HOW CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATED IN NIGERIA

Celebrating Christmas in Nigeria is very unlike the way it is celebrated in other parts of the world. The average Nigerian Christian believes that Christmas is one season you need to celebrate by giving all you have. People gather at bars, beaches, clubs, streets and many other fun spots during this period. Even though Christians go to churches on Christmas day, they do it as a religious obligation that should be fulfilled.

Nigerians generally have a knack for importing cultures and traditions of civilized countries and applying them to their daily life style. No wonder Christmas is celebrated in various fashions and style making Christmas the most colorful festival in Nigeria and by extension the world at large. What then makes Christmas celebration in this part of the world wonderful?

CHRISTMAS CARNIVALS
During the Christmas season, a lot of streets organize carnivals where people gather on the streets to dance all day and all nights. The preparations that go into preparing for these carnivals range from indigenes of these streets painting and repainting their buildings, banners are displayed to create awareness and DJ stands are erected where invited DJs will mount their loudspeakers and other sound system to dish out wonderful music to the delight of all. The most popular of these carnivals and which is the oldest is known as the Fanti carnival that is held in the Lagos Island.

BEACH PARTIES
One very important part of Christmas celebration in Nigeria is Beach parties. Nigerians love to go to the beaches to relax and Nigeria is a country blessed with a lot of beaches. In Lagos alone where we have the highest concentration of these beaches, we have over six (6) of them. We have: The Bar Beach, The Alfa Beach, The Eleko Beach, and The Badagry Beach among others. Christmas celebration in the beach does not take a lot of preparation unlike the carnivals. All you need is have a vehicle to convey you and your family or friends and get yourself iced drinks and foods to make your stay worthwhile.

GOING TO CLUBS
Nigeria is a country that loves to party a lot and clubbing is one way they do this. It is not difficult to see them going to clubs during these season to dance all night and probably all day in the spirit of Christmas. The number of clubs in Nigeria, Lagos especially is one of the highest you can find any where when you consider the fact that Lagos is a cosmopolitan city and was once the capital of Nigeria. The present capital of Nigeria, Abuja also has its own fair share of club life and Christmas is never dull in the city.

CHRISTMAS FEAST
Nigerians love good food and nothing is held back when it has to do with getting the best for Christmas. During the Christmas season, prices of food stuff becomes very high even as high as %70 to %80 and Nigerians do not really worry much about this as they know that Christmas is not celebrated every day. The most common meat for Christmas is Turkey, Chicken, Beef and Goat. While the most common food is Rice. Christmas is the only season where you find lots of food to eat even for the poor.

For the Tourists who have chosen Nigeria as their destination this Christmas, remember that you are coming to one of the most exotic and interesting place on planet earth.