From childhood, I have always wondered What the Christmas season was all about From childhood, I have always wondered Why there was a particular season to kill chicken Or a time that a recipe looked more appealing The air blows dry The dust paints one whiter than a clown The sun shines in rage The earth becomes hard as crust Yet man is happier than other days of the year Sometimes, I wonder why Is it the satisfaction of the year running to an end? Is it the anticipation of a new year? Is it the mandatory holidays by various calendars of the world? Or the joy of a season many do not even know about? Many save all through the year to lavish in this season Many embark on various journeys they never had in this season Many take a break and are nowhere to be found in this season Many purchase gifts and necessary items in this season And many more finally find time to be with their families in this season Of a truth, there is no holiday recognized globally with a greater effect than Christmas Maybe because there is a greater percentage of Christians Maybe because it coincides with the end of the year Maybe because man just needs a reason to rest Or maybe there is a spirit that makes this season worth the celebration I remember my first consciousness of Christmas My mother had a fixed smile I had the loveliest clothes to compensate months of no new clothes Visitors flocked in and out my home And finally, I had food to my greatest satisfaction The beginning of the season began with dance rehearsals in school I was also chosen to act like Mary in the Bible Who she was at the moment, I did not know I also gave birth to the cutest baby and while we sang, Parents and teachers gave us the loudest claps Once school closed, my joy tripled Nothing beats not going to school at my age My friends and I spoke in loud voices about our clothes We argued that we had the best clothes Though we hid them from ourselves till Christmas day Some days, my parents took us to see extended families I met cousins I never knew Some, I made friends with Others I never wished to see again Maybe the reason for the season is to bring us all together Soon, I became a teenager And soon, I did not care less whatever season we had As long as I am left alone I saw the season as an opportunity to live and breathe my room But my mother had other ideas Suddenly, I was no longer the child left to run around I was stuck up in the kitchen cooking for hours Feeding both families I know and those I didn’t There were days I worked till I could no longer feel my hands Maybe the reason for the season is to feed others Christmas clothes was not only for the young My mother had a matching lace and head gear My father had shoes already polished and clothes ironed My siblings were not left out Every penny saved by my mother went into purchasing them all It was a taboo not to be in your best during the season Why then did you work all through the year? What’s the joy of all the hard work? Why would you want to be the odd one out? Maybe the reason for the season is to wear the clothes in vogue My university was not located in our state My brothers too I also knew so many people who worked in states far enough as more than 24 hours’ road journey Yet, I do not know the season many travel home more The long hours on the road notwithstanding Adejare had a minor accident some years ago Uncle Benjamin lost his left leg Aunty Chioma was kidnapped and ransomed with a million naira My father was attacked by kidnappers So many scary stories enough to make one cancel travels in this season Well, here we are Still travelling year after year Praying as we embark on our journeys Hoping we would not become a December statistic Because we must and will visit home during Christmas Many who suddenly decide to wait behind almost regret immediately Cities are deserted The roads empty Certain governmental facilities shut down Making one wonder if the reason for the season is to travel home I would not fail to mention Church After all, the origin of it all started there Decorations climb up immediately on the first week of December Activities triple like never before And suddenly, every message becomes a Christmas message It hurts when as a child you are not chosen For either drama, choreography or Bible recitation Mothers will fight to ensure their wards participate Many will clap even if their wards do nothing but stand transfixed on the stage Maybe, the reason for the season is the avalanche of activities Adulthood makes one sit to analyze every single thing Analyze why the sun is up Why the moon waits till night to reflect Why man must work to eat Or why everyone anticipates this season Christ came as a gift to all men Christ travelled across waters, heavens to meet man Christ brought rest from the storms of the earth Christ brought families together like never before Christ used all His savings, His blood to redeem man As I grew older and my children left I began to count days to Christmas I waited for the festive season that would bring my family together I yearned for the season that would once again make my house full That would make me joyful to be a mother and grandmother Maybe the reasons are dependent on one another Maybe we do not need a particular reason for a season Maybe reasons do not really matter as