Dr Freaks Journal - What Christmas Meant To Olakunle "The Village Boy" -

As a matter of practice, I set up my "Christmas tree" as early as 24 November of every year (exactly 30 days before Christmas. 












I partly grew up in Western Region and Ondo State. By the time Ekiti State was created on 1 October 1996, I was long gone.


As a matter of practice, I set up my "Christmas tree" as early as 24 November of every year (exactly 30 days before Christmas. Wait a minute, do I believe in the celebration of Christmas? 

Does it really matter what I believe (in) or not? 

All I can tell my reader for free is that as a matter of practice, I deliberately refuse to take my bath on that day and I do not step out of my little enclave but I do not fail to devour wifey's fried rice and crush the chicken or turkey bone, depending on the one my money can buy. "God no go shame us!"


Meanwhile, Christmas is still four (4) months away!


If you grew up in my hood, this may bring back some memories, however, the "ajebotas" may find my story a little bit odd and or "not tush" but please bear with this "village boy".


Christmas in the village commenced as early as the last week of November. Mothers would bring out the well packaged Christmas trees and decorations. They never forgot to adorn the trees and the ceiling with the lightings and decorations.

 How I looked forward to the season! Everything about the season was thrilling save for the moment when the son of man would have to present his report card to "Baba Agric" (my father) of blessed memory. Olakunle loved school, but same could not be said of academics! 

How did I even become a lawyer today? 

Self discovery. Hardwork. Self awakening. A story for another day. Primary school was okay. Secondary was "just there joor." Well, back to the story of Christmas. Schools vacated from the first (or second) week of December and what that meant was that we could play as much as our parents and guardians could/would allow. My December "docket" was forever full.

 I was actively involved in the church's choir and the school theatre group. I always got drafted into the end-of-the-year activities and I never failed to act the role of either one of the disciples or the active "crucifiers" of the Christ. In my church, I also sang and acted on the eve of Christmas.


The meat of this piece is the short list of the memorable events that characterized the season.

Shall I start with the most mischievous? We had this "locally-made" guns made from bicycle "spokes". If you wanted a louder and better amplified sound you would go for that of a motorbike. The sound was unmistakable. We would load the "chambers" with match (gun) powder and "cork the gun" and hit the covering lid (usually a nail) against a hard surface thus throwing the neighbourhood into a state of pandemonium. 

Not every young man could afford fireworks and banger at the time but "we" could all afford this particular "gun" and we were just happy! Those were the good old days. In the days to follow, mothers would buy Christmas cloths and the tailors would play tin gods, the ones who were magnanimous enough to take late orders would disappoint, but we always had a "plan B." Then, here comes the D-Day! Youngsters would move from household to household "greeting them for 'odun'" and the "waka-about" continued for another few days and all through 1 January.


For me, the highlight was the "shooting" of our "locally made guns." How I looked forward to the season!


Today, "we" are "old men and women" and Christmas is no longer what it used to be and mean to us. All we do these days is to just sit down and reminisce about the good old days.

Stay Safe..

Its Kunle!