A Season Of Joy And Bonding || LOH Contest #266

We are in that time of the year, beautiful decorations everywhere, carnival in the streets, items that tell you, "Christmas is here" in the malls, shops, and shopping complexes. Various types of partying going on almost every day in the neighborhood. There are many things about the season, it's magical, it's joyous. Family around the country coming home to spend the holiday, it makes the whole period an Unforgettable Experience year in year out.

Have you ever celebrated with others in a tradition that is NOT your own? If so, tell us about it.

This particular question brings lots of my childhood fond memories. I grow up in a Muslim household and in a community that consists mainly of Muslims and Christians. During our Muslim celebrations, my family will have some of our Christian friends and neighbors come and celebrate with us, and when it's Christmas celebration, there were some of my family friends who do invite us over.

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Aside Eid festive celebration period, other period I do look forward to is Christmas season. Right from the month of November, you will start noticing renovation and decorations of houses, decorations of celebration venues, and selling of beautiful items that represent the holiday. These are part of why I love the season very much back then, and I still do. Everywhere you look, there are items to remind you that the holiday is already in the air.

And few days to Christmas, every family member that lives far and near will come home to celebrate with their loved ones. This coming home makes our community to be so lively and bubbling for the period of the holiday. And oh, if you are a business owner, you are assured of making lots of sales this season.

There is this particular friend of my parents who always loves to have my family over to celebrate Christmas with her family.

Before Christmas day, she already bought and sewed Christmas clothes and accessories for every member of her family, and for us, my parents would make sure we have a beautiful wear for Christmas because of our participation in this family celebration.

We usually arrive on the eve or in the morning of Christmas day to join this family. Things that characterize the celebration are jollof rice, fried rice, pounded yam, drinks, meats, storytelling, and bonding within the family and friends who have joined them for the Christmas celebration. And whenever we visit this family, my family always goes with gift item in appreciation to celebrate with them. This is one of my beautiful childhood memory.

A tradition passed down to second generation

Now that I have my very own family, though I live in a Muslim-dominated part of the country where Christmas season can hardly be felt in the air, I have found this special friend that we have been able to keep this old family tradition alive.

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During Christmas celebration, she loves to have my family over to celebrate with her family, and during our Eid celebration I am always glad to do the same. This has created a special bond between our families, it strengthens our relationship and proves that no matter our religion difference we can bond and still maintain a beautiful relationship.