THE FESTIVE SEASON CREPT UP ON ME LIKE A THIEF

Here in my country, Uganda, the festive season has crept up on the majority of us like a thief.

It has come amidst intense political campaigns for a general election slated for 15th January 2026, the rising cost of living not forgetting the extremely hot and dry December weather.

As Geoffrey Chaucer said, “Time and Tide wait for no man.’’

Time relentlessly moves forward unaffected by human concerns. Nothing can express this better than Nature with its four seasons of Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, each one serving a purpose and preparing you for the next.

Last Monday I had some important work to do mid-morning, in an office close to the city centre.

The area was swarming with people, cars, boda boda motorcycles, all navigating the road repairs and closed off roads due to political campaigns going on around the city. I felt a sense of being trapped in that place.

At the same time, I was awakened to the fact that the festive season was gradually tightening its grip on the city.

The scents and sounds of the festive season were everywhere I passed or entered:

  1. The hot and dusty weather that has enveloped this special season since my childhood.
  2. The packed December calendars filled with social events as if everything has to be done by the end of the year
  3. The decorated Christmas trees in the traditional colours of the festive season- green ,red, white and royal gold, decorated with lights, in public places like hotels, supermarkets and shops.
  4. The wafting music of traditional Christmas carols like:  We wish You a Merry Xmas, Silent Night and Joy to the World confirming the season and connecting people across generations.
  5. Shops filled with shoppers young and old; lured there by the music, decorations, singing and limited offers like  “buy one , get one free’’.  A constant reminder of today’s world of consumerism that taps into the traditional spirit of the season of Giving and induces people to spend more.
  6.  The teenagers who have very little to do with themselves during this long holiday stretching beyond the election period.
  7. The opportunists that mingle with the crowds just to snatch anything of value like phones and handbags. 

No doubt, all these elements transport us to our childhood.

And for the likes of me who have enjoyed the blessing of celebrating more than sixty such seasons, we cannot help but be grateful for the joy and love at the centre of this season.

Digital technology controls almost all aspects of our lives  but some elements of this diverse and vibrant celebration have remained the same. The joy of the season combined with the festivity is good for our emotional well-being.

  • For the Christians, Christmas celebrations mark the birth of our saviour, Jesus Christ, who later on in his life reconciled us to the Lord our father by his death at the cross. For the young, this core theme of the faith tends to be lost in the celebrations and feasts.
  • This season reminds us that a new year is in the wings, giving us hope for a better tomorrow-  to evolve into the best versions of ourselves- doing more and being more.
  • This still remains a time to remember the good emotional connections to family  and loved ones giving us a sense of belonging.
  • A time to reinforce traditional rituals like decorating the churches and homes and donating essentials to the needy in our communities.
  • Traditions offer us a sense of continuity. The psychologists tell us that our brains are wired  to fear the unknown  so sticking to what we know causes us less stress.
  • Gift giving spirit – ever since I can remember, the festive period has served to give family and friends opportunities to give each other actual gifts or emotional support. Acts of goodwill born out of shared values. They evoke the release of the “feel good hormone’’: Dopamine for both the giver and receiver and strengthens the bonds between them.
  • A period of rest and reflection- a time to unwind and celebrate achievements.

You consider your goals for the year and asses your failures and achievements. It helps you to monitor personal growth and mental well-being. It provides you with a sense of purpose and direction for the future. You pick valuable lessons which you can then use to inform actions and decisions in future. You reset your focus by letting go of the past to be free to focus fully on the future.

Celebrating Christmas in the Digital Era

 For almost three years, the COVID -19 pandemic lockdown imprisoned us where we were. It denied us the opportunities which we had grown to take for granted: physical presence and inclusiveness. We were forced to make the most of available digital tools like video calls, Zoom video conferencing, virtual reality(VR) virtual gifts or shared meals. They helped us to enjoy some Christmas magic.

Some of these have since then gained ground, like virtual Christmas carols and church services (livestreaming) and cooking and eating together via video calls.

I for one prefer physical presence to virtual gatherings, if the distance can allow. According to the psychologists, non-verbal communication –body language, facial expression, tone of voice, eye contact offer 60-90 percent of the emotional communication compared to 7 percent offered by the spoken words.

Looking back, there are some activities that I  strongly associate with the festive season.

Attending some Christmas carol services in churches and community centres followed by lighting up the Christmas trees.

Decorating the Christmas tree at home.

Choosing the best gifts for the family and friends

Baking the traditional fruit cake

Attending the early morning church service always fosters gratitude.

Planning the dishes for the lunch

And much later , mid-life, the freedom to travel away from it all and just be looked after.

Writing a post of this kind in the festive season for the last 8 years, has allowed me to acknowledge and process my thoughts, emotions and feelings accumulated over the years.

The smells and sounds of the festive season continue to evoke vivid memories of loved ones lost, the beauty in people and nature offering me peace and calm amidst a fast-paced world.

“ Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty  never grows old.’’–  Franz Kafka

“ None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.’’- Henry David Thoreau

Thank you all for following my blog throughout 2025. I trust that we will continue to

 walk together in 2026.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing you all peace and prosperity in 2026.

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Jane Nannono

I am a mother of three, a medical doctor by profession, who has always been fascinated by the written word. I am a published author- my first fiction novel was published in March 2012 and is entitled ' The Last Lifeline'. I self -published my second fiction novel entitled ' And The Lights Came On' . I am currently writing my third fiction novel and intend to launch it soon. I also write short stories: two of them - Buried Alive in the Hot Kalahari Sand, Move Back to Move Forward were published among the 54 short stories in the first Anthology of the Africa Book Club, Volume 1 of December 2014. It is entitled: The Bundle of Joy.

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