There are stories of people or families who have Christmas Day traditions. It could be eating a particular food first on that day or doing something considered as special or a ritual.
My family isn't an exception when it comes to observing Christmas tradition. There is a family Christmas tradition we have been observing for many years in my family, which has become part of us to the point that even when all my siblings didn't make it to our hometown during Christmas, my mom wouldn't skip observing it. I think I discussed this tradition sometime last year. Thus I will only mention it briefly today and discuss the family tradition we have been observing in my husband's family since I joined them here as a married woman.
In my biological family, my mum initiated a family yearly Thanksgiving in our home church just immediately after the Christmas Day celebration, siblings year review vs reunion, advice and encouragement, coupled with spiritual exercise and merriment at the end of other activities. She started this tradition when we lost our dad in 2007, and this ritual has brought in a kind of bond so strong and admirable for me and my family.
Then in my husband's house, there's this unique Christmas tradition we have been observing here. I think I am loving it already, even though I don't join them for the Christmas celebration yearly, but each time I travel home and join them, it's always a nice experience. It starts by gathering the whole family very early in the morning, around 5 am, for family prayers prior to attending Christmas service. The spiritual exercise is meant to acknowledge God's faithfulness from year to year. After that session, there's this must-have meal they prepare here on Christmas morning, and it's called Okpa.
It's one of our native delicacies, loved by many and enjoyed with pap, or what we call akamu in our dialect. It's a must meal we eat together in our dining room before we start slaughtering chickens 🐔 or turkey 🦃 or goat 🐐, whichever proteins we decided to use for the year, followed by preparing Christmas rice and stew or sauce as the case may be.
It will interest you to know that on Christmas Day, like tomorrow, every member of our family, both children and adults, participates in all the cooking that will take place. This time around, it's not only the female members, as our culture almost designed it to be, but everyone sharing kitchen chores and doing so together in love, joy, and happiness. It's always a session I love most because of the unusual bond it brings. Lots of discussion goes along with these chores, and of course, laughter and catching up. I am eagerly waiting for these Christmas traditions tomorrow, always amazing to experience.
Finally, we don't step out visiting other relatives on Christmas Day but sit together as a family and merry welcome other visitors and entertain them with food, drinks, and music. The last session is the music dance competition, oh my, hahaha even my mom in-law love this part and it goes with spraying of money for the best dancer.
Indeed a Christmas tradition worth practicing. Do you also observe any Christmas traditions in your family?
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Image 2 is mine.
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You have a lovely Christmas ritual, mine is similar to it.
It's just my family and relative that chooses to come around. Everyone member of the family participates in the activity in the kitchen too, my dad inclusive.
Have you ever been the best dancer ?
Wow...it's nice to hear
Hmmm, I don't know how to dance well oo 😂
The get together for food and dance competition... That's superb 👍. In my home as it is currently, once it gets to evening everyone dresses and ball out, living the homie-us at home😅
Hahaha 😂
Home sweet oo ...u shouldn't ball out
This is a beautiful tradition, things like this are what makes the bond amongst family members get stronger 💪.
Indeed my dear...I love that I am now part of this family Christmas tradition
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Our family is almost similar when it comes to the thanksgivings event and the lengthy morning prayers on Christmas day.
Okpa is one meal I've heard about and I think I've taste on few occasions
Pay me some HBDs and I will vividly teach you everything about okpa
I just feel like visiting your home time like now, that okpa Enugu is one of a kind. Activities that builds the bounds of the family is one that makes lots of sense.
Do have a wonderful celebration ahead... remember to waybill my okpa ooo