Holidays | Page 2 of 2

What makes Christmas tick? Is it the Christmas spirit, food, family jokes or the quiet day you get because you were forgotten while travel plans were made? Reminisce with nostalgia as seven Nigerians share their favourite Christmas memories with Zikoko; the places and people that shaped their love for the season.

My parents’ separation changed everything about our holidays — We went from throwing Christmas parties with family and friends every year, to being miles apart for the holidays.

The night began like any other celebration at our home in Ibadan: new sets of native clothes laid out on Christmas morning, large pots of amala and gbegiri being stirred on firewood behind the house, my mum’s siblings from the UK trooping in with their rascal kids, and Fuji music playing in the background. That was Christmas in Ibadan; an Owambe style party with good food, music and family. Dinner typically ended with raising our glasses to the promises of a new year together with reassuring words to end every holiday. But on this night, our toast ended with, “This is the last time…” My younger sisters and I retreated quietly to our rooms as the guests left our home.

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There was no explanation to any of it. My parents were moving to different states, and we had to pack up before the New Year. We spent the rest of the holidays silently packing our home into boxes.

We were set to leave the house on the morning of New Years eve. I was heading to Kwara with my dad while my sisters were leaving for Lagos with my mum. Our bags were packed and placed outside as we waited for the drivers who would take us to the airport. We had about 30 minutes left to say goodbye, but I wanted one last game with my sisters rather than moping around the house waiting. It was one last simple game of hide and seek to end our holidays at Ibadan, or so we thought.

My sisters ran to hide while I faced the wall to count to ten. I could hear them scampering around upstairs trying to hide. It was a big house, but I knew exactly where to find the three of them. I checked underneath the staircase and found one of them hiding behind the empty dispenser bottles. I had two more sisters to find and about twenty minutes left. We moved upstairs to check out the guest room. But no one was there. I was heading to my dad’s closet next, when I heard the car driving in. It was the driver. My dad called for us to come downstairs immediately. Everyone came out except our baby sister.

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We called her name a few times but she didn’t answer. We checked underneath the beds, and opened up boxes looking for her. I snuck out to the garage to check, while my other sisters packed the boxes into the car. The garage was empty. I knew she couldn’t have gone outside, but I began to panic.

My parents came out ready to leave, but we still couldn’t find her. I had to come clean about the game, and my dad was furious. He angrily went back into the house to search for her as well, but after an hour, he still couldn’t find her. We finally went outside to check shops on our street and some of the neighbour’s houses as well. Everyone began to panic as we went door to door with no sign of her.

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We came back to the house at about 4 p.m., and at this point the driver could no longer wait for us. It was already getting dark outside, so my dad decided to drive to the station to file a police report. He got into the car and turned on the engine. As he was about to reverse out of the compound, we heard a man on the veranda of the next building shouting, “Come down, come down from the car.” We were all puzzled, so we just stared as he waved his hands around. My dad’s window was down so he could hear everything happening. The man ran down to our gate, panting as he said, “There’s someone underneath the car.” My dad jumped down immediately to check underneath. It was my sister. She had slept off in the middle of the game, and didn’t even wake up when my dad dragged her out.

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It wasn’t a funny experience at the moment, but maybe it was worth it, because I had one more night together with my family.

It’s been almost ten years apart, but I can still clearly picture us together in our empty house that night, laughing one last time. It’s bittersweet, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
December is full of festive days; from Christmas Day to New Year’s Eve.

Take this quiz and we’ll match you with one.
You, in bed, the last night before your first day at work after the holidays.

As you probably already know, coming back to work after you’ve been on vacation sucks. It sucks harder than accidentally pooping when you only meant to let out a small fart. You spent the last 2-3 weeks sleeping in late and doing whatever you wanted but now you’re back to the 9 – 5 life and tbh, you’re not sure if you can deal with the change in routine. Don’t worry. You’re not alone.

Here is a guide for surviving your first day back after the Christmas holidays:

Embrace the sadness like an old friend

Fight it, dread it, run from it, the sadness arrives all the same so the best you can do is deal with it. The first step to doing that is accepting that the next few days (which will involve settling back into your old routine) will be difficult. Dealing with the sadness in a healthy manner will ensure that it doesn’t negatively affect your work.

Wear clothes you like and are comfortable in.

Please take note that I’m not advising you to wear sweatpants and a hoodie to your job at the bank. You will get fired/escorted out of the building by security, and I don’t think starring in an infamous viral video is how you want to start your 2019.

Dress as comfortable as you can without violating your office’s dress code. Because on a day where you’re most likely to be irritable, the last thing you’ll want is to be trapped in a pair of jeans two sizes too small.

Get to the office earlier than usual.

It helps in avoiding the anxiety that comes with commuting (will be late?!). Even better, you’ll get some quiet alone time to do things like arrange your workspace, make your coffee, or scream in frustration because you hate the direction your life is going in.

If a colleague comes up to you and says “Good to be back, eh?”, punch them in the throat.

How dare they rub their ability to be energetic and optimistic in your face?!

Prioritize your tasks.

Chances are you’ll have a lot of work to catch up on your first day back. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, spend the first few hours of the morning sorting your tasks so you can quickly get the urgent ones done and out of the way. The key is to throw in a few tasks you like (e.g. sexting) in order to make the whole process enjoyable.

Have snacks stashed away in your bag/drawer you can chew from time to time.

Because, and I can’t stress this enough, food = happiness. #WiseWordsToLiveBy

Make plans to have lunch outside the office.

For the first few days after returning, a change of scenery is necessary to avoid feeling like you’re trapped in a box. Your lunch break is the best time to achieve that.

Sit at your desk and cry quietly about the fact that there isn’t another major holiday for months.

An important part of the whole process. During this time, your inner monologue will look a little something like this:

“Everyday all I do is ‘wake up and go get this bread’. I am sick and tired. Why can’t the bread come get me for once, ehn?! %@$%$#!”

Set new professional goals.

Setting goals keeps you from getting bored at work because then you’re returning with a new mindset: to crush your goals (whatever it maybe be) within the time period you’ve set for yourself.

Catch up with your coworkers.

Stop at the desks of some of your co-workers and catch up. Gist small and fill each other in on all of the hottest tea (gossip). It’ll do wonders for your mood.
1. So if you are someone that doesn’t like to stay in one place.

2. You like visiting! Which means food, friends and family time!

3. But before you go and disgrace us….

4. Allow zikoko teach you how to be the perfect guest.

5. First of all make sure you are actually invited to the place you are going to oh!

6. Also, it’s better not to go empty handed. Buy a gift!

7. Don’t start fighting the caterers or waiters because of small chops.

8. Don’t overstay your welcome please, after 2 hours carry your wahala and be going.

9. Don’t be dragging remote control with the owners of the house.

10. If you use their toilet, please flush oh!

11. And finally, make sure you say thank you for the invite oh!
1. When your mum brings out “christmas clothes” and you and your siblings look lit.

2. When the church is decorated and there’s a massive Christmas tree that’s selfie perfect.

3. The praise and worship is extra lit because holy turnup raised to power christmas.

4. The fabulous christmas hymns, especially in local languages.

5. When your little cousins are in the nativity play and your whole family shouts like;

6. When the pastor gives an amazing sermon…

7. … And the sermon is not too long

8. The after church snacks and drinks.
1. When your parents ask you how you are getting home which means they are no longer buying your ticket.

2. When your small cousins start sending you Christmas wishlist.

3. When people start asking you to throw your own christmas party.

4. When your parents no longer force their own plans on you and start asking you what your plans are.

5. When your family gives you your share of a shopping list, for the family party.

6. When you now have an option between going to church or attending a party.

7. When your parents no longer buy you presents because you are not a baby anymore
1. When your parents wake up and start shouting but you have nowhere to go to avoid them.

Hay God!
2. When all the popular places to eat and hang out are crowded.

Must you people come out?
3. When random guests and family members come to “visit”.

So if you call us on the phone to “greet” will you die?
4. When you spend a lot more money than you because you keep going out to “have fun”.

Na wa oh!
5. When your ex tries to “hang out” because he/she is bored.

Get thee behind me satan!
6. When your parents start trying to gist with you but end up lecturing you.

This is what I was trying to avoid oh!
7. When your church creates a programme that takes up half of the public holiday.

For goodness sakes!
8. When NEPA refuses to co-operate.

Don’t let God punish you people oh!
9. When all the stores you wanted to go to are closed for the public holiday.

Are these ones serious at all?
10. When the holiday is over and you have to go back to school/work.

Noooooo!
1. You only remembered it was Christmas when you started seeing decorations.

When you were a kid, you already started thinking about Christmas from October.
2. When people start asking you to “do Christmas” for them.

When you were a kid, people were the ones “doing Christmas” for you.
3. You, trying to find your Christmas spirit.

When you were a kid, your Christmas spirit was in full force by November.
4. When relatives no longer feel the need to give you Christmas money.

When you were a kid, that was your major source of income.
5. You, wondering what gifts to get your parents that won’t bankrupt you.

When you were a kid, that was their wahala.
6. When you see kids on holiday and remember your leave will soon end.

That used to be you.
7. You, waiting for Christmas to end so the price of things can go back to normal.

When you were a kid, you couldn’t care less.
8. When there is no one to buy you Christmas clothes and shoes.

When you were a kid, it was a necessity.
9. You actually now know the price of Christmas decorations.

Lol @ the prices of Christmas trees and decorations
— . (@MgbekeFF) December 15, 2015

When you were a kid, you just assumed it came with the house.
10. When you start getting calls from your cousins in the village.

When you were a kid, they called your parents instead.
11. Praying for your account balance throughout the holiday like:

When you were a kid, this was your money month.
12. When you see people with Christmas decorations in their homes.

When you were a kid, your house was the first to put up decorations.
13. You as a kid on Christmas day vs. You as an adult on Christmas day.

Too real.
14. When you realize Christmas as an adult is actually pretty boring.

When you were a kid, there was alwyas an event to attend.
15. When you have to spend the entire holiday entertaining visitors.

When you were a kid, all you had to do was greet them and leave.