A Christmas quiz of some sort

I must say that I started playing Christmas carols in … ahem… in October. Weird, I know. Okay, I do play carols in the middle of the year... just because... well, just because I can! So I’ve been rather psyched up for a looooong time. It’s only left with the food and family part then it will be complete, haha! I found this quiz on Faith's blog and decided to play along. Ssssh… Faith doesn’t know I follow her but today will just be the day.

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? Eeerm… what’s an eggnog? I’m a chocolate girl both in colour and in food, haha!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? I didn't believe in Santa growing up so it’s not my thing. And... most families rarely do the Christmas tree thing in Ghana.

3. Coloured lights on tree/house or white? I think coloured lights are fun, but I really don’t have a preference. (Note: There is no way I'm going to spell "coloured" the American way, just bear with me... ha!)

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up? 1st December.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Fufu with goat light soup or chicken light soup.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Dressing up in new clothes, getting a new hairdo, going to church with my sister and cousins and the feast after church service. I also remember the hazy, dry and cool weather at this time.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Never believed in him, so there was no truth to reveal. But I do remember asking my mom what’s the big deal with Santa Claus when we lived in the US, because it was so silly to me.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We didn’t and don’t have a tradition of when to open a present. You open your gift as and when you get it.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We haven’t had a Christmas tree in years!

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I love watching the dancing snowflakes but don’t like the cold weather, nor the mess it leaves at the front door when it starts to melt. I’d love to live outside Ghana (say US.. wink, wink) someday soon and experience a white Christmas just one more time!

12. Can you ice skate? Nope, never tried it.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? A teddy bear, from an uncle, who turns 21 this Christmas. Yep, Mr. Teddy Bear could be older than your kid, haha!

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Singing gospel-centred carols, reflecting on Christ’s birth, being with family AND the food!

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Piccadilly biscuits, Danish butter cookies and any chocolate delights.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going to church (not always on Christmas day) and coming back home to eat fufu and all the goodies are what I look forward to. I love being with my family as we chat about not-too-important things, recount our favourite memories and talk about everything in between.

17. What tops your tree? There is no tree.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Both. It’s an exchange, you know? Haha!

19. Candy canes: yuck or yum? Yum! But don’t always get it in my part of the world.

20. Favorite Christmas movie? Home Alone 1 and 2. Macaulay Culkin - “Kevin” was really cute then.

21. Saddest Christmas song? Can’t think of any... perhaps, I haven't yet heard a sad Christmas song. Or did I miss the joke? Yeah, I thought so! :)

22. What’s your favorite Christmas song? I love them all but it's a seasonal thing too… click here to see my post on this.

Christmas is coming, the chicken (not goose) is getting fat,
Lady Akofa ~:).

Of my favourite Christmas carols

I have always loved Christmas carols; both listening and singing to them.

If you ask what my favourite Christmas song is, I doubt I’d be able to pin point a single one. I tried listing my favourite 5 on my facebook page and then remembered all the others that I love but didn’t list, haha!

In my childhood days, I listened to whatever carol was available and eagerly learnt those taught in our singing class at school. We had really good music teacher, Mr. Okine, who was passionate about each group (tenor, soprano, bass and alto) getting it right and on the beat. He had a bamboo cane with a cock head shaped tip to ensure that, haha! I remember Mr. Okine teaching us, “The Holly and the Ivy” and “In the Bleak Midwinter,” although most of us hadn’t seen snow before at that time in our lives, haha! May his soul rest in peace.

I remember often listening to Boney M.’s in one of my next door neighbour’s house when I went to play with them during this season. I often associate, Boney M.’s “Feliz Navidad,” and “Mary’s Boy Child/Oh my Lord,” with this family. Today, Boney M.'s Christmas carols are heard all over town.

At home, my dad often played Christmas country music; both the ‘blueish’ ones and the upbeat ones like, “Jingle Bells.”

And then when I got to secondary school, I joined the school choir and was part of the annual tradition in which we hosted the Nine Lessons and Carols Service for our school and for the alumni. To learn to sing Handel’s “Messiah,” was a heavenly experience.

Now, I’m more interested in the word content of the carols; those that speak of the advent of the Messiah, of waiting for His coming, of his Light and of His coming deliverance and of the establishment of His Kingdom. This is partly because of my own personal need and partly because I long to see God’s kingdom established in my family. We are beginning to see relatives give their lives to the LORD in recent years and I’m more than thrilled at what God is doing.

Also, ever since I took my first 90 day Bible reading challenge and followed the account of God’s chosen people and how non-Jewish have been called to be a part in our day, I’ve always looked forward to the day that Heaven (the New Kingdom) will be a reality. I was so enthralled by the temple design of Solomon’s day that by the time I got to Matthew in my reading challenge, I kept asking, “Ah! So where is the Kingdom? Where are God’s people – the 12 tribes?” Oh, blessed that John the Baptist came preaching the coming of the One, who would establish the Kingdom: Jesus Christ.

So in this season of my life, I will say, “O come, o come Emmanuel,” and “O Holy Night” are my favourite Christmas carols. I do more of quiet meditation on the words than sing them. And that has been meaningful to me. Some hymns books list all 8 stanzas, others 6, and some others 4 but I share the stanzas in no particular order from, “O come, o come Emmanuel,” that resonate with me:

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Perhaps, next year or in 5 years, I might tell you of my new favourite Christmas song.

Have a Merry and Cheery Christmas!
Lady Akofa.