News

Christmas in Naija: How We Dey Manage Celebrate Despite Wahala

Published

11 hours ago

December 24, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

For Naija, Christmas no be just ordinary holiday. Na time wey hope dey shine, vibe dey sweet, and gratitude dey full everywhere. Na that time of the year wey, no matter how life don hard, people go try “show face” because Christmas na big deal. But lately, with the way everything dey cost and suffer no dey reduce, celebrating Christmas don turn wahala for many families.

Still, as we dey talk, “Man no fit kill himself.” Nigerians no dey carry last. We sabi find ways to flex and celebrate the birth of Jesus, even if na to cut corner or manage small.

Cost Wahala: Everything Don Cost Die

You no need any prophet to tell you say things for market don turn another level. Everything don cost! From rice to chicken, even maggi cube sef don follow increase. Wetin you go talk about live chicken? E don be like say to chop chicken for Christmas na for rich people alone. Rice wey people dey buy for ₦20,000 before don near ₦100,000. Wetin we go do?

But for Naija, no Christmas without rice and chicken. E be like wedding without music, e no complete. So, people dey hustle extra hard. Tailors no fit sleep because everybody wan sew new clothes. For market, na haggling full everywhere as buyers dey try drag price wey don already high.

Yet, hope still dey. Naija people dey always talk say, “God no go shame us.” Somehow, everybody dey find way.

December Rush: Going Back to the Village

One of the sweetest things about Christmas for Naija na the “back to village” movement. Whether you dey Lagos, Abuja, Sokoto, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Ibadan ofPort Harcourt, December na time to reconnect with your roots. But my brother, the journey no easy o.

Transport fare dey mad. Fuel price dey high, so drivers no dey smile. Imagine paying ₦40,000 from Lagos to Enugu wey before na ₦7,000. Still, people dey go because, as dem go talk, “Home sweet pass anywhere.”

Na the road matter sef dey pain pass. Traffic go tie you like wrapper, police go dey disturb you for checkpoints, and bad roads no go allow you rest. But trust Nigerians; we sabi manage. With small gist, music, and snacks for road, the journey go dey bearable.

Decorations and the Christmas Feeling

No matter the hardship, December still dey sweet for Naija. Streets go dey shine with Christmas lights, even if e no plenty like oyinbo countries. Small businesses go hang blinking lights, and some churches go do nativity scenes. Children go sing carols, mixing English and local hymns.

For house, families dey try decorate, no matter how small. If you no fit buy Christmas tree, palm frond dey available. Just add ribbon join am, and your tree don complete. Nigerians go just laugh say, “Na manage we dey manage, but e go still sweet.”

The Christmas Food: Make Everybody Chop

For Naija, food na the center of Christmas celebration. Even if na one kind year wey e be like say soup no too dey plenty, Christmas day different. Rice, whether na Jollof or fried, e must show. Chicken, goat meat,cow meat or turkey go follow. If you lucky, you go see moimoi, salad, or even nkwobi and isi-ewu.

But the hustle to prepare food no easy. Cooking gas dey cost, firewood no dey too plenty, and food items don turn something else for market. Na there the community spirit dey enter. Neighbors dey share, people dey contribute small small, because as dem dey talk, “Nobody wan carry last, everybody must chop.”

Church Service: The Main Reason for Christmas

For Naija, we no dey forget say the reason for the season na Jesus Christ. Churches dey full on Christmas morning as families go dey sing, pray, and thank God for the year. Choir go sing gospel wey go touch heart, and pastor go preach hope, love, and resilience.

For some villages, dem dey even do nativity play or Christmas drama to remind people of how Christ take start. E dey sweet when you see traditional dance join the celebration. Religion and culture dey mix well for Naija style of Christmas.

Evening Cruise: Detty December Don Land

After all the food and church matter, na groove time! Children go wear their fine new clothes waka round, go house to house dey greet people and collect small gifts (aka “Christmas handouts”). Youths go organize street parties, and local DJs go blast music wey go make body sweet.

For some people, na time to do “detty December.” Bars, lounges, and beaches go full as people go dey vibe, because, as we sabi talk, “Body no be firewood.”

Finding Joy Even When E No Easy

Despite all the struggle, Nigerians sabi find joy. Na about the small memories, laughter from children, food wey everybody chop together, and the spirit of giving. Even those wey no fit afford big celebration still dey thank God o. Some people go do small house party; others go just use the day pray and reflect.

Social media sef dey help. People dey share their own kind of celebration, using hashtags like #NaijaChristmas or #DettyDecember to show say life still dey sweet, no matter the condition.

As We Enter New Year

As another year dey end, hope still dey shine for Naija. The way people dey push through Christmas wahala, show the resilience wey Nigerians carry. Everybody dey pray say next year go better, better economy, better life.

So, whether na rice and chicken you chop, or na garri you soak, one thing sure: Christmas na about the heart wey dey give. Love, gratitude, and hope na wetin matter pass.

Merry Christmas, Naija style!

Related Topics:community Economy Enugu Lagos Police

Up Next

SEE photo of duplex almost completed by man who beaded his friend in Delta

Don't Miss

Edo To Get First Lady As Gov Okpebholo Reportedly Set To Quit Bachelorhood

Click to comment

News

SEE Today’s Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate – December 25, 2024

Published

20 minutes ago

December 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

Black Market Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate (Aboki FX) – December 24, 2024.

What is the Dollar to Naira exchange rate in the black market, also referred to as the parallel market (Aboki FX)?

Below is the black market Dollar to Naira exchange rate for December 24, 2024. You can exchange your dollars for Naira at the following rates

Black Market Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate Today
Buying Rate: N1640
Selling Rate: N1650
According to sources at the Bureau De Change (BDC), players in the Lagos parallel market buy a dollar at N1640 and sell at N1650 as of Tuesday, December 24, 2024.

CBN Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate Today
Highest Rate: N1545
Lowest Rate: N1537
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize transactions in the parallel market (black market) and advises individuals seeking foreign exchange to approach their respective banks.

Disclaimer: The rates listed above may differ from actual buying or selling rates in various locations, as forex prices can vary.

News

LG chairman set to rename popular Liverpool Road after Tinubu’s son, Seyi

Published

22 minutes ago

December 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Oshodi-Isolo Local Government is set to rename Liverpool Road in Oshodi-Isolo after Seyi Tinubu, the son of Mr. President Bola Tinubu.

Chairman of the council, Kehinde Oloyede, explained that the decision was “borne out of his immense contributions to youth and community development.

According to Oloyode, in a statement shared on the LG’s X handle by his media aid, “All is now set for the renaming of Liverpool Road in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government after the son of Nigeria’s President, Amb. Seyi Tinubu.”

When contacted to confirm the claim, one of media aides to the Chairman of Oshodi –Isolo council said, The road, which is strategic to Oshodi and one of the major roads linking Oshodi/Apapa Expressway and connecting the international airport, “would soon be commissioned and renamed in Seyi Tinubu’s honour at a date to be announced.”

Oloyode, claimed “The road was a lion’s den, as no one could dare pass it either during the day or at night.”

He, however, noted that upon his assumption of office, the criminal elements, who had been using the road as a hideout before its reconstruction were all chased away.

News

Hon Teejay Yusuf embarks on massive medical outreach in Kogi State (Photos)

Published

34 minutes ago

December 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

Hon Teejay Yusuf, a former member of the House of Representatives has embarked on a massive medical outreach in Kogi State.

Yusuf who represented Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency from 2007-2023 before now had embarked on such people oriented programs while in office.

The vibrant lawmaker while in the HoR has a knack for championing programs that cut across, training laced around ICT, skills acquisition, sponsorship of indigent students, he carried out this outreach despite being out of office in the last 18months.

In this year’s outreach, outside Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, it was extended to accommodate LGAs in Kogi West Senatorial District.

See photos below: