Cultural Events

December is a period of fun and excitement so that many people look forward to it. However, are these excitements and fun inclusive of every member of society? This study investigates the inclusivity of Detty December festivities for people with disabilities in Nigeria, focusing on the practical and legislative aspects of accessibility. Despite the existence of protective legislation like the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act (DAPWDA), the experiences of people with disabilities during these celebrations remain largely unexamined. Through a survey of 42 participants with various disabilities, we explore the barriers to participation, the adequacy of current accessibility measures, and the implementation of inclusive practices during Detty December events. Findings reveal a significant gap between legal mandates and actual practice, with many respondents experiencing mediocre to terrible event experiences due to physical inaccessibility, lack of informational accommodations, and insufficient staff training in disability assistance. The study highlights the need for strategic improvements in venue selection, event planning, and staff education to ensure compliance with the law and that Detty December is a celebration accessible to all. Recommendations include improved signage, pre-event distribution of materials in multiple formats, mandatory disability awareness training for staff, and personalised service adjustments to meet individual needs. This study calls for a proactive approach in event management to ensure an inclusive festive environment where everyone can partake in the cultural celebration without barriers.

With the growing integration of social media into everyday life, Twitter has become a significant platform for representing users’ lived experiences, particularly during cultural and religious occasions. This study aims to analyze the content of highly engaged tweets posted between March 18 and April 7, coinciding with Nowruz and the month of Ramadan. From among Persian-language tweets that received more than 1,000 likes, 225 tweets were purposefully selected and examined using both qualitative and quantitative content analysis methods. The findings reveal that three main themes—family relationships, humor, and cultural events—had the highest frequency. Among the humor styles, self-enhancing and affiliative humor were the most prevalent, and women participated more actively than men in narrating their everyday experiences. The results further indicate that Twitter serves not only as a platform for entertainment but also as a space for emotional expression, social critique, and identity representation in the presence of an imagined audience. This study highlights the role of humor as a psychological and social strategy for coping with challenging situations and contributes to a deeper understanding of cultural dynamics within the digital space.