It’ll be Christmas in a few days and I’ll love to use this opportunity to say Merry Christmas to everyone out there.
As Andy Williams said in his song, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Christmas is a wonderful time for nearly everyone.
The lyrics of the song go:
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year“It’s the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It’s the hap-happiest season of all“There’ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There’ll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago“It’s the most wonderful time of the year
There’ll be much mistletoeingAnd hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It’s the most wonderful time of the year“There’ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There’ll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago“It’s the most wonderful time of the year
There’ll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It’s the most wonderful time
Yes the most wonderful time
Oh the most wonderful time
Of the year.”
Even though some of the things the song references are farfetched for many Nigerians, with the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas rising by 39.31 per cent to N10,180.88 in one month, the price of kerosene hitting N1,083.57 per litre and N3,594.44 per gallon and scarcity of petrol ravaging parts of the country, all of these are not enough to kill the spirit of Nigerians when they want to celebrate.
I was driving on the freeway near Wuse Market and when I saw the line of cars waiting to get into the market and the human traffic in the area, I began to wonder what everyone was going to the market to buy and with which money because the gist around town is that people can barely afford their basic needs. One would therefore have imagined that the frenzy about the Christmas celebration would be affected but clearly, when it comes to Christmas, there’s always a miracle.
Latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that the country’s inflation rose to 21.47 per cent in November. The rise was the 10th consecutive since the beginning of the year.
Food inflation also rose to 24.13 per cent in November 2022 from the 23.72 per cent recorded in the previous month and attributed to increase in prices of bread and cereals, oil and fat, potatoes, yam and other tubers, food products and fish.
Those who live and work in cities away from their families are already moving back home to spend time with their loved ones.
Trust transporters to cash in on the opportunity and increase fares as has become their practice over time. As much as this smacks of greed and capitalising on the rush, they blame it on scarcity and the resultant high cost of petrol which you cannot fault them on this time.
In spite of the inflation and weak purchasing power, it would seem that when it comes to Christmas, no one wants to be left behind and no stone is left unturned in the quest for a Merry Christmas.
There may be no bells to jingle for many Nigerian children whose parents happen to fall among the 133 million multidimensional poor, being of good cheer may be a tall order for many, considering the many troubles they are faced with, and there may be no resources to host parties, no marshmallows to toast and of course, no snow falling.
Amidst all the troubles, families and loved ones still find a way to come together, friends visit, carols are organised, hearts glow and for some, they temporarily forget all about their worries.
That is the magic of Christmas.
It is indeed the best time of the year and I cannot help but ask that you make the most of the celebrations.
Merry Christmas!
