Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, it is one celebration that is looked forward to all year long world wide. There are various activities that make celebrating Christmas in Nigeria unique. Here are a few of them:
Christian activities
Various churches organize programs around the Christmas season, examples include:
Shiloh: organized by the Living Faith Church. This progam usually runs for 5-7days. Congregants from all over the world gather to seek the face of God, share testimonies as well as share fellowship.
The Experience: organised and hosted by the House on the Rock Christian Centre, this is a yearly congregation of thousands of believers who gather to worship God in music. It is held in the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos Nigeria. Various gospel artists both Nigerian and foreign grace this event, and comedians are not left out either, as they bring their jokes to the event. This program lasts for a day and is usually a time of refreshing. It is aired on social media and on TV stations for those who cannot make it to Lagos.
Akwa Ibom Christmas Carol: organised by the Akwa Ibom State Government. It is a yearly Christmas event that hosts various choir groups, and the popular Akwa Ibom Mass Choir. It is said that the Akwa Ibom Mass Choir has about 25,000 members which earned them a spot in the Guinness book of records. Gospel artists like Nathaniel Bassey, Mercy Chinwo, Eben, Chioma Jesus and several others from within and outside the country also come to sing during this program.
These are just but a few of the famous Christian programs.
Apart from attending Christian programs, Nigerians engage on other activities such as:
Travelling
Traveling is another fun activity people engage in during the Christmas season, most parents or adults who have been busy all year round make the best use of this season to travel down to the village or other states. People travel from far and wide to celebrate the Christmas with their aging parents and families they haven’t seen in awhile.
Photo shoot
Who does not love creating memories, Nigerians love photo sessions from birthdays, weddings, burials and of cause Christmas!!!!!!! Most families take pictures wearing the vibrant christmas colors. They use it for either postcards or share it on the media with their loved ones and acquaintances.
Fireworks
What is a Christmas without fireworks, popularly know as “knock out ” in Nigeria. Most fun sights, churches and streets have children or young adults playing with firecrackers. It is an interesting part that also announces the Christmas season.
Fun day at the beach
What could be more interesting than dressing up and going to the beach, the beach offers peace and relaxation. Friends, families and children often picnic, ride horses and dance at the beach during the Christmas period in Lagos, Nigeria.
There are other beautiful fun events during the Christmas season. One of such includes the very popular Calabar Carnival. The carnival holds throughout the month of December in Cross River State Nigeria. It showcases beautiful African culture through dressing, music, dance, drama and other creative activities. People from all over the world troupe in to see the vast richness of the African culture.
Another is the Port Harcourt Carnival, which showcases boats display, street parades and cultural events. There is also performances by musicians, both locally and internationally. It usually holds for one week.