• Having guests coming and knowing there is going to be a buffet was a source of pride
• Destination shaggz was a peak holiday highlight, and it was quite an adventure
Lo and behold, the festivities are here.
As the season draws near, this is when the cold weather dominates, national exams take place, the thanksgiving mood kicks in and the holiday rush commences.
Since time immemorial, getting new clothes and new shoes, drinking Coca-Cola and eating chapatis and chicken were some of the highlights of the festive season.
Christmas was one of the long-awaited holidays on the calendar.
Growing up, most of us, aside from the family gatherings that were accompanied by tasteful dishes, enjoyed getting new clothes.
It was a really exciting experience.
Apart from the occasional Sunday best, every year, high chances were you would shine your way through a family gathering on Christmas.
During my mum’s time, getting a new outfit for Christmas was sheer luck.
If you got a new set of clothes, good for you, but if you didn’t, then it only meant what you wore the year before is what you would wear on that holiday.
It didn’t matter whether the outfit came from the mall, boutique or even if it was mitumba.
The joy was, ‘Yeah, I have a new outfit for Christmas.’
For me, not only did I get a new fit but I had a twin to match it with.
We were like two of the same person.
I’m not sure if the tradition of buying new clothes for the festivities still exists in this new generation.
Now I think the furthest it can go is matching pyjamas.
I figure that the culture of buying new clothes has lost meaning simply because some of us don’t see the need and there are already closets full of clothes we have worn once, twice or three times.
I really would like to see the tradition of buying Christmas outfits come back.
Just like the way we had Sunday best.
That specific outfit was saved up for going to church on Sundays or for a special event.
Away from clothes, preparing chicken, making chapatis and drinking soda, Coca-Cola to be specific, was considered royalty.
I mean, all that in one sitting?
If it’s so, then it must have been a funeral, a koito (traditional marriage), or a wedding or something.
The brag that used to be accompanied by knowing that you have guests coming and there is going to be a buffet was unmatched.
Travelling, too, was a peak holiday highlight.
Destination shaggz was quite adventurous, if I may say.
Having spent almost all my life being raised in the city under the sun, I have spent a significant amount of time living upcountry.
One thing I learnt is when you travel from Nairobi to your hometown, there is always some level of respect that comes with it.
Not to be judgmental or anything, but I don’t know why it is perceived that if you come from Nairobi, you most definitely are coming from a money-minting city.
I know times have changed, but that mentality is low-key still there.
I will not get much into it, but I know you get what I am saying by now.
A Kenyan Christmas holiday back then was almost always epic.
Today, some of us still do the usual: pack up and we are en route.
We love to see that.
Now, times have changed and we are slowly adapting to the Western culture.
I don’t know about you, but it would be nice to see and experience the good make a comeback.
Give our children the African touch of Christmas and bring back the pomp and colour.