The christmas season, is a season of forgiveness, love, rejoicing, and thanks giving to God, for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who died on the cross, that the whole world may be saved,with the salvation of their Souls.
Christmas is annual Christian celebration that happens on the 25th of December. THE IGBOS, being mostly Christians are used to celebrating it in a big way and with an extended family.
THE RETURN
The celebration begins a few weeks before 25th December with THE IGBOS living outside their traditional Igbo land begin their homecoming while those at home prepare to welcome them.
Due to many years of survival and population growth, Igbo population has outgrown Igbo land and migrated to other lands in search of more opportunities.
However, there is mostly a massive returns that happens every year that at times leaves their abodes almost empty and economically paralyzed for a while until after Christmas celebrations.
THE IGBOS who are mostly traders and entrepreneurs wraps up for the year just to celebrate the Christmas and New year.
THE VISITATION
what happens next is visitations, THE IGBOS visit their relatives and friends who have equally return from foreign lands and they get to chat with each other in the midst of drinks and food and of course, the man of the house will present kolanut.
The children also get to visit their uncles, relatives, in-laws and big siblings and ask them to "gbaram Christmas" which means to offer them a Christmas gift and in this case, it's mostly a cash offering. So, the rich or well to do uncles and aunties will do well to carry extra cash to offer as cash gifts to people during Christmas and it's not just for the children but also for the old, poor and others that look up to you.
NMENME (CELEBRATIONS)
This is the time families and people set dates for parties, weddings and events because of the massive returns.
Families intending to create a marital relationship may use this opportunity to "knock on the door" of their intended bride, a common practice among THE IGBOS used to indicate interest in picking a wife.
Traditional marriages, church harvests and bazaars, chieftaincy coronations are also done during this period and it is done before Christmas hence a lot of spending.
There would also be town and village meetings as well as Umunna (extended family) reunions during this period and serious matters may be discussed.
One need to be outgoing to such public events because reunion of old friends takes place and new contacts are made
THE CHRISTMAS
On eve, the evening mass for (THE IGBO CATHOLICS) and also for church services for the (non-Catholic) is practiced for Christmas eve thanksgiving.
Still on Christmas Eve, slaughter of animals such as chickens, goats and cows at family homes such as extended families and lots of cooking. Cooks may be hired or the family may decide to cook themselves.
Sometimes a family meeting is done to begin the day, it is practiced in the obi's where the head of the family leads with a prayer using kolanut and hot drink.
On Christmas THE IGBOS prepare for mass or service and worship God in spirit and truth, which marks the official Christmas celebration.
After mass/service, some igbos stay behind to greet friends or make new friends before heading home for more celebration.
During the Christmas, THE IGBOS eat at home or at their relatives place. They may also be Christmas parties in family homes with oldies music, drinks and foods, Accompanied with lots of fireworks and knockouts.
THE FUN
THE IGBOS love to spend Christmas and new year at their villiage home. Which after the celebration they travel back to thier place of residence in foreign lands.
Days after, THE IGBOS who returned home loves to take a trip round the village to get a good view of what have been missed. visiting other relatives can be part of the fun
As Christmas celebration winds up, THE IGBOS gets prepared for their businesses.
One of the most important events in Igboland is Christmas and it signifies home return in the village. Even though they live most of the time in the city or somewhere else in Nigeria, Igbo families consider their one and only real home their house in the village.
It is the two weeks around Christmas which bring families back together to the village. It is the time to catch up with other family members on what has happened over the years and visit relatives and friends in the neighbourhood.
You will find the cities empty during this period only followed by the traffic peaks caused by travelling back and forth between the villages and the cities. After the events, village life in Igbo land tends to get less interesting and life for those at home gets boring.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS.....
ENJOY THE CHRISTMAS
IGBO KWENU !!!
