Before You Celebrate Christmas

By UbongAbasi Ise | The Sensor On Monday 25 December, 2017, p.3

“There is a time for everything, and a season fir every activity under heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

Dr. Uwem Akpan is a lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies in the University of Uyo well versed in Akwa Ibom traditional history. In my recent interaction with Dr. Akpan, he noted that before European imperialists arrived the geo-political location now called Akwa Ibom State, Christmas festivity was quite remote in the thinking of the indigenous people, even though they had superfluity of festivities to celebrate at the time, especially, the season Christmas is now celebrated. According to Akpan, the season was naturally a time of rest after harvest, and it was also a time preceding next planting season. Therefore, the time was ultimately apt for merriment and carousing. Kinsmen would exchange visits, share gifts; in-laws would visit in-laws; grandchildren were made to pay visits to their grandparents, and the season was all excitements for the people. Indeed, one spectacular aspect about this season in the pre-colonial times was Ekpo masquerade socio-cultural celebration. As it would be recalled, Ekpo was at the centre of the political and socio-cultural life of the people with no clear distinction from their religious life.

In an unconfirmed account, this period was highly educative too, because elderly people would gather young ones around the fire during harmattan period, then tell them about the past, the stories of tribal wars; the traditions of their migration and myths. At the fire side, the young ones were taught values, norms, laws and customs of the land. Fairytales and superstitions were also reeled out to the young people in full, especially by the womenfolk. It was a moment of excitement and relative peace for pre-colonial indigenous people. In all, this means that before Europeans came with the wind of Christianity and the flavor of Christmas, our people were already used to celebrating this season with verve and vitality.

            The European came, brought Christianity, and the Christianity ingrained Christmas in the religious and socio-cultural systems of our traditional societies, and today we are celebrating the season in accordance with the milieu of the times.

            As we are aware, Christmas originated on Hebraic roots, but evolved and galvanized by European western civilizations – the civilizations that emphasize materialism. In this connection, our people have become increasingly materialistic at Christmas season, and the sense of frugality seems to be thrown to the wind. Christmas becomes the time of sheer revelry. But how does this help our society?

            When I spoke recently with Rev. Fr. Dr. Donatus Ukpong, the Head of Department of Religious and Cultural Studies in the University of Uyo, he said that Christmas is a celebration of materialism. According to the scholar, if God entered into the world in human form that means God has become materialized.

            But how does one celebrate materialism?

            Fr. Ukpong said that materialism is to understand the correct positions of material things in human life. And people need to understand the significance of material things – that all material things have spiritual foundations. Therefore a material thing must have a deep spiritual interpretation. And if one pursue material things without having deep spiritual understanding of the foundation of those material things, then one would became what the scripture would described as a foolish man who builds his house on the sand. And therefore materialism that is rooted in correct theological and philosophical interpretation of reality would not be selfish, but transformative. For instance, if someone is building orphanage for parentless children, that building can still be described as material pursuit. But the foundation of that materialism is to give shelter to every human person.

Before you celebrate Christmas, do not be materialistically competitive with your neighbours, but extend Christmas to cover humans within your reach and capacity that are in need of comfort. We should give our Christmas materialistic urge a spiritual coloration and foundation. Christmas is not all about focusing on our families, but it is about demonstrating love for humanity. Whether you observe Christmas or not, every Akwa Ibomite should learn that our traditional society had a culture of demonstrating love and togetherness at a season such as this even before Christmas was introduced to us by the Europeans. Christmas celebration must not veered away from love and spirituality.

Yes! I am UbongAbasi Ise. For comment, send SMS to 08189914609 | E-mail: ubongabasiise@gmail.com

Source: The Sensor Newspaper