Like I've mentioned in some of my articles, Nigeria's Independence Day in my house, I mean my family house, is a celebration that has been integrated into our home culture where, whether Nigeria is good or not, there must be a celebration. I grew up in my house enjoying this culture, and yesterday in the evening, I had to give it some thought and decided to adopt that tradition into my personal life, hopefully getting it going even when I finally get married and have children.
Ever since I left the family house during my school days, I haven't celebrated Independence Day the way we normally do at home. In the cities I've lived in, Independence Day is not taken seriously. People go about their normal lives without the tradition of having fun parties and cooking special meals at home the way we do during the Christmas season. So whenever I tell my family that Independence Day is just a normal day in the city, they find it difficult to believe.
Before yesterday, I knew very well that my family at home (in the village) was going to have a "detty" celebration as it has always been. But when I thought about how bad the country has become, with everyone complaining about hardship here and there, I just thought my parents wouldn't go along with the celebration. Honestly, I didn't even have the intention of calling them, and that's also because I wasn't having enough money to send home.
In the afternoon of Independence Day, which was yesterday at the time of writing this, my dad called me to wish me a happy Independence Day, as he usually does. I could feel in his voice that they were having fun with all sorts of drinks. I forcefully told myself that I should send him some airtime to add to his celebrations because he had been calling a lot of relatives to wish them a happy Independence Day. That's how seriously my dad usually takes the celebration.
I quickly sent him a good amount of airtime to his two numbers, and he thanked me a lot. I asked what they were using for the celebration at home, and he confirmed that they had slaughtered a big chicken, as the custom has always been at home. I couldn't help but burst into laughter.
To this end, I just concluded that I'm going to carry that tradition into my own home, and I will force it into my wife and children when I finally get settled with a wife and children.
Posted Using INLEO
