Nigerians are known for having weird Christmas traditions in the run-up to the festive holiday.
All around the world, people are happily preparing for one of the biggest festive seasons of the year and Nigerians are no exception. While other people's traditions include hanging decorations and stockings, Nigerian Christmas tradition is a little bit different.
Here are some weird beliefs and practices Nigerians engage in as part of the preparation and actual Christmas celebrations.
1. Christmas clothes
Getting new Christmas clothes is a standard Christmas tradition which over the years has become religiously attached to the celebration.
Nigerians love to look their best and Christmas is their favourite time of the year to show off the latest designs.
2. Fire crackers and fireworks
In the run-up to Christmas, it becomes normal to frequently hear the sound of bangers( firecrackers) being lit and set off by kids. Sometimes adults also indulge too. Fireworks are set off in the night lighting up the sky alerting everyone to the coming of Christmas time.
As Christmas day approaches, the frequency and intensity of bangers being set off increases with Christmas day being the peak.
3. Spend long hours travelling by road
Nigerians spend long hours travelling to their villages to meet with relatives and celebrate the Christmas break. No one likes this part of Christmas as it is characterized by rushed packing and long hours spent on grid locked roads but no one will want to exchange this for anything else.
4. Rice, preferably Jollof rice
Although Nigerians have been creative with finding other ways to cook rice, jollof rice still remains a favourite for Christmas. On Christmas Day, so much rice is served and eaten with almost all meals shared with relatives catching up on all that has transpired that year.