you spent your yesteryear Xmas in the Eastern part of the country when I sighted the Onitsha bridge until I started seeing the roofs/structures from the Western region.

you no include how your village people go back u 20 naira Otukpor....

Then comes d various end of year festivals in d village where all gets entertained

Iit is time to spend all the money we've been saving up on this.filling up the air with smell of gunpowder

And more on this

Then comes Christmas morning morning ,we iron out Christmas clothes with this,can't wait to get back from the church for the rice and chicken

Here is d main fun

We go to see the masquerades entertain the whole community

And how can I forget the good old Christmas cards that were being exchanged

After the big masquerades we form our own little masquerades moving from home she to house entertaining them

This is good

We are rewarded with this

Sometimes we get these as reward in a large tray or basin where we all have to joyfully feast together

Then comes more of this

Hahahahhahahah...! This is hilarious...!

How time flies...!

I can very well relate to them all...!

Cool, following

I need to get married

And now its d new year's eve, and we head to orie market to get this

That's what we've been waiting for