Article December 21, 2009 Issue

TRUE SIGNS OF THE SEASON

BY CYRUS NJAGI

CHRISTMAS OBSERVANCES WORLDWIDE have similarities, but there is some uniqueness from one country, or place, to another. Here in Nairobi, signs of the Christmas season begin around December 10 and end around January 5 when schools start reopening. The season starts even earlier for marketers and entrepreneurs.

As the season approaches, a majority of city residents start a massive journey up-country to reunite with extended family members and spend time together—something they've not been able to do within the year because of job demands and the city's hustle and bustle. Streets are vacated, and the city environment gets to a record calm. Once in the countryside, people celebrate in their own way. Sharing a meal of roasted goat is the norm. At this time, people are very hospitable; "Merry Christmas" is the standard salutation. Many outward Christmas traditions are observed. On the eve of Christmas, Christians converge in their church auditoriums to watch the story of Jesus' birth acted out. Carols are played and replayed on all radio stations (my favorite is "Joy to the World").

Whereas many kinds of celebrations contain examples of the healing Christ in action, some negative acts show the direct opposite of this season of joy. For example, in my rural village and in many other villages, people indulge in alcohol consumption, which mostly ends in fights. Also, at this time of the year, governments often caution citizens to be vigilant, as cases of theft are at times high. In addition, some workers take bribes explicitly.

About the author

Cyrus Njagi Muriithi lives in Nairobi. He likes the balance between city life and life in the village of his birth, 150 kilometers from the capital.

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