Friday, January 1, 2016

HOW WE CELEBRATE NEW YEAR THIS SIDE

New Year celebrations is for people of all faiths and religious creeds, because it is a celebration of life and gratitude for being alive to witness a new year.

Christians as well as Muslims alike all celebrate New Year, even though the form and manner of celebrations differ from religion to religion, culture to culture.Whatever the style its just a celebration and show of gratitude to the Almighty.The Christians attend a service in Church to usher in the New Year amidst prayers, singing and jubilation.

In Nigeria, people travel from the cities back to their villages to celebrate New Year with grandparents and relatives. Celebrating Christmas and New Year in villages with one’s extended families and folks is a Nigerian thing, and this involves a lot of preparations and spending.

People travel back to villages to see their older folks, and those in villages come to cities to see their brothers and sisters and to enjoy the season in the city. People also buy new clothes or sew new ones to reflect a new appearance; while individual homes and streets get decorated with ribbons and lighted Christmas trees and all sorts of colourful lights.

During the New Year celebrations, youths light fireworks or as we call it “bangers” in the spirit of celebrations,and in Nigeria for example, State Government and Corporate bodies as well as individuals organize carnival parties that might last from a day to a couple of days.

The Calabar Carnival which is organised by the Cross River State government, the Dakkada Unity Festival put together by one of the sons of the soil Nature Udoh, to bring fun and enjoyment to Akwa Ibomites.The carnivals take the form of street processions and dancing to parties and music



The Christmas and New Year celebrations would not be complete without food.Almost all families slaughter goats, sheep, ram, chicken or turkey to make the best of pounded yam, jollof rice, fried rice, vegetable salad, local soups and all types of delicacies. And there is free flow of beer, palm wine, exotic wines, locally brewed drinks, and fruit juices among others.

After the the service to thank God for allowing us witness the new year, some families take their families out to eateries or for sight seeing or return home to eat home cooked meals.

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