Christmas celebrations across the globe have taken on a more somber tone this year, with Nigeria particularly hard hit by economic challenges that have dampened the festive spirit.

In Nigeria, where inflation has reached a 28-year high of 34.6%, markets that typically bustle with holiday shoppers are unusually quiet. Traders across major cities including Lagos, Abuja, and Kano report dramatically reduced sales as food prices have skyrocketed. A bag of rice that cost N41,000 last year now sells for N90,000, while a basket of tomatoes has surged from N20,000 to as high as N70,000.

"We are not happy about the situation because customers are complaining bitterly, but we have no choice but to sell at these prices since we also buy at higher rates," said a Lagos trader identified as Iya Mustafa. The situation has been exacerbated by high fuel prices and transportation costs following the removal of fuel subsidies.

The economic strain has forced many Nigerians to scale back their holiday celebrations, with the World Bank reporting that poverty now affects 104 million people in the country, up from 79 million five years ago.

Meanwhile, in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, Christmas Eve was marked without the usual festivities due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The customary lights and giant tree in Manger Square were absent, and tourist numbers have plunged from 2 million in 2019 to fewer than 100,000 in 2024.

Other global celebrations showed contrasting scenes. Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral celebrated its first Christmas Eve Masses since the 2019 fire, welcoming about 2,000 people. In Syria's Saydnaya, residents gathered for a rare moment of joy around a towering Christmas tree, while in the United States, communities faced travel disruptions and some, like Madison, Wisconsin, mourned recent tragedies.

However, the situation in Nigeria exemplifies the broader economic challenges facing many regions this holiday season. As one shopper in Abuja noted, "I couldn't buy as much as I needed. We will manage whatever I can afford" – a sentiment echoing across many Nigerian households this Christmas.

The steep rise in prices has transformed what is traditionally a period of celebration and family gatherings into a time of careful budgeting and scaled-back festivities, with many Nigerians forced to choose between basic necessities and holiday celebrations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​