Creating lasting impressions, a lot of cooking and roasting, watching Christmas films, family get-togethers and singing Christmas carols, the Christmas holiday is certainly filled with endless memories. For some, even running up and down preparing meals is a memory itself. Whichever activity one partakes in during this season is an unforgettable experience, after all Christmas comes once a year. In this edition, we are sharing different Christmas memories from various people.
My experience with the “night angels”
Alvin Agaba
My siblings and I were always forced to sleep early in order to get enough rest and wake up early.
But, unlike me, my siblings hated it. I would always be tired and fall asleep early. By 8pm, I would be in bed.
One particular Christmas season, I overheard my siblings planning to stay up until midnight. After inquiring, I was told they would be up waiting for ‘night angels’ who came to sing Christmas carols.
With a flash of excitement, I asked them how the angels looked like. They told me how they are always dressed in white and fly down from Heaven just to sing for us.
I rushed to the room and got ready for the angels and promised myself not to fall asleep before midnight.
The time came and to my utter shock, I first heard the sound of drums and right behind them were girls carrying babies on their backs and some boys without shoes.
My siblings turned in amusement just to look at my facial expression and bust out into laughter. “Glad I gave you guys a laugh, merry Christmas to you all,” I responded, but with so much disappointment.
I swore never to wait for anything or anyone after 8pm.
Understanding X-mas
You see, those days, we did not really understand the purpose of Christmas.
That it is a special day that my family and I were all together happy because we were celebrating the birth of a Saviour and Redeemer.
That Jesus Christ was and will always be the only reason for celebrating this day.
On Christmas day, we were always singing and dancing, of course with me doing some cheering because singing or dancing were nowhere near some talents I had.
Christmas day brings a lot of deep connection with God and revival of our relationships with Him.
Songs about the birth of a Redeemer and Saviour unite people even when some of them are feeling sad due to problems they are facing.
I did not receive any gift on Christmas day
Felicia Mbeiza
As a child, I often looked forward to Christmas all year round. Our extended family would come together, and I remember all the adults coming with a food item that we could enjoy on D-Day.
Our conversations were often filled with joy, tears, and laughter as we reminisced about the hardships and achievements of the year.
Movies were the order of the day on days before and after Christmas, but boy, oh boy, as children, we hated the forceful siesta after lunch.
On Christmas day, my father would gift the three of us with clothes for Church services.
However, Christmas day in 2007 was different. My father announced that there would be no gifts for us because he did not have the money.
My feeble mind could not understand! How was daddy poor? How could I repeat a dress that I had worn the previous year? In anger, I moved away and banged the door behind me.
I knew my actions would attract one of two things: forgiveness or a beating. However, my ‘africanacity’ fully believed the latter than the former.
In fear and regret, I slowly unlocked the door and tiptoed through the corridor to the sitting room.
My father, to my surprise, was still seated where I had left him about 10 minutes ago, with no stick in hand, but with a lot of grace in his eyes.
“I am sorry dad,” I said on my knees. “For?” My father was shocked! He had not even noticed that I had walked angrily, almost knocking down anybody in my way.
He had not heard the sound of the door that I had banged so hard- at least in my mind.
I knew that day that I was the luckiest girl for it would have been a different story if he had seen all that had transpired.
Nevertheless, the lessons I learned that day have shaped my life forever. I understood, somehow, that people do not always have money.
I also learnt that I should be grateful, not entitled to have anything.
Did I not get a gift that year? On Boxing Day, my father gave me a gift that I would treasure and keep for over 10 years- a lovely floral dress.
Uncles made my Christmas
Enock Kalyesubula
My best memorable Christmas was in 2019 when my aunts and uncles who live in Sweden decided to come to spend the Christmas holiday with us, after five years of not coming to Uganda.
They arrived on December 20th, and that day, we prepared early to go pick them up to avoid having them wait for long at the airport. We set off from home at 10:00 am, and by midday, we were at Entebbe Airport waiting.
They arrived at 1:00 pm. We were all excited to see each other because it had been a long time since we last saw each other. We hugged endlessly, attracting some stares from other people nearby.
We then helped with carrying their luggage to the car and headed back home in Kampala.
At home, we served lunch and they took some rest because they were exhausted. We spent the rest of the days catching up and talking.
The gifts
On the 24th, one of my uncles gave us a surprise. He opened a box of gifts and letters from my cousins back in Sweden.
I was so excited that my cousins had sent me letters and gifts.
I was overjoyed when I found one of the gifts was a phone. I still cherish that phone even when I no longer use it.
In the evening, my Uncle took us for dinner at Sheraton Hotel. Being my first time there, I could not hide my excitement.
I ate a lot of food uncontrollably and I developed a stomachache, but I kept it to myself to avoid embarrassing my uncle. We stayed until 2:00 am and returned home.
When we got home, my mother and grandmother went straight to prepare lunch for the next day, which was Christmas Day. The rest of us went to bed.
On Christmas day, lunch was ready by noon, and after eating, we were told to prepare ourselves. Another exciting adventure was in store for us.
We were taken to Wonderworld, Kasanga, where we enjoyed swimming and touring around the malls. I had never been to all these places and this was the most exciting Christmas period for me.
I led my Sunday school choir
Angella Nakayiza
In 2016, while I was in Primary four, I joined the Sunday school choir at our Church, Synagogue Church of all Nations.
During the December holidays, while we were rehearsing for the Christmas carols, I was chosen to lead the choir as the chorister.
Being my first time, I was so excited to lead over 50 members. The Christmas carols were to take place on December 26th, Boxing Day.
I was expected to be perfect, so I had to rehearse and memorise the songs.
I was a bit scared but I could not wait for the day. We were doing rehearsals every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
On the 25th in the evening, we went for our last rehearsal on stage where we were to perform. Here we mastered all our moves and were set for the day.
On the very day, I woke up at 5:00 am, took a shower and my mom gave me transport to use to go to the Church.
When I reached Church, I had to lead my choir in last-minute rehearsals again, just to confirm we were all set to go.
The show started at midday, with other choirs performing, as we waited.
Watching the first choirs perform gave us the zeal to do better, and at exactly 1:00 pm, the MC announced that our choir was next on stage. We prayed together and hit the stage.
I was confident and excited and I gave it my best. I was so happy when the members of the congregation came to give me money- “Okufuuwa sente” in Luganda.
This cheered me to dance more and get more money.
After the performance, we went backstage and I shared the money with some of my choir members.
When I went back home, I told my mother and she was so happy and helped me count the money. In total, I had Shs 50,000.
I used it to buy a school bag. It was the best Christmas season for me.
