It meant a lot to me… It still does. During my childhood, Christmas had a very huge effect on me. It was usually my happiest time of the year. When I unconsciously begin to reminisce about what Christmas meant to my younger self, I feel nostalgic. It was a season to do away with textbooks and all sorts of take-homes. Even the hearty jingles on TV pleased my eyes and caressed my ears. Nothing else really mattered. The warmth we all felt, neutralized the chilly harmattan. I should probably tell you what validated Christmas for my younger self. New clothes… new shoes… Christmas tree… Chicken… Mass cooking… Cold… And one more thing. Christmas lights, of course!

MEMORIES THAT STILL GLOW

During Christmas, it’s no new thing that friends and family come together to celebrate. Getting to see my playful cousins after a whole session filled me with happiness. We rarely get to see one another after all. The frequent eruption of laughter in the living room livened the space– one of my uncles had probably begun his umpteenth relationship or made a financial mistake that caused him to fall ill. An obvious topic for hearty chuckles. The adults always had engaging topics for discussion. Lifestyle, politics, fashion, relationships, work and all that. Being a child, I wasn’t even fascinated by all that. Instead, the reassurance that my piggy bank was going to feed well when we all dispersed, kept a smile on my face. The new #100 notes mattered. Oh! How I love Christmas.

THE HEARTBEAT OF MY CHILDHOOD

Leave granny out of all this huh? Never! She’s the icing on the cake- my priceless jewel. Having stocked up all my favorite treats, how could I not love her? Cookies, sweets, chocolates, Ribena, Choco Milo, Coaster biscuits… We never ran out of them. Knowing we would all come over, she always made sure to get our favorites. Our comfort was her priority. Afterall, it’s the season where she gets to spend quality time with her grandkids. She made sure we always had our way. I figured it was her genuine way of showing us how much she loved having us around. One of the magical moments I hold dear was whenever she wrapped me in bear hugs, holding me tight. The soothing warmth seeping into me. Her gentle gaze and comforting presence have become imprinted in my memory– Boldly, just like a stamp.

WHEN JOY SMELLED LIKE SEASONING CUBES

D-day approached on a whim, reminding me how short-lived Christmas was. The rich aroma of savory meals wafted in the air and made our tummies rumble. I can recall silly moments when peeling seasoning cubes with my cousins gave us a sense of pride. We felt relevant and not left out. ‘We cooked the food’, we’d always say. Hahaha… Who were we fooling? Ourselves, really. It was a day to showcase our new dresses, eat, drink and dance to our heart’s content. Tell me, who doesn’t like Christmas? It’s the season where no one scolds you for taking too many sugary things.

WHEN THE MAGIC SLOWLY FADED

Then, the final stage. School resumes in session again and everyone’s back to school. The regular chirping and murmuring rises to a higher level as everyone goes on and on about how they spent their Christmas holiday. We are even told to write essays about how we spent Christmas. It’s that wonderful. The festive feeling lingers on for a while afterwards till we all get preoccupied with our day-to-day activities, burying the beautiful memories in our hearts. When I was a kid, Christmas meant more than a celebration. It was a canvas painted with light, warmth and the promise of something beautiful.

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