…Welcoming the annual end of year celebration season
If you don’t know what time it is, then I am here to let you know it is celebration season! The last month of the year and the unofficial (or official depending on how you see things) time for everyone to forget about all the troubles and wahala that they faced during the year.
By now, you probably already have an agenda filled with different activities ranging from office parties (or carnivals as some are wont to organise) to wedding ceremonies, concerts, and all other kinds of festivities. And if you don’t, you probably have a few events you know you would like to attend.
Across the land, some event planners are already having sleepless nights as they move from event to event every day, with some having more than one event as the weekend arrives. Caterers are already running from market to market, sourcing all the ingredients required to cook up a storm at whichever party they would be serving. Drinks providers are constantly calling their suppliers at the depots to ensure that their drinks orders are fulfilled.
The private security firms are not to be left out as they receive marching orders to ensure top-notch protection of guests, grounds, and property during events. MCs are having endless conversations with their clients to reconfirm event flow and ensure that the programmes are airtight. DJs and bands are rehearsing in preparation for an endless night of back to back hits streaming from their consoles and instruments. And not to forget top music artists who would probably only make a twenty-minute appearance before hopping off to the next office party, wedding, fiesta, or concert.
I must not forget the makeup artists on rotation, jumping from house to house, venue to venue as they glam up all the numerous slay queens who will most likely be late for those events anyway. And last but not least are the tailors and fashion designers who are already being trailed by their clients, to ensure that their Christmas clothes or asoebis for the various parties they will be attending are ready before the event. This is especially important to avoid stories that touch AKA “what I ordered VS what I got.” All in all, a lot of money is spent, and even more is made by the numerous service providers who can only be grateful for the guaranteed annual business.
December in Lagos has always been a hit. Everywhere you turn is sure to bring you to some sort of celebration as people do not even need an excuse to party. It’s like there is some innate alarm that reminds people it’s the end of the year, and before you know it, the excitement spreads across town. You cannot separate all the revelry, partying, and celebration from this season: it has become part and parcel of the times. It’s like we have all been slaving away for eleven months, and finally, we get a chance to let our hair down and just forget our troubles.
With all the fun events happening almost every day, you should not be surprised that somewhere in this mix is that guy or babe hustling to get an invitation or ticket to that event because “I will not have FOMO” (fear of missing out). Gate-crashing is real as well as sorting your way through well-guarded doors (and by sorting I mean greasing the required palms). And if you have the gravitas, you can fake your way through those doors by forming celeb, friend of celeb, or important dignitary! It’s like one must mark register at some of these events. Don’t be surprised at the desperate things some people do to get into an event: barely anyone wants to hear or read about an event they could have attended.
December is also renowned for the annual arrival of the real guests of honour, the IJGBs (I Just Got Back). Many begin to troop in from the United States, England, and various parts of Western Europe (don’t say I said this, but a few people insist that they are not IJGBs if they come from any other location!!!). These IJGBs serve one very important function: the inflow of forex into the economy. Many of them will be the ones to fund our laulau living as per dollar and naira no be mate na or how else will they form big boys and girls if not with their big bucks? Some others will say they serve another function which is related to the consummation and eventual disintegration of naïve hearts (the guys most notably), but I have no knowledge or experience in that matter!
Growing up, December meant compulsory visits to Father Christmas’ grotto (or was it Santa Claus?). You were sure to get a hug or handshake, and most definitely a gift. If the man liked you well enough, you could sit on his lap and get your picture taken. There were also many parties filled with so many games and activities, food and drinks. And you know the year doesn’t end if you have not got your Christmas clothes, right? It didn’t matter whether you were Christian, Muslim, or irreligious, you got new clothes.
What I love most about this season, is how the air seems so filled with hope and expectation irrespective of how the year has been. Although not as many people make the effort nowadays, listening to Christmas jingles and seeing decorated homes and offices, and Christmas lights in public areas contribute to that feeling of cheer.
Traffic reduces as the days go by because some offices start to implement reduced work hours and ultimately shut down for the year. Some leave the city to spend the holidays with family in their hometowns. If you are out and about a lot during this period, you are guaranteed to run into old friends at events, many of whom had probably been forming busy since January!
Many consider having a loaded wallet mandatory for having fun during this season but truthfully, you can always create your fun if you don’t have much to spare. The important thing is to create fun memories with family and friends, and once you remember this, you can get more creative about having fun your way. Whatever we do, we must not lose sight of the essence of this period: giving and sharing, celebrating life and rejoicing, and this is the way I see things today!