Colt Chronicle
Illustration by Abeeha Zaidi & Conept by Zara
e u s s I y a d i l Ho
HOW DOES IT SNOW? Zenobia Ahsanuddin
HOLIDAYS & MUSIC AROUND THE WORLD Alanna Gallagher
TOP 10 GIFTS UNDER $10 Priya Kemisetti
INDEX 4
A Balance of Social Distancing & Celebration Juliana Marston
12
Rush To Get Into Christmas: ‘Holiday Rush’ Shreyal Sharma
5
Gratitude: What Teens at KHS are Thankful for This Year Daniel Yu
6
The Wednesday Before Thanksgiving Should be a National Day Off Andrew Noel
7
How Does it Snow? Zenobia Ahsanuddin
8-9
COVID-Modified Holiday Traditions Sarah Brechner
13 ‘Holidate’ Movie Review Gabriella Avagyan
10-11
Holidays & Music Around the World Allana Ghallagar
14-15 15 Top 10 Gifts Under $10
Priya Kemisetti
16-17
Top 4 Best Fashion Instagrams of the Week Riley Macmanus
18-19
Top Staff Recommendation
20
Quarantine Celebrations Zara Yu
21
Safe Ways to Celebrate Sammy Bassin
22-23
The Different Winter Holidays Camille Balo
24-25
Activities To Do in North Jersey For the Upcoming Holiday Michael Koutsokoumnis
26
The Last Sport Alive: College Football Micheal Lally
27
LightRoom : Spirit & Warmth Sophie Solarino
MEET THE EDITORS
Alana Van Der Sluys
Camille Balo
Julia Hackney
Editor-in-Chief and STEM Editor
Newspaper Adviser
World/Local Editor & Managing Editor
Abeeha Zaidi
Juliana Marston
Emily Mazurkiewicz
Managing Editor & Layout
School News Editor
Opinion Editor
Gabriella Avagyan A&E Editor
Ethan Burt Sports & Features Editor
Illustration by Samantha Bassin
School News
How students at KHS and their families are spending the holidays this season
Photo courtesy of Katie Nieto
By Juliana Marston, School News Editor
Junior Katie Nieto celebrated with her immediate family last Easter during quarantine. She hopes to do the same this holiday season.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, the holidays are not on hold. Students and their families at KHS are devising various ways to celebrate with the people that they care about this season while also paying attention to social distancing guidelines. Social distancing is a big part of students’ plans for the upcoming holidays. “Our family is doing Thanksgiving dinner in separate houses and then coming back to our house for dessert outside! Socially distanced,” says junior Katie Nieto. Students and their families also plan to limit the amount of relatives attending in-person gatherings, if they occur. “We will be cautious,” says senior Jason Millis. “We don’t know if we will be getting together yet. If we decide to, it will be a very small gathering.”
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The holidays this season will definitely be different from previous years. “It will be different because usually we go to visit other family and family friends,” says sophomore Shea Porada. Some typical events will not be able to take place. “Our family does have a tradition of Secret Santa but since we cannot have all the families together it’s most likely also not going to happen,” says junior TJ Coppla. However, the general sense of holiday cheer these next few months will persist despite COVID. “[We plan on] putting up the tree and hopefully visiting the city, even if we don’t have a show to see,” says Nieto. “We’re celebrating the holidays with family just like every other year,” says senior Isabella Aliotta.
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A Balance of Social Distancing & Celebration
School News COLT CHRONICLE | PERSERVERENCE & CHANGE ISSUE
Gratitude: What Teens at KHS are Thankful for This Year
By Daniel Yu, School News Editor
This is the time for reflection, a moment to look back and ponder. Although 2020 has been one of our worst years; yet, there still have been glimmers of hope in the darkness of adversity. As the new year steadily approaches, we all should take some time to think about the things in life which we remain grateful for. “I am thankful to not get ill, or have any of my family members or friends get ill from the coronavirus,” says junior Jake Pryor. “I am also thankful that things are running relatively smoothly again.” “I am thankful that my family, friends, and I have remained healthy over the course of the quarantine,” freshman says Sammy Bassin. “I hope that everyone can safely return to school sometime this year.” The continued good health of those close to us is something that we all cherish, especially now during these fraught times. However, other challenges have also arisen to oppose students as well— challenges which concern school life and academics in particular. “Some challenges that I’ve had to face include struggling with virtual learning as well as staying safe, says Bassin. “Trying to adapt to this new school environment not only brought on by the coronavirus but also the switch to OnCourse [has also been challenging]...”
Says Pryor. “I’ve managed to overcome it by staying in contact with my friends and persevering.” In light of these obstacles, perhaps one method to alleviate both student worries about schoolwork and promote social connection with peers would be to institute teacher-supported extra help groups in various social media outlets such as Discord. The teachers, possibly alongside various approved student volunteers, can help answer questions from their fellow classmates and provide resources for learning outside of class. In turn, student volunteers who are particularly helpful may earn extra credit points in their respective class as a way to encourage them to support their peers. Of course, this is but one option that can be taken out of a multitude of others. As long as a dedicated effort is made to address and resolve student issues, “My hopes for next year would be the return to normalcy, with everyone being able to go back to school once again and not having to deal with this pandemic,” Says Pryor. There is a light at the end of every tunnel, no matter how far away it may seem. But by ensuring that we both bring the best of ourselves and foster it in those around us, we act as our own guiding light, helping to pave the way for a better and brighter future. Illustrated by Zara Yu
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Opinion
By Andrew Noel, Staff Reporter Adviser’s Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this opinion article belong solely to the author and do not reflect the view of The Colt Chronicle Staff, Kinnelon High School, or its students and staff members.
in the working world, which would lead to tension and even a potential decrease in productivity in the workplace. Again, the solution is simple: Make Wednesday a national holiday.
Thanksgiving in the United States always falls on a Thursday. Because it’s one of the major holidays, work and schools are closed, and rightfully so. Some people even get the day after (better known as Black Friday) off. This makes it, for most people, a four-day weekend. This is fine as it is; however, there is a way we can make the week and holiday even better: by closing work and school on the day before Thanksgiving Thursday.
The last federal holiday before Thanksgiving is Labor Day in early September. This means that students go to school and adults work every day for more than two months without a break. This long stretch of no days off can cause burnout and mental fatigue. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, everyone will be in desperate need of a long break, which would be made better by the addition of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It would be sure to provide a much-needed long-term break for everyone, especially for those who don’t have Black Friday off.
There are a few good reasons to make Wednesday a national day off. For one, it would increase travel safety. Most people drive to their family or friends’ houses on Thursday morning. This can be compromising to one’s safety, as most drivers are workers who have not had any days off and can therefore be very fatigued. Giving these workers the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off can help to eliminate this issue as drivers would have had a full day to rest and relax before being asked to make long drives on difficult highways. Having Wednesday off would also provide workplace clarity. For example, there is no set rule on how companies should treat employees the day before the holiday. Should they give them a half day? Keep them for a full day? Or even have them come in at all? This lack of clarity can cause unfaireness among those
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The final (and perhaps the most obvious) reason to give the day off: Not much will be accomplished at work or school during the day anyway, so why even bother coming in? If the work or school day will just be filled with menial tasks, it simply becomes a waste of time. So why don’t schools and businesses just cut their losses and give everyone the day off? Thanksgiving is a great holiday. It is a great time to enjoy some football while dealing with in-laws or meeting long lost cousins. The week, which is already fantastic, could be made even better if the day before Thanksgiving, like Christmas, is also made into a national day off.
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The Wednesday Before Thanksgiving Should be a National Day Off
STEM
The process of how water in the sky becomes mountains on the ground
By Zenobia Ahsanuddin, Staff Reporter When snowflakes begin to decorate our windows, it is a sign that winter is ahead. Like people, no two snowflakes are alike. Each has a different design, completely unique from the rest. How is that possible? How can tiny, microscopic snowflakes turn into big mountains of snow?
are different: “Look closely at a snowflake; you will see countless individual features, all of which could have formed ever so slightly differently in direction or shape,” says MetOffice.
Similar to rain, the water that accumulates in greater amounts is snow during the colder temperatures. If the temperature is below freezing, Snow first assembles when precipitation forms snow sticks to the ground and increases expoand freezes in the atmosphere. More specifically, nentially. This is one of the main reasons why “A snowflake begins life as a tiny droplet of super- there is such a dramatic difference between a cooled water which freezes in the sky,” says MetOf- mere dusting and feet of piled snow. fice. The cooling water turns into lattice-like crystalline structures around a nucleus, or the center of Additionally, ice forms when larger amounts of the snowflake, which causes it to freeze in different water freeze together, because the molecules are ways. Once they become heavy enough, they are not separated from each other. It is one big part able to fall to the ground without breaking in the of water that freezes once the temperature hits a air. certain degree, and continues to become colder
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How Does It Snow?
and colder. Each water molecule has one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms (H2O), which leads to the hexag- So next time it starts to snow, remember that onal shape. The molecules turn into tiny crystals each is a complex process involved in the creoff of the nucleus and affects the way and specific ation of each individual flake. shape in which it freezes. Even temperature and humidity plays an essential role in how snowflakes
Photo taken by Marc Newberry from Unsplash.
Each snowflake is made up of different features because the water freezes in different structures, making no two flakes alike.
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Arts & Entertainment
How will you make up for upcoming holiday events with COVID still roaming? Here are a few fun things to do with your family during the holidays.
By Sarah Brechner, Staff Reporter WIth the holidays in full swing, everyone’s thinking about how to continue celebrating. COVID has just had a recent surge and is perhaps more active than it has been all year. Even though it may be difficult to get together with family and friends, these holidays can still be as fun, traditional, and just as full of love as before the pandemic struck.
Traditions
Decorating your home with wreaths, lights, a tree, and maybe a few stockings while drinking hot cocoa are often favorite pastimes that families share as the holiday season approaches. Watching holiday movies, listening to holiday music, and sending beautiful or funny cards to friends and family is also a tradition for families around the globe. One of the most important traditions that most families share, though, is gathering together around the fire or the dining table to share a festive meal.
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COVID-Modified Holiday Traditions
The latter, unfortunately, may have to be excluded from the list of traditions in 2020 because of a little-known virus we like to call COVID-19. Although family is family, you still have to be cautious as to who you interact with. These times are very tough, but here are a couple of ideas on how to keep your family traditions alive to keep your mind at ease.
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Illustrated by Sam
2. Create different breakout rooms to chat directly with certain people. 3. Create a game with your family two weeks before gatherings and see who can go the longest in a two week quarantine period until the holidays, and whoever loses and sees someone besides immediate family can’t come, but has to Zoom instead. This will be a fun and easy way to still gather with your family during the holidays. 4. Deliver fun meals to family and friends to make them feel included and cared for. 5. Watch fun holiday movies over Netflix Party with friends and family. 6. Continue the tradition of buying gifts for your loved ones by shopping online. 7. Do a “door dash gift exchange” by preparing gifts and dropping them at your loved ones’ doors.
mantha Bassin and Abeeha Zaidi
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1. Host Zoom calls for your (extended) family during dinner.
Arts & Ent
Holidays Around t
By Alanna Gallaghe
“Lamplight”
Throughout the world, a lot of different h larly Christmas, Hanukkah, and Diwali. These h celebrate different things that are important to people celebrate these holidays, there is alway
In Mexico, there is a very large Christian portant winter holiday. Traditionally, Christmas usually celebrated in Mexico as a one-month c processions, dancing, fireworks, and of course and contemporary Christmas carols, which are many classical Christmas songs that are very Mexico.
Israel has a large Jewish population so m people who traveled through Egypt, guided by would only last one day but it ended up lasting Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting one candle food, and singing traditional Hannakuh songs. Chanukah,” which is about dancing, playing th ular song during Hanukkah is “I Have a Little D the making of the four-sided spinning top that
In India, the people celebrate Diwali, or th Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. It celebrates the trium five-day celebration that has lots of feasts, fam lights and oil lamps, fireworks, and music. The music, and even popular Bollywood music tha
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tertainment
s & Music the World
er, Staff Reporter
holidays are going on during the winter time, most popuholidays are celebrated differently, and they customarily o a certain religion. However, no matter how differently ys one similar element to the celebrations: music.
population so Christmas is a very prominent and ims celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ on Dec. 25. It is celebration with lots of family feasts, pinatas, candle-lit e, Spanish Christmas carols. Mexico has both traditional e very similar to the music we have in America. In fact, popular in the States have been translated to Spanish in
many celebrate Hanukkah. It celebrates the Jewish y only lamplight.They thought that the oil for the lamps g eight, and they were able to get to their destination. e a night for eight days, playing dreidel games, eating . One example of these songs is, “Oh Hanukkah,” or “Oy he dreidel, and singing happy songs. Another very popDreidel.” It is very popular among children and is about t is used to play the traditional game of dreidel.
he festival of lights. Diwali is an important holiday for mph of good over evil, and light over darkness. It is a mily, Lakshmi worship (the Hindu goddess of wealth), e music listened to during Diwali is traditional Bollywood at was made recently.
Illustrated by Abeeha Zaidi
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Arts & Entertainment
Rush To Get Into Christmas: ‘Holiday Rush’ By Shreyal Sharma, Staff Reporter
Close your eyes and picture your perfect Christmas. Smell those delicious fresh-baked cookies filling the house with their delightful scent. Picture the ideal Christmas tree, decorated with lights and stars, and surrounded by alluring gifts. As Christmas is around the corner, the classic cheesy Christmas movies seem too tempting to resist.
to many other cheesy Christmas movies, it stands out because it shows the reality of life. It can even be interpreted as a call to action as it is calling people to help those who cannot help themselves. Holidays should be joyful for everyone, and it is important to donate to the community for making the holidays joyful.
“Holiday Rush” is a cheesy family comedy highlighting the importance of family during Christmas. When a famous songwriter and DJ, Rush Williams, loses his job and is forced to move back to his cheap, dusty apartment, the plot begins to accelerate. The movie proceeds with Rush establishing his own radio station by selling his luxurious house in New York. Rush’s kids struggle to adjust to the new life as they have been spoiled with toys and technologies all their life. The movies teach the concept of savings and restraint; it is very important to appreciate and respect what one has.
“Holiday Rush” shows that the holidays are a valuable time and should be spent with loved ones. It teaches the meaning of giving without obligations and the unnecessary needs of material things. “Holiday Rush” is a cliché holiday movie that could be viewed with family during the holiday times.
During holidays, people tend to forget to appreciate the luxuries that they have. This movie is a reminder of the true meaning of holidays, especially Christmas, a celebration of giving. People celebrate Christmas with their family and friends; they occasionally exchange gifts to show their love, but many families forget to give to the community. It is very important to show love to the people and to the community. Although the “Holiday Rush” is very similar
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Photo Courtesy of Film-rezensionen.de.com
For more movie reccomendations visit : https://pin.it/2gjKVuO
‘Holidate’ Movie Review By Gabriella Avagyan, A&E Editor
A fake relationship turns into a real romance, a deep, emotional Christmas story, so “Holibut make it a Hallmark Christmas movie. “Hol- date” is best when taken at face value. idate” is cliché and predictable, but it knows what it is as a film. One interesting aspect to this movie, however, is that it follows Sloane and Jackson over The rom-com tells the story of a young wom- the course of a calendar year, highlighting an named Sloane (played by Emma Roberts) every holiday they spend together, which at from Chicago, who recently broke up with her least gave an interesting structure to the film. boyfriend and needs her mother to get out The two leads also have good chemistry, of her hair to stop setting her up with dates. which is what made this movie watchable. She pairs up with Jackon (Luke Bracey) after Christmas is over, who is stuck for the holiThis movie is for people who want a cheesy days with a relationship he doesn’t want to be holiday film and have run out of all other in, and the two form a fake relationship to fix options. The script isn’t interesting, the story their issues. is ultimately mediocre, and its good qualities don’t make up for how tired and predictable The two spend the whole next year together, the plot ultimately is. meaning Valentine’s Day (with some complications), St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter among other events become a part of the ‘holidate’. They slowly become genuine friends with each other and eventually develop romantic feelings. By Christmas, and with a year having passed by, Sloane confesses her love in a cheesy scene with a mall choir and the two drop the fake date act to begin to be a couple for real. The concept is not bad in itself, but the movie is inherently filled with clichés due to the girl-who-hates-holidays-suddenly-learns-to love trope. Still, there is still a way to make a cliché Christmas movie heartwarming, entertaining, and unique, and this film doesn’t do any of these things in a meaningful way. Still, going into the movie, it is clear that it won’t be
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Arts & Entertainment
Image from mamasgeeky.com
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Arts & Ente
Top 10 Gifts
By Priya Kemisetti
Fuzzy socks
Cable/cord biters
Comfy socks to celebrate in the cold winter. This present has almost always been a customer favorite. Ranging from $6-20, a pack of fuzzy socks can make the recipient’s day.
Cute and cheap, cord and cable biters are some of the best phone accessories to give to a loved one. It can be personalized to the recipient’s interests, making it a great present.
Pictured Product from Amazon.com
Pictured product from Amazon.com
Bath bombs From different scents to colors, bath bombs are a relaxing present to give during these stress-filled times. After a long day staring at a computer, bath bombs can calm people and refresh them. Bathbomb set usually range in costs at approximately $9 Pictured Product from Amazon.com
Circu chargin
Ranging from ored electron can be cheap o preference. Th loved-ones to on the go and a dec Pictured produ
Tear-off mini-calendar Tear-off mini-calendars can be personalized and a creative way of looking forward to the future and not dwelling on the past, especially after the past year. Mini-calenders typically cost between $4 to $10. Pictured product from Amazon.com
Gift
An old-fashi not easily dis recipient to ch is a simple, ch a friend o
Pictured produc
s Under $10
i, Staff Reporter
ular thin ng stations
$4-76, these multicolnic charging stations or expensive based on hey make it easier for o charge their phones d can even be used as corating item. uct from Amazon.com
t cards
ioned gift card does sappoint. It allows the hoose their own gift. It heap present to give to or family member.
Decal sticker Another trendy gift to give is the decal sticker packets. They can be put on anything like water bottles, walls, and laptops. They can be personalized and are durable. Pictured product from Amazon.com
Anthro monogram mugs Fun, personalized mugs can lighten up a recipient’s morning. Cool and creative, they are a great present to give to a loved one to show you care. They cost approximately $9. Pictured product from Amazon.com
Mini gift packets A combo of fun packed into one. Mini gift packets allow gift-givers to put things that will make their loved ones smile and customize it appropriately. The costs vary accordingly but usually cost around $10..
ct from Amazon.com Pictured product from Amazon.com
Apple AirPods wireless charging case
With the trend of AirPods still high, accessories for the AirPods could be a fun way to show you care about them. They charge the Airpods on the go. They usually cost between $6-15. Pictured product from Amazon.com
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ertainment
COLT CHRONICLE | PERSERVERENCE & CHANGE ISSUE
Arts & Ente
Top 4 Fash Instag of the
By Riley Macman
#1 Maggie Lindemann
Our No. 1 spot for this week goes to Maggie Lindeman. The singer showed off her ACDC beanie and shoes by pairing them with zebra pants and a baggy t-shirt. You can also see a glimpse of her red hair which really pulls the look all together. We are obsessed with this look and cannot wait to see more of Linderman’s looks.
#2 Winnie Harlow
Winnie Harlow looked like a boss wearing a sophisticated black body con dress as she posed outside. The model paired the dress with gold hoop earrings which perfectly matched the dress’ gold buttons. Hawlow always has amazing outfits, but this one realy stood out!
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These celebrities have ditched the q ing us the best looks of this week! F ed Balmain dress to Maggie Lindem celebrities have shown us that we c crazy times. Here are our top 4 best
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ertainment
4 Best hion grams Week
nus, Staff Reporter
quarantine sweats and are showFrom Winnie Harlow’s sophisticatmanns’ rock inspired look, these can still stay in style during these t fashion Instagrams of the week.
#4 Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid showed off her Michael Kors holiday campaign by wearing the “Star Metallic Fil Coupe Silk Blend Mini Dress”. The chic gold and silver metallics brought the entire look together and showed us how much some shine added to a simple flowy black dress. Hadid paired the dress with a silver sequince bag and strapped silver heels.
#3 Jamie J. Chung
This week, Chung showed us just how powerful basics can be. The actress posed in a simple black tank and her high-waisted plaid pants. She paired them with a simple black shoulder bag and leather brown flats giving an amazing everyday look.
All images are from Instagram
Arts & En Music
“Oh Santa”
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Top Staff Reco
Movie
en.Wikipedia.com
Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson
Music
Movie
“Contagion
Mo Youtube.com
“Kyoto”
FandangoNOW.com
Phoebe Bridgers
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“It’s a Wonderful Life”
Youtube.com
Music
“Therefore I Am” Billie Eilish
“The Princ Switche
ntertainment COLT CHRONICLE | PERSERVERENCE & CHANGE ISSUE
ommendations
Music
e
Movie
PitchFork.com
“Plastic Heart” Miley Cyrus
Pinterest.com
n”
Amazon.com
Music
The Grinch
ovie Movie
Wikipedia.com
“Wonder” Shawn Mendes
NME.com
Netflix.com
cess Switch: ed Again” Elf (2003)
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Quarantine Celebrations By Zara Yu, Staff Reporter Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as the year’s end nears, the winter holidays approach as they always do, forcing people to adapt and find new ways to celebrate. Winter holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve are normally spent with family get-togethers, vacations, and crowded celebrations throughout the nation, but the celebrations of this year will certainly look different.
usually celebrate at home find themselves spending the holidays as they usually do. Nita agrees, saying, “The best part of holidays is spending time with family, and that will not be affected at all.” Although quarantine has negatively affected some people’s holiday celebrations, there are some positives of the new situation. Junior Claire Zhang says, “I think it’s great that we can all spend quality time with family this year. For some of us, we usually wouldn’t get the chance to. Of course I would like to see more of my friends but health is more important than anything else right now.”
An important part of the holidays that people will miss out on this year is visiting their families. sophomore Jack Ahart, for example, said, “For Thanksgiving and Christmas, I will most likely only be celebrating each holiday with my immediate family rather than my cousins, aunts, and uncles.” With people’s ability to trav- With the rates of COVID-19 on the rise in el limited due to state quarantine guidelines, much of the US once again, it is important as extended family visits are not feasible for many. ever for people to stay safe through avoiding large in person gatherings, as the pandemic Senior Bridget Wang says that she “won’t be will not take a break for the holiday season. able to see my extended family, but we hope we can at least all meet over Zoom to celebrate the holidays.” As people are unable to travel and see their families in-person, they need to come up with new ways of communicating with them. This could be through Zoom calls, FaceTime, or other methods of long-distance communication. Additionally, places that are decorated for the holidays will experience less visitors. Senior Vlad Nita comments, “The worst part is not being able to visit some of the locations that get really special during the winter holidays, such as the Willowbrook Mall.” For some, however, quarantine won’t affect how they spend their holidays. Freshman Josh Cho says, “I don’t have much family close, so I don’t think it will affect me.” Students who
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Photo courtesy of @element5digital from Unsplash A gifts sits near a Christmas Tree. This year, traditions such as gift-giving will look different due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Features
Safe Ways to Celebrate By Sammy Bassin, Staff Reporter As the holiday season draws near, it’s tempting to gather around the fireplace with friends and family, or fly someplace warm to vacation. However, it is important to choose to be safe this year. Author Joe Wolff says, “There’s nothing wrong with being a little bit more cautious this year to help everyone stay safe.” While outdoor gatherings become less appealing as the cold weather of the winter sets in, indoor gatherings are not suddenly a good idea again. Center for Disease Contro (CDC) guidelines encourage distancing as well as mask-wearing whenever possible. It may feel natural to relax or bend the rules when it comes to special occasions, but, as COVID-19 rates are rising throughout the nation yet again, it is imperative that everyone refrains from spending time in close quarters with others, especially with those who have been exposed. Author Lenesha Tabb offers some safe alternatives to the traditional ways of celebrating the season that no longer are safe this year. Ideas include scavenger hunts at home to zooms with relatives. These are all ways to enjoy the holiday season without putting yourself or others at risk. According to Century Support Services, “Just because the holidays won’t be the same doesn’t mean they can’t be special.”
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Features
There are many ways to make the celebration special, including spending time virtually with friends and family, or participating in safe and distanced activities. There is no reason for the holidays not to be just as meaningful as any other year, so instead of partaking in unsafe practices or forgoing them and dwelling on the negative, it is best to take this new normal in stride and take advantage of the new opportunities it presents.
Courtesy of Volodymyr Hryshchenko from Unsplash
A woman wears both a Santa hat and a face mask. This year, people must amend their holiday celebrations to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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The Different Winter Holidays By Camille Balo, Editor-In-Chief Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s are all winter celebrations of which most people know and discuss. However, sometimes we can forget that there are other holidays during winter than just these three celebrations. After all, there’s a multitude of religions across the nation, let alone the world, each with their own celebrations; and the beauty of America is that it is a melting pot of cultures, religions, and ethnic groups from every corner of the world. As such, gaining knowledge about these different celebrations and understanding them is integral to understanding other cultures, including cultures that are also in the United States. Winter Solstice Occurring on Dec. 21 in 2020, the winter solstice is when Earth’s poles experience the maximum tilt from the Sun, causing this day to be the shortest day of the year. In fact, Murmansk, a city in the northwest portion of Russia, doesn’t even have a day during the winter solstice, and Bodø, a town in Norway, only receives around 49 minutes during this day, with the Sun then disappearing and turning the day to night. Furthermore, celebrations and festivals occur in many parts of the world, such as the Dongzhi Festival in East Asia as well as certain holidays that are only celebrated on the day of the winter solstice, such as Blue Christmas, a Western Christian holiday, and Yalda, an Iranian holiday. Christmas Celebrated on Dec. 25, this Christian holiday is one of the most celebrated and well-known winter holidays around the world, with around two billion people observing this holiday yearly. Commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, this holiday’s celebrations include putting up and decorating a Christmas tree, gift-giving, church attendance, music and carols, decorations, food, and more. In addition, religious ceremonies such as Advent, Los Posadas, Epiphany, and Christingles have been adopted around the world to add to their Christmas celebrations. Hanukkah This Jewish holiday, also known as the Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 160s BC and marked religious freedom for Jews. For eight nights, Jews celebrate Hanukkah by lighting a candle on a menorah, eating foods such as latkes and sufganiyot, playing dreidel, and more. Blessings over the candles are also common, such as the Shehecheyanu blessing, recited on the first night, and the Hanerot Halalu, a hymn recited after the candles are lit.
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Features
Kwanzaa Created in 1966 following the Watts riots, this holiday, celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, was started by African American professor, Maulana Karenga, to “give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.” Festivities include gift-giving, a feast of faith called Karamu Ya Imani, decorating their home with fruits and vegetables, and lighting a kinara, a type of candle holder. Furthermore, throughout the festivities, the seven principles of Kwanzaa are celebrated. These principles include Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).
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Three Kings Day Following the end of the 12 days of Christmas, Three Kings Day, also called Epiphany, is celebrated to commemorate the day the Magi, or the Three Kings, visited the baby Jesus Christ. However, this holiday doesn’t have a set tradition, as the festivities and ways to celebrate are markedly different across the world. For example, in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, children leave their best shoes outside along with water and grass, hay, apples, or carrots for the horses (sometimes camels or elephants as well). When they wake up, there are small gifts left by the Reyes (Spanish for “kings”). However, in North Macedonia, this holiday is celebrated through festivities that include a priest throwing a wooden cross into the water, with men then jumping into the water to retrieve the cross. Whoever retrieves the cross is said to be blessed for the year.
Chinese New Year One of the most important Chinese holidays, Chinese New Year celebrates the start of the new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. Traditions and festivities during this holiday include passing out red envelopes filled with money, gift exchange, large-scale festivals that include lion dancing, markets, fireworks, music, giving symbolic flowers, dressing in traditional Chinese clothing, and more. Also, depending on the day of the New Year, different meanings and festivities are held. For example, the first day of the Chinese New Year symbolizes the welcoming of the deities of heaven and earth. Traditions during this first day include lighting fireworks, burning bamboo sticks, and visiting family. However, the fifteen day of the Chinese New Year includes the Yuanxiao Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival. Traditionally, tangyuan rice dumplings are eaten, candles are lit outside houses, and families carrying a lantern roam the streets.
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Local and W
Activitie North Jer upcomin orchardoflights.com
By Michael Kout
The holiday season may feel somewhat differ ety of activities to choose from to put you in t are happening in our area:
1. Orchard of Lights at Demarest Farm: Ever
of holiday light displays. The half-hour rid
cocoa. Tickets cost $12 for teens. Hillsdal 2. Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show
through experience where you can view o mile course from the comfort of your car.
such as the S’mores Pit, Hot Cocoa Bar, a Photo from Hopatcong Lake Regional News
also sponsoring a pop-up ice skating rink
show can be purchased on the Skylands S
3. Virtual Gingerbread Wonderland at the Fr
Wonderland in Morristown is virtual due t
www.arboretumfriends.org. Winners of th
4. Live Nativity at Times Square Church: The
Square Church in Mount Arlington. The sh
will take place in the church parking lot an
cial distancing. The show includes Christm 450 Howard Boulevard.
5. Chanukah Outdoor Extravaganza: The Ch
on Dec. 13 from 2:30-4 p.m. on 194 Ratzer and watch the Menorah lighting.
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es to do in rsey for the ng holidays
tsokoumnis, Staff Reporter
rent this year due to COVID-19, but there are still a varithe holiday spirit! Check out the following events which
ryone can enjoy a fun-filled hayride through 32 acres
de concludes with a stop at a fire pit and a cup of hot
le Farm is sponsoring this event every day until Dec. 29. & Village: The Christmas Light Show is a drive-
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World News
over two million holiday lights and displays on the oneVisitors can also find socially distanced food venues
and Ice Cream Shop. The Pompton Sports Center is
k. This event runs from until Jan. 3. Tickets for the light
Stadium website.
relinghuysen Arboretum: The 29th annual Gingerbread
to COVID. You can check out the winners by visiting
he competition will be announced on New Year’s Eve.
e fifth annual Live Nativity is open to all at the Times
how is on Dec. 12-13 from 5-7 p.m. This outdoor event
nd all spectators must wear masks and adhere to so-
mas carols at the conclusion. This church is located at
habad of Wayne invites everyone to their extravaganza
r Road. Participants can purchase lattes and donuts
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Sports
How the second wave of coronavirus has led to the cancellation of several sporting events.
By Michael Lally, Staff Reporter At this point, nothing has been a surprise to sports fans across the country; as a second coronavirus wave is in full swing, the future of college football is in jeopardy. Whether it is the cancellation of Maryland v. Ohio State, or the postponement of Louisiana State and Alabama, the increased number of altered sporting events has raised the eyebrows of many. An avid college football fan, specifically for Ohio State University, Kinnelon sophomore Christopher Kimberlin expresses how this football season has caught him offguard. “I feel like they could have done more to keep the athletes isolated for the football season. You see that the MLB and NBA have nearly no cases, so if they did something similar to that, we would not have this problem,” Kimberlin said. With nearly 160,000+ new cases, and numbers being compared to what they were in April, college football is nearly on the brink of a total cancellation, and if procedures aren’t enforced, we could be looking at the end of the 2020 season. Nelson Lopez, a student-athlete at Kinnelon, knows what it is like to have his season nearly stripped from him.
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The Last Sport Alive: College Football
Picture Courtesy of Unsplash
What seems like a fantasy., jam-packed stadiumsor sporting events do not seem possible unitl next season , if coronavirus can be tackled.
According to ESPN, the coronavirus has cost college football nearly $3 billion. With this, comes the decreased number of possible scholarships, reduced scholarships, and fewer opportunities for walk-ons to make a name for themselves in the sports world. As for fans, stadiums have begun to limit the capacity of fans at the stadium, and in some cases, such as Syracuse University, attendance of any sort is prohibited.
“When you have a game with your rival, you want to crush them, and to have it canceled is a terrible feeling,” Lopez said. The recent shutdown of Wisconsin Univerity has been sort of a “reality check” for athletes, students, and fans The pain and hardship of a highly-anticipated game alike, as the healthy, yet an unrelenting reminder that being postponed or canceled is a feeling that not many this virus is still present in our country. can describe. Coronavirus has not only stripped many college athletes of their games, but professional athWith conferences such as the Big Ten or the PAC-12 letes have been feeling this pain since early March. pushing for harsh policies, some schools are better prepared for this virus than others, and some schools will face the repercussions for weaker protocol, which is the unfortunate reality that we currently live in.
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Spirit & W
By Sophie Solar
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LightR
Warmth
rino , Photographer
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Room
Sitting by a fire is one of the most popular and cozy ways to stay warm during the holiday season.
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COLT CHRONICLE | PERSERVERENCE & CHANGE ISSUE Trucks and other modes of transportation express their holiday spirit by covering themselves in colorful lights and driving along the highways.
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COLT CHRONICLE | PERSERVERENCE & CHANGE ISSUE A warming scene in Lincoln Park, one of the many places selling trees across New Jersey.
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