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“Detty December” is more than just a catchy slogan; it’s a season, and—most importantly—a ritual that only Nigerians understand in its full splendor.

It is not the season just about wrapping up the year. For most average Nigerians, December is when we throw budgets, and sometimes good behavior out the window, all for the sake of enjoyment. And by enjoyment, I don’t mean small gatherings, light jollof rice, and one or two sodas. I mean real enjoyment.

Talking about concerts, parties, weddings, road trips, and never-ending bottles of champagne, even if it means scraping the bank account. But to understand Detty December is to understand the psychology behind it and why this month hits differently to Nigerians.

For Nigerians, the entire year is a grind. It doesn’t matter if you’re sweating it out in Lagos traffic, spending endless hours at the bank, or dealing with surprise “fuel scarcity,” by the time December rolls around, the average Nigerian is spent. The days and nights have been swallowed by endless hustle, and survival mode has been set to max. So when December comes, it’s like the “calm down” after the stressful Monday you can imagine.