I got into a Christmas traditions rabbit hole
this holiday season thanks to YouTube, and it was quite fascinating learning
about the history of most of the staple Christmas traditions widely practiced
worldwide, like the Christmas tree and its decorations and Christmas cards
among others. Traditions some of which are quite recent most being just a
little over a century old. In my learning and unlearning it was interesting to
discover how these traditions were shipped from their native lands and on to
other lands who now firmly hold on to these once “foreign” traditions. I mean
you hear of statements such as “what is Christmas without XYZ” from people all
the time around the festive period.
All this talk about traditions got me thinking
about some of the traditions which some African people hold on to for dear life,
and so I ask;
Dear African person, is it really your tradition or does it have
its roots somewhere in Victorian England or medieval France? Is it really your
tradition or can you trace it back to Arabia if you squinted hard enough?
It’s crazy to think that we are just a few
generations removed from colonialism going by when the majority of African
countries got their independence in the 60s, and we have lost quite a bit of
our native customs and spiritual beliefs. Anyway what do I know I am just a girl
relearning her African tribes’ traditions and spiritual beliefs and connecting
with my ancestors.
Happy
New Year People!
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