Adulthood transforms the holiday season into a kaleidoscope of shifting perspectives and evolving traditions. The once eagerly anticipated Christmas morning, filled with the unbridled excitement of unwrapping presents and discovering treasures beneath the tree, now carries the weight of thoughtful gift-giving and the joy of creating meaningful connections. The festive melodies that once served as the soundtrack to our youthful exuberance now invoke a melodic reflection on the passage of time, echoing the sentiments of years gone by.
In this new chapter, the magic of Christmas takes on a more nuanced form, intricately woven with the challenges and triumphs of the adult experience. The twinkling lights become beacons of warmth, illuminating the bonds that endure amidst the hustle and bustle of life’s demands. As we navigate the responsibilities of work, relationships, and personal growth, the holiday season beckons us to find balance—a delicate dance between the childlike wonder that resides within and the wisdom that adulthood imparts.
Yet, amidst the changes, there remains a constant—the enduring spirit of Christmas that transcends age. The joy of giving, the warmth of togetherness, and the embrace of tradition continue to be the heart of the season. As we exchange the innocence of childhood for the depth of adult understanding, Christmas evolves into a tapestry that reflects the beauty of growth, resilience, and the enduring magic that resides within us all.
Christmas has changed in a lot of ways for adults, and for today’s Nigerian Lives, we asked five Nigerians about the nostalgia of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ as kids.
Kyrian
Christmas was many things to me during childhood. It was an opportunity to enjoy my life with food, meet cousins I hadn’t met in the past year, and have a good time. I relished Christmas and the festivities that came with it. Christmas has however changed for me. The first change for me was when I got into junior secondary school. It was the first year that I didn’t get Christmas clothes. I tried to push it, but my father sat me down and explained that I wasn’t a baby anymore, and hence Christmas clothes shouldn’t be my priority right now. While I saw the responsibility my father was trying to hand me, I realized immediately that I wasn’t a kid. Christmas changed over time as I grew. I have gone from enjoying Christmas to dreading it because of the spending that comes with it. I spend a lot. I’m not complaining o but this adulthood is hard. I miss the memories of Christmas as a child. I miss it!
Ifeanyi
The last time I felt Christmas was in 2012. I remember 2012 vividly because that Christmas the year my father was initiated and became an Ozo-titled man. It was the biggest event I had ever seen in my life at the time. Our house was packed with my relations and relatives who flew in from different parts of the country. It was the first time everyone gathered together. The event started a week before, and it was lit. It’s been more than a decade since that event, and my big family hasn’t gathered in one place since then. Going back to these memories now, I remember how beautiful and interesting Christmas has been for me. It’s still a vibe, but it doesn’t come close to what I had as a kid.
Jeff
Christmas has changed for me. As a child, Christmas was highly anticipated because it was the time when my siblings and I made money from relatives. Food was not primarily our problem. It was money that our mother would end up taking in the name of savings. I grew up in Jos, and Christmas was the only time we were assured of going to my hometown. It was unmissable. Christmas was that time. I can’t talk enough about how Christmas has changed for me. My younger siblings and cousins have sent their big uncle what they need for Christmas. My big uncles and aunts did it for me and my siblings when we were younger, and so I am happy to be doing this. I have grown now, and Christmas comes with responsibilities, and the constant reminder of marriage. I will not be going back this Christmas because I don’t have a lady to introduce to my parents, however, there are still days and a lot can happen in days.
Oyinkan
Christmas as a child was full of naive excitement and joy that only children can explain. Now that I think of it, all that lingers in my subconscious is nostalgia. The excitement from the Christmas carols at school, and the bussing realization that myself and my siblings are about to go Christmas shopping, buying all the new things and creating new memories at the family house.
The nights where we countdown to Christmas day and eat all sorts till we can eat the actual Christmas meal.
The fog in the air can’t be compared to the joy in our hearts, that we can eventually wear our clothes, shoes, and Christmas cap. We sometimes even forget that Jesus is the reason for the season, we just loved the excitement that the season brought.
I miss the naivety of my heart and the excitement in my eyes.
Oluwatoyin
Growing up, Christmas had a peculiar smell to it. The dry weather, low humidity, crackling of dry leaves and clothes in the harmattan breeze, all of it. It meant no school and boy, was I happy about it. It also meant that everyone would be home and chores would be shared equally. As an only girl, this singular fact made me happy. It meant that if all chores were divided between my brothers and I, I ultimately got to play with the girls in my compound and be up to nothing for extended periods. I loved it.
Mum’s cooking was also extra special during Christmas. The portions were bigger too and my uncles and aunties didn’t mind leaving their protein leftovers for me. It was doing Christmas as a child that I wished to be an adult. When kids got one meat, adults got 2-3 of it. Wow, such enjoyment, I remember thinking. The upside was that I got Christmas money and clothes and made Christmas hair, all sponsored by the adults
The morning of the 25th always felt like the night Jesus was born. Early hours would still bear a dark sky and in my staring up at it, I would think that the brightest star was the one the shepherds saw that night.
Back to my reality, I remember there was always NEPA light during Christmas because I slept and woke up with a fan blowing my head and the AC on the lowest. Chilly enough to think maybe snow had fallen
The parlor always had Christmas lights running across the four corners of its wall, playing Christmas tunes.
The AC did work. It was that old model. The one made with brown wood that looks like the brown wood my grandpa’s TV was made from.
It was cozy and when the morning sun started to brighten up the sky, my family would wake up and get going with their morning rituals before getting ready for church service that day.