To be far from home has never been easy, especially if you have to celebrate Christmas in a foreign country. My first Christmas celebration was full of mixed feelings and a cloud of nostalgia was fixed in my forehead.

The Christmas holiday is the most special celebratation one can ever have with their families. In Cameroon where I hail from, Christmas is the only period of the year when gifts change hands. It is a whole month of celebration. Families are reconciled most effectively in this period, if not for the fact that it is the end of the year, then for the fact that it is Christmas and we have food, drinks and love to share.

The celebrations normally start about mid-December when schools are supposedly closed. My family always has a spiritual view to complement the material aspect of the celebration. We attended church services and prayed as we received the son of God at Christmas. Gifts are always bought especially for the younger part of the family; they had new clothes, shoes and toys. This is the only period of the year when they have a variety of gifts in their hands.

Celebrations differ between families and this is normally determined by the family income. Poorer families had fewer gifts to share and their kids always felt sad seeing other kids with so many toys to play with. This always made me feel life was somewhat unfair. There is an ancient African adage that “cut your cut according to your size”. It is always a lesson poorer parents pass on to their kids.

Most importantly, this is the only period in the year when family members in other cities go back to their towns and villages of origin. This is the way we believe we can celebrate with our ancestors in this unique period. Families are united and this is when we get to meet new babies that other family members had during the course of the year. It felt so special to be there.

On Christmas day, food and drinks are in excess and surprisingly but unfortunately many teens start drinking beer and indulging in many abominable activities on this day. My family always began the day with a church service in the morning, and then we have lunch with all family members from other cities and towns. It was overwhelming to personally see all my family members dine together. It was a one-in-a-million ecstatic moment in our lives. It was always a double celebration because just a week after Christmas we celebrate for the New Year. This again came with laughter and merry. What a period.

My first Christmas in a foreign country came with inexplicable nostalgia. It truly made me feel like I truly missed home. It redefined the definition of home and family; which is where one finds unconditional love in stock. This is the acme of my inspiration.

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