The Christmas period brings celebration and
also invokes memories. While younger people carve out their own form of
celebration that resonates with the modern times, older people who grew
up in Lagos recall their own experience and how they enjoyed Christmas.
Times are changing fast as social and technological influences have
affected a lot of things in Lagos. While there is a lot of excitement in
the air and people who grew up in Lagos remember Christmas celebration
during their own young years in a different way.
Here are some things people who grew up in Lagos remember about Christmas.
1. Bar Beach
Bar Beach used to be the choice location of Lagosians during the
Christmas period. The site usually recorded a high number of visitors as
Lagosians made the beach synonymous with Christmas. Small businesses
sprung up in the area to cater for the needs of people who had come to
spend time with members of their family there. Nowadays, the trend seems
to have changed as people consider pools as substitutes to the sand and
water experience.
2. House To House Visit
People who grew up in Lagos know that Christmas in those days was not
complete without a house to house visit. It was a period to catch up on
friends and families. Christmas affords the time to see that aunt one
has not visited in a while and listen to her comment on how tall and big
one had grown. It is very likely that a small gift would be available
for collection at the end of the visit.
3. Distributing Food
Lagos provides a society where people make new families outside their
traditional families. People who grew up in Lagos enjoyed the tradition
of distributing food to friends and families. Children were always
eager to take food to neighbours because it was certain that that they
would get new notes in return and which child doesn’t cherish mint
notes? Nowadays, children are reluctant about taking food to neighbours
and friends because there is no certainty that any monetary incentive
would come out of it. Those days however, it was almost certain that
one’s pocket would be filed with money, a testament of how many places
one distributed food to.
4. Firecrackers
In this festive period, it is not uncommon to hear the continuous
explosion of firecrackers as part of the celebration. In those days
however in Lagos, a certain type of firecracker or banger was more
common and it was called Bisco. This particular firecracker was a small
type with a short fuse that went off as soon as the fuse came in contact
with fire. It is almost impossible to hold with the hand due to the
danger of having one’s palm torn. This brand produced a single explosion
and there was the thrill of putting the cheap firecracker into a
container and light it to produce a louder explosion. Now the new
bangers still take a second or two to explode so one can afford to hold
the stick for a few seconds.
5. Santa Claus
Santa Claus has become a popular figure and synonymous with Christmas
globally. In Lagos, the figure is still being replicated every
Christmas but the reception is different. People who grew up in Lagos
remember that Santa was a figure viewed with fear and excitement.
Children anticipated his arrival in schools and parks but his presence
elicited fear. Children were tentative about getting close and some
wouldn’t even dare. Now, the figure seems to have been demystified and
few children show any apprehension at the sight of Santa Claus.
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