Children’s Day…
The program for that day was standard… or so we were made to believe. Intense rehearsals for parade and march past in preparation for the interschool competition that holds every 27th of May.
I remember how we would dress up in our well-ironed uniforms. If you didn’t have a fine uniform, ehn, you couldn’t join o! Except, of course, if you were a key participant like myself—then the school would arrange for you to get a nice uniform for that day. White lacy gloves, spotless knee-length socks, and identical sandals worn by all participants.
While I was always a participant since my primary school days, I became a key member of the school parade team in secondary school. Mr. Sam Cave (pronounced Car-vey) coached us strictly using military parade orders. He was a naval officer… if my memory serves me right. He taught me the phrases to use while acting as parade commandant from JSS3 through SS3.
On the morning of Children’s Day, we would all assemble at Sapele Stadium—very early too, hours before the dignitaries would arrive. After the match past competition, every school would wait to hear the winners announced. I am sure there were long speeches by the Local Government Chairman, the Commissioner of Education, and maybe even other important personalities; but abeg, which child cared to listen to all that? Hahaha. We would be running around, playing hard, and spending the little pocket money we brought from home on milk iced blocks, buns, biscuits, and the like.
Once the winners were announced, we would spend maybe 30 minutes either jubilating or feeling downcast (as the case may be) if we didn’t win. After that? Back to fun and play until our parents said it was time to head home. Now that is how Children’s Day was spent in the 80s and 90s.
I am writing this piece because, honestly, I’m a little confused about when the memo changed. Who told our children that Children’s Day is for receiving gifts or going shopping? Ehn? Who? I am very interested in the person that made this change without consulting our younger selves to ask if we were willing to take on such responsibilities as parents!
How are my daughters calling me from school to say, “Happy Children’s Day!”. That one is not even the problem, but then they proceed to request money to buy treats for their celebration. They even expect gifts! Ahn ahn! How? I cannot remember my parents ever wishing me “Happy Children’s Day.” All we knew was that we celebrated together with peers, as a group. Not necessarily in school, but always with schoolmates in a fun, communal way.
sigh I really wonder how Children’s Day will be celebrated by our grandchildren… considering none of us saw this new tradition coming when we were kids.
Happy belated Children’s Day!
