Christmas Eve

source

How is Christmas usually celebrated in your family?

In my family, everyone comes home for Christmas. No matter where they are, we all look forward to this special time. From December 20th to December 24th, those traveling make sure to return because Christmas Day is on December 25th.

On the morning of the 25th, some family members go to church while others start cooking. We prepare a variety of dishes, especially rice and chicken. Since we have a big family, we usually slaughter 7 to 10 chickens or sometimes a goat for the celebration.

After church, we gather around a big table to pray before eating. My uncle plays nice music to keep the atmosphere cheerful. We also share stories from our lives and enjoy some champagne and regular wine. Celebrating with my family is always a joyful experience, and we often stay at the table until evening or even night.

What meals do you eat that day?

I can pick from many kinds of food since we cook a variety. We make rice and stew, fried rice, soups, yam pepper soup, and our traditional dishes.

On Christmas, I really enjoy fried rice because we don’t make it often at home. It’s more of a festive dish. After that, I like to have some soup with a bit of pounded yam. I usually eat our traditional food and yam pepper soup at night.

What do you like most about Christmas Eve?

source

Christmas Eve is always a great time, and what I like best are the fireworks and other activities that happen at night.

When I'm at home with my family, we often have a family prayer from midnight to 1 AM. After that, we can go outside and join others to light the fireworks.

I enjoy watching the different colors in the sky, and I love the smell and sounds that come with it. The sight of the fireworks reminds me that I am celebrating Christmas. It’s always a fun experience.

Do you gather with your family to celebrate Christmas?

Yes, I celebrate Christmas with my family, just like I said before. Christmas feels incomplete without them. They make it special for me.

For me, Christmas isn't really Christmas without my family. I enjoy having them around because we share good vibes, cook delicious food together, and spend quality time chatting. We swim together, gather water, and at night, we sit under the moon and share stories.

Being with my family is always a joy. Sometimes, we eat from a big tray to show our love. We explore together and come back home at the same time. The fun just isn't the same without them.

What can't be missed on Christmas Eve?

source

Fireworks are a key part of Christmas Eve. They are essential and should not be missed. These fireworks excite everyone for Christmas Day and help set the mood for the holiday.

I often celebrate with my cousins, lighting fireworks and enjoying the loud bangs. One time, I hurt myself while playing, but I didn't cry because I was having too much fun. I love this tradition, and without it, Christmas wouldn't feel the same.

Would you like to watch a Christmas movie that night?

I don't want to watch a Christmas movie because I think it would be dull, and I dislike dull situations. I prefer other activities instead of movies; they don't interest me.

We can only watch movies in the afternoon when the sun is still shining. We can enjoy a film then, but in the evenings, we go out to visit friends or hang out, or we head to the village square to see the masquerades. The masquerades in my village are a lot of fun to watch. They are very entertaining, so I wouldn't want to miss them by watching movies.

This is the end of my post. I hope you'll join me next time. See you in my next entry.

I invite @mariami @aviral123 @lirvic