Christmas in Nigeria

Hi everyone :)

The christmas lights and decorations have gone up all over Norwich and things looks so festive and beautiful.

Since I won't be going back home this Christmas, I decided to paint a picture of what christmas is like in Nigeria - just so I dont miss it tooo much!

There's many similarities between a British and Nigerian christmas, but also a lot of differences.
We usually have the same types of decorations up around the country to mark the festive season, but a zero percent liklehood of snow :) The weather in Nigeria is tropical all year round, so that itself creates a very different atmosphere. I know a lot of people can't imagine Christmas without snow, whereas most Nigerians prefer to appreciate snow from a distance (pictures, movies etc) - we love our heat !

People tend to have fake fir christmas trees up in their homes although those
dont grow in our country. But we also decorate our palm trees with lights!

 

 

Christmas is also very much a family event- it usually consists of family reuinions, traveling from the cities to the villages where grandparents and older relatives live, and lots of food, music,celebration and fun. Children love to play with firecrackers during christmas, it's one of the highlights for them - you can hear them going off all over the town and country right after christmas eve, as soon as midnight hits. This goes on for the rest of the day, sometimes all the way up to the new year.

 

Christmas cards and presents are sent to friends and family, as well as christmas hampers- they are usually from one family to the other. They look like this:

 

 

Our kitchen floor is usually lined with these during christmas- so much food, it's very difficult to be on a diet!

 

The southern part of Nigeria, where I live, is predominantly Christian. So the churches are packed out on christmas day, so much so that there is an overflow to the streets. Big screens/projectors and speakers are usually placed outside, so everyone can be part of the service.

 

Many different languages are spoken in Nigeria. In Hausa Happy/Merry Christmas is 'barka dà Kirsìmatì'; in Yoruba it's 'E ku odun, e ku iye'dun'; in Fulani it's 'Jabbama be salla Kirismati'; in Igbo (Ibo) 'E keresimesi Oma' and it's Edo it's 'Iselogbe'.

 

So I will close by saying in my language, E keresimesi Oma! Have a wonderful holiday :)

 

-UEA Nigerian Ambassador