October 1st: A Celebration Of Two Great Nations

Nigeria and China on 1st of October marked their national days. Both occasions were celebrated with pomp and finesse. While the latter through its embassy in Nigeria, celebrated the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, ahead of October 1st , the former marked its 63rd Independence Anniversary from the British Colony on 1st of October.

The reason the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria publicly marked China’s national day on 28 of September, is out of courtesy to its host country. The day showcased a glamorous reception hosted by Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, CUI Jianchun and his lovely wife, Mrs. LIANG Huili. The evening took guests through an enthralling joint performance by Sichuan Symphony Orchestra and Nigeria Art Troupe at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton.

What makes China’s national day interesting is that it is celebrated alongside the Mid Autumn Festival also known as the Moon Festival significant to Chinese nationals.

“Last year I went up a hill from where Beijing is visible and ate mooncake there. People do that every year. They go to fragrant hills, also called Xiangshang park,” A foreigner in Beijing, who preferred anonymity told me in a chat.

He narrated the legend behind the fascinating Moon Festival.“It is an interesting take on the story of how people look at the moon. Chang’e , wife of a famed archer Hou Yi, both lived at a time when Earth was plagued by ten suns. Yi shot down nine of the suns with his arrows, leaving one for light and warmth. His heroic actions were seen by one of the immortals, who decided to give Yi an elixir for immortality.

“However, Yi did not want immortality without his wife. So, he kept the elixir in his home. A subordinate of his, Peng Meng, learned of the elixir and tried to force Chang’e to give it to him, but she swallowed it instead. Flying into the sky with her new immortal powers, she chose the moon as her home. When Yi returned and heard of what had happened, he grieved and offered fruits in devotion to his wife,” he said.

Nigeria usually marks Independence Day with a national broadcast by its President, fanfare and flamboyant military parade among others. However at this period, most Nigerians are marking it low key due to: insecurity, food crisis and subsidy fuel removal among others.

“My family and I would be celebrating Independence low key. I remember when I was a child, October 1st was like Christmas celebrations, but things are so different now. With the difficulties Nigerians are facing, we hope for better times,” Mr Niyi Adeniran, a health worker told me.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through his national broadcast expressed how aware he was of hardship faced by Nigerians, while outlining ways to solve them. “I wish today’s difficulties did not exist. But we must endure if we are to reach the good side of our future. My government is doing all that it can to ease the load,” he said.

China and Nigeria continue to be committed to strengthening bilateral relations. Marking both national days on the same date is bound to draw both countries closer to improve people-to-people exchange for a prosperous future.