By OBIOTIKA WILFRED TOOCHUKWU

The whole world is at it again to celebrate Christmas with the holidays steeped in tradition and ritual. Christmas, a festival deeply rooted in Christian tradition, has for centuries been celebrated with reverence, joy, and a sense of community. In recent decades, the celebration of Christmas has faced challenges on several fronts. Economic uncertainties have made extravagant celebrations unaffordable for many, while environmental concerns have raised questions about wasteful consumerism. The way we celebrate Christmas has changed dramatically over the years due to cultural norms, technological advancements, and evolving societal values. Some years ago, family, friends and community come together to share and enjoy themselves. Usually, the message those days was on how to watch one’s weight during Christmas. A lot of people became obese while others contracted diseases resulting from overeating, merrymaking and funfair. The COVID-19 pandemic had made it possible for people to reduce mass gathering; instead, virtual gatherings, online shopping and social media have become integral to the holiday experience.

Christmas celebration has evolved over the years with so many side attractions. While some states, companies consider discounts for sales at Christmas others imagine marginal profits, adding extra costs to every purchase made in their malls. Christmas is a gift to the world through the birth of Jesus Christ. So many people are already wondering; “what sort of gifts should I give out on the Christmas day?” Sure, it’s probably the most frequently asked question every Yuletide season. As the hardship thickens in Nigeria, a lot of people are planning to give themselves away at Christmas. Some would give an hour of their time to someone who needs them, some would send note of encouragement to one who’s really down, some would give a hug of affirmation to a member of their family, some would offer a visit of mercy to someone laid aside, some a word of compassion to someone going through difficult season, while others who can would still extend a deed of kindness to those who are overlooked.

Hard times have never changed God’s plan for humanity and the economic/political turbulence in various African countries cannot change the celebration of Christmas either. Most Christians in Nigeria rely on the government to change their fortunes especially during Christmas time. They view their circumstances as something engineered by human beings. Their loyalty to the government in power has not yielded any positive outcome and they remain in the fence all the time. At a time in the past, Christmas starts on the 6th of December with showering of gifts. The celebration usually lasts for more than one month. Such kindred spirits of yesteryears are winding down. The unfettered disposition that possessed the yuletide had dwindled due to economic reforms, fortunes of individuals. Exchange of cards, night carols are rare due to cost and insecurity.

Throughout history, flawed human beings have embraced ever-changing versions of truth or personal preferred realities to trust their desires. By A.D 336, Christmas was celebrated on December 25th in Rome which coincided with the Roman winter equinox festival of Saturnalia. Still, some Christians in Nigeria do not celebrate Christmas which according to their doctrines originated from idolatrous backgrounds. Churches like Deeper Christian Life Ministries, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries urge their members to stay away from the excitement, lustful cravings surrounding Christmas celebrations. The Igbos in Eastern Nigeria travel from all over the world to celebrate Christmas. Even pagans/heathens among the Igbos honour and inebriate their sacrifices for the birth of Jesus Christ. Philanthropists, humanists, good-spirited individuals start the distribution of rice, fowls, clothing to the poor and less privileged members of their community as soon the first week of December sets in. The Bishops and priests of Catholic faithful use the same season to fete, reach out to the sick, poor, challenged and disabled members of their parishes/dioceses.

However, certain traditions for Christmas have remained the same over the centuries. The Christmas tree, lights, decorations in green and red colours, carol of nine lessons, praises had always been an annual commemoration. The fireworks, knock outs, bandits which have been banned in Nigeria still subsist in other environments. Two weeks of Christmas and new year celebrations is highly ominous in the eastern part of Nigeria with masquerades, carnivals, parties, shows, pageantry, displays enveloping the entire region of the country. Burials and mournful funerals are cancelled during the celebration. Among other things, children get new clothes, eyeglasses, shoes and wristwatches from their parents/guardians during Christmas. Overwhelmingly, the evil rulers, rampant idolatry and complacent populace have never affected the celebration of Christmas in Nigeria.

Assuredly, some Christians seek guidance from false gods, witch doctors, fortune tellers etc in order to enhance, add colour to the annual celebration of Christmas. Some seek security in material possessions, money, powers, certificates and other fleeting things of life to show their neighbors that they have arrived. Father Christmas, Santa Claus has continued during Christmas celebration. Some Christians in their habits do attend church only at Christmas or Easter and that tells you the impact of the celebration. Appetite for the things of God is always reactivated at Christmas.

The birth of Jesus Christ has re-established the friendship, resolved the dispute between God and man. Everyone experiences a little bit of heaven on earth during Christmas. An important fact is that people were happy and moral before Christ came. But Jesus Christ had proven that such kind of happiness and peace is on a wrong level. The controversy on Jesus Christ being God or not boils down to one being a prophet to oneself. Nonetheless, the message of Christmas is succinct, lucid and portent. We have to prepare our hearts annually to receive the Messiah who came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them. By loving our neighbours, being kind to one another, we assume the perfection of the Savior. It’s a season of forgiveness, being tender-hearted. No doubt, we live in a broken world with broken relationships, but we must forbear one another and let the prince of peace to come into our hearts. Christmas is a time to rebuild trust, bridge gaps and foster deeper connection with one another.

•Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu writes from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Awgbu, Anambra State.