Wednesday, December 3, 2008

My Christmas Story...

Hey peeps, it's been a whyl.... i'm sorry i thinned out like that, i had to sweat out the 2 weeks vacation i got earlier (ok, just exaggerating), but really, i've been quite busy with a lot of things. My boss thinks i function a bit like robo-cop, what is it they say again about women being able to multitask?, anyway, so he gives me like ten tasks all at the same time and begins to count down for me!.....i ain't complaining, cos it's training oh, believe me....


I smell Christmas in the air!!!!....Christmas is here again!!!!...after a long Jan. to Nov., Dec. is finally here and Xmas is slowly creeping up. I so love Xmas- everybody loves Xmas even atheists, there is magic in the air, joy in the eyes of people, oh!, if they knew the true meaning of the season!


Ok, my most unforgettable Christmas ever!. I must have been about Seven years old then, we had travelled to the villa for Xmas celebration. Back in those days, it was a family tradition, everyone came home for Xmas, uncles, aunts, cousins, relations, e.t.c. we all came back for the celebration. Our house wasn't a family kind of house where everyone lived together under thesame roof. My grandfather was a great warrior who conquered and claimed so many lands such that he left a lot in estate for his children, so everyone had their own land with their abode graciously built with enough rooms to contain their children. Amongst my immediate relations, we were the most admired because we lived in Lagos! Before travelling, me and my sisters would have rehearsed certain line of conversations so that we could oppress people, we would not speak a word of Igbo language but rather put up fake american accent!, and confuse our cousins that lived in Onitsha or nearby towns....lol, those were the days!


Anyways, this was the period when "knock-out" was the crux of Christmas celebration (still is though...) My brother would have stocked his bag with loads of it from Lagos and in the evenings everyone was out, throwing it, watching masquerades and having fun. On this Xmas day, a group of young boys started getting violent with the "knock-outs", they were throwing them at people, one incidentally landed on my cousin's hand and exploded, she shrieked and rolled on the floor, we all went to console her and at thesame time, they threw it at a masquerade well armed with a costume of dry raffia and palm fronds and performing for people who threw out money for him, the thing exploded and caught fire fanned into serious flames by the dry harmattan wind. It was a sight!......a horrifying one, the masquerade was on fire, everyone was screaming, immediately, i pictured how the biafran war could have been for those who witnessed it, pandemonium broke loose, my cousin who was formally writhing in pain forgot the pain temporarily, we all took off.


My stomach wrenched. That day was the gloomiest Christmas day i had ever experienced. Parents who had heard news went in search of thier children. thank goodness we all made it home safely. My cousin was taken to a nearby village pharmacy were the wound was treated and dressed. Much later in the night, we heard that the masquerade died. It was very sad. Through out my stay in the village that year, i refused to go out or have anything to do with outdoor games, it was terrifying. This led to the ban of "knock-out" in my village for a very long time.......oh, what a Christmas! That was many many years ago. I have had many exciting Christmases since then and hope to have one this year!




This is my Wish for you.....

May you find love this season

May you have your deepest wishes come true

May you find fulfillment in all that you do

May your footsteps be filled with God's grace & warm favour

May you find the reason for the season

And May you have a very merry Xmas & a greater New year...

3 comments:

Olufunke said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Olufunke said...

Interesting....I am actually trying to picture a whole village in chaos! the masquerade is burning! everybody running here and there........

I am really looking forward to a vey beautiful christmas too. Thanks!

Abujamaiden said...

I remeber the knock-out days. In abuja though, there are fire works displays in the big hotels or the stadium over New years. I'm in the states for Christmas, I wish I was home in the North.