Opinion
By Ike Abonyi
“CHRISTMAS waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” – Norman Vincent Peale
Tenor box
Yesterday was Christmas; today is Boxing Day, when boxes of gifts go around loved ones and when the Christmas hangover is managed. As a child, we thought Boxing Day was the sporting boxing, the physical exchange of blows, even though no one could rationalize how just a day after finishing such a lovely feast, we turned to fighting the next day. It was later in age with the advancement of knowledge, that the real reason became known that the boxing here could as well have been the carton or parcel of gifts day. In the villages, Christmas fun is electric, children are still moving around in their new wears and fun items. It’s also a day for masquerades and dancing.
Not even the Jagaban era could affect the mood of Christmas. Muhammed Buhari attempted to apply the brake of Christmas velocity through his uneventful and slobbish regime but failed severally. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will even be shocked to know that despite his well-orchestrated intention to slow down the mood of Christmas through his unwise invention of hardship in the name of reforms, Christmas has continued to wave its magic wand over the World, including Nigeria.
The series of tragedies that occurred across the country, in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija days preceding Christmas, were some obvious attempts by some generous blessed Nigerians to show charity to the less privileged in our midst in the spirit of the season.
Unfortunately, some of this charitable work ended tragically. But nothing really can slow Christmas. Not even fuel price at over one thousand naira per liter could hold back Christmas, nor could One dollar still be exchanged for over one thousand seven hundred nairas, inflation of every item, including basic items like rice, the festival’s main delicacy that was intended to be out of the reach. Yusuf Aliyu, a goat dealer in Obollo Afor, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu state for over a decade captured it vividly, “walahi, with the high cost of living, with this terrible Tinubu government, I still sold more goat in this year’s Christmas. The only year I sold less every Christmas was the COVID-19 year.”
In the mood of the season, even criminals respected the ambiance of the time; the gunmen dropped their guns and went into feasting; kidnappers went on break and left some of their captives in the bushes and went feasting. The mood was electric and only Christmas could undress all negatives in a day and turn them into positives. Even hospitals, prisons, and police cells that have remained harbingers of ugly news in society were in the mood. Who wouldn’t be in such high spirits at the birthday anniversary of his messiah? Even President Tinubu was in the mood to disregard the hardship of the people as a result of his obnoxious policies to go on a boat ride in the sea of Lagos but was prevented by the series of disasters arising from his unpleasant policies.
Christmas is indeed a significant holiday celebrated by Christians around the world, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. While it has evolved into a festive season with various traditions and customs, its true meaning remains rooted in Christian faith and values.
What does it show? When the messiah arrives, the mood is always electric, and every negative is turned down.
Christmas also shows that those who do good in this earthly world and left are hardly forgotten. Check around your families and friends to see how those who were good to society remained in mind. Drawing a few examples from the political sector, Obafemi Awolowo is adored by Yorubas
for his good deeds, and Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nelson Mandela, and Nkwume Nkurumah remain an immortal name in Africa years after death for their good deeds. Sarduna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello is still a landmark name in the North for his goodness. Tafawa Belewa’s humble leadership is still a reference point years later. Joseph Tarka and Solomon Lar are adored in the middle belt of Nigeria for their emancipation role in the area.
Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is still receiving adoration from those who didn’t even know him among the Igbos, but his deeds continue to follow him. History continues to record for posterity that Ojukwu’s love to serve the people made him abandon wealth as the son of the wealthiest man in West Africa and a graduate from the best global Institution, Oxford University, to be the first University graduate to join the Nigeria Army for service to his nation. Ojukwu’s case reminds us that hardly anyone is remembered for his wealth but for his services and what and how he used this wealth for the good of society. It’s Emeka Ojukwu’s services to humanity that have taken his father’s name farther than his riches. Persons of good deeds always remained treasured for their services to humanity even when they were long gone.
None of these heroes are being remembered for their riches, the number of lands they grabbed, the mansion they built, but for the great deeds they did to mankind.
Jesus Christ, who was born two thousand and twenty-four years ago and is still being worshipped and adored generation after generation, lived only 33 years on earth but achieved a lot that could not ever be ignored to date.
So, Christmas quintessence is not limited to celebrating an aspect of the messiah’s day but encompasses a lot of others, including but not limited to how he lived and the good deeds he did while sojourning with humanity on the earth. The spiritual significance of Christmas is that Jesus’ birth represents God’s gift of love to humanity, offering salvation and redemption through faith. Christmas also symbolizes hope and renewal, as it marks the beginning of Jesus’ life and mission to bring light and salvation to the world.
The core value of Christmas is love and kindness to humanity. Christmas, therefore, emphasizes the importance of love, kindness, and compassion towards others. And it encourages generosity and giving, reflecting the value of selflessness. It’s also the best time for family reunions and strengthening bonds with loved ones, and it also creates an atmosphere that enables people to focus on the positive aspects of life, expressing gratitude for blessings and finding joy in the simple things.
By embracing the spiritual significance, core values, and modern-day reflections of Christmas, individuals can deepen their understanding and appreciation of this special holiday by making the true spirit of Christmas which is embedded in love. A time for hope, love, and renewal. Like Winston Churchill will say “Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.”
Because the Jagaban era prevents many from fulfilling their heart desire of traveling to the villages to meet loved ones, Christmas is also a time to get homesick because of the atmosphere it creates, which is missed by being where you do not desire to be.
During Christmas, dreams are fulfilled; if you dreamt of killing a goat, for instance, and could only afford a chicken, it does not remove the essence of Christmas that you dreamt of.
Christmas is not what you eat or wear, it is a moment family, friends, and loved ones cherish and make memories that last a lifetime. The best gift around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other in a rare fraternity of love and friendliness. Christmas is a magic that is in the air, and in the hearts of those we love.
Christmas is perhaps the most adaptable festival globally. From the ancient time of the visit of the wise men from the East to Nazareth to the messiah at birth to this digital era, it has remained flexible, responding to the changing times. Today messages and gifts at Christmas are customized in social media posts with photos and personal messages. Videos that resonate with the recipient are produced, personalized, and shared to liven up the mood.
Christmas spirit is indeed what we all desire for this country going forward. We, however, know that the new Nigeria of our dreams can only be possible if selfless leaders are recruited to serve the people in a way that shows care and conscientiousness in their duties. May God help us see such leaders in our time. Merry Christmas and Prosperous 2025 to all.
A.I
Dec. 26, 2024
Tags: Ike Abonyi Norman Vincent Peale
