Vol. I, No. 2

VOL. 1, NO. 2

OCTOBER 29, 2021

THE YELLOW PAGES BASIS Independent Fremont Journalism Club

HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

By Christopher Chen

A holiday full of scary costumes, sweet treats, and creepy decorations, Halloween remains one of the most popular and thrilling holidays in the United States! Each year, hundreds of millions of children and adults alike set out to experience the hair-raising sensation of the spooky holiday.

However, few know about the early beginnings of Halloween.

Halloween, occurring on October 31st every year, originated as the Gaelic Festival of Samhain.

The day marked the end of the harvesting season and the beginning of the cold winter, a season associated with death and sorrow.

The Gaelic people believed that on this day, the line between the alive and dead blurred and that the ghosts of the dead returned to reality.

Almost two thousand years ago, Gaels would wear frightening costumes and dance around bonfires in order to scare off these ghosts and evil spirits.

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as the day to honor all saints, or All Saints Day. Slowly, the Gaelic festival traditions were integrated into All Saints Day, and the day before the saint-honoring holiday was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween!

The next time you’re out trick o’ treating, exploring a haunted house, or finding the perfect costume, remember that this all stemmed from the Gaelic people, seeking to scare away the bad luck and evil spirits for a lively winter season!

ART CONTEST RESULTS!!!

By Editors

The results for our inaugural newspaper art contest are in! We received a number of different submissions displaying radically different interpretations of the reference artwork. Thank you to all those who participated in this challenge! We enjoyed every submission and hope you participate again! Our judges voted for the interpretation that they thought had the best take on the model artwork, and our winner is…

Angela Zhong!!!

ANGELA ZHONG'S INTERPRETATION

REFERENCE

FAVORITE CANDIES

By Editors & Bella Alcaine

Halloween, a holiday that is adored by children and adults alike, is probably best known for its sweet treats. Many different variations of these sugary treats have been invented in the past centuries, so we set out to find BIF's most beloved Halloween candies. Students gave a variety of answers, including some of the most famous brands, such as Haribo Gummy Bears, Nerds, and Snickers. A full list of all student responses is compiled in the visual below.

VOL. 1, NO. 2

IN RETROSPECT: INKTOBER

By Editors & Katherine He

In 2009, an artist by the name of Jake Parker created an annual challenge called Inktober in order to improve his dexterity with ink as well as develop positive drawing

2

THE $7,000 HALLOWEEN COSTUME

The greatest gift in our lives is time. Every second is fleeting, never to be experienced again.

habits. In the past decade, the event has blown up into an international endeavor in which tens of thousands of artists around the world utilize and perfect their inking skills.

By Christopher Chen

Every year, tens of millions of Americans flock to stores, both online and physical, to purchase the perfect Halloween costume. Buyers sift through various options to search for the ideal outfit — the

To find success in life, you must spread your wings and fly.

The yearly challenge, occurring every October, offers a list of 31 unique prompts created for every day of the month. Artists then

highest ratio of wow-factor to price. However, some people have deeper pockets than others.

In 2020, for a local Halloween event, Alex, an avid fan of the holiday, decided to put everyone to shame by purchasing a semi-realistic Iron Man costume.

When asked about it’s price tag, he stated, “I think we’re into it for a little over six, maybe seven thousand dollars”. This price may seem unusually high for a costume of any kind, but the features on the suit make it a little more reasonable.

create 31 different drawings, one for each prompt, offering a variety of chances to implement different

“Everything works on this thing” Alex says, “the wings come out, like it’s going to fly, the missiles come out of the arms”. Besides these mechanical

artistic styles and formats. Inktober allows for an opportunity to practice one’s art skills and to

gimmicks, the costume also sports a voice changer to

connect with fellow artists in the art community.

At BIFU, students joined in on this global undertaking, drawing ink pieces everyday during the month of October. Hours of hard work and dedication were put into designing, sketching, and coloring

make the wearer sound like they’re speaking from inside a metal suit. Hydraulic and mechanical sound

We are all knotted and bound together in so many different aspects, whether it be school, friends, or family.

effects play on every step while walking, making the costume that much more unbelievable. However, there was a trade-off between these advanced features and ease of use. “Getting dressed in this thing took about an hour” Alex notes, “but let me tell you what, it’s a hit, it’s a hit!”

Next Halloween, if you love Iron Man and have $7,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you know what

these drawings, ultimately leading to a beautiful, mosaic-like bulletin

to do with it!

board, blossoming with creativity and brilliance.

Students drew an extensive array of illustrations, ranging from

Time is ticking.

Motivate yourself to work harder.

Failure is a stepping stone for success.

adorable animals to enchanting depictions of the starlit night sky.

Now, please take a look at the stunning drawings, a demonstration of the artistry possessed by the students at BIFU.

Never give up. Hard work will always pay off. Keep on moving towards your finish line.

Magic is just a mysterious occurrence that we have no knowledge of. The impossible is always possible.

VOL. 1, NO. 2

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TWO FEET AWAY FROM THE LIGHT SWITCH

THE ORIGINS OF JACK-O'-LANTERNS

I moved in on the 30th of October, right when the leaves of the maple trees

I laid in bed in the darkness, exhausted yet fully awake, planning my

began to brown. Stepping out of the car with my luggage, I started walking

exciting agenda for the next day, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

Carving Jack-O’-Lanterns on the day of Halloween has been a well-established tradition for a long time. It all started with the story

towards the mansion, the crunch of autumn leaves accompanying my every step. 1304 Jackal Avenue, Casperville, VA. This place was a steal, a 4 acre lot for less than a million. Up front, the mansion had a gothic look, sporting tarnished windows and a steeply

As the bell tower to the north of Casperville struck twelve, it all started.

A pair of headlights brushed past my windows, creating eerie shadows across the white walls of my empty bedroom.

After a minute, again, a pale yellow light swiped across my room. Then

pitched roof. My heart began racing as

again, and again, and again. I stood up

I walked down the sandy pathway, approaching the chipped gravel doorstep.

to investigate the situation, and as soon as I did, it stopped. I stood at the window sill for more than twenty minutes,

By Editors

This was it. I had finally found a

waiting for another car to pass, yet none

By Editors

about a man named Stingy Jack.

As the legend goes, Jack invited the Devil to have a drink or two with him. As his name suggests, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he persuaded the Devil to morph into a coin that Jack could use to pay. Once the Devil did that, Jack pocketed the coin with a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from transforming back to his original form. He later decided to release the Devil, on the condition that he would not bother Jack for another year and that if Jack passed away, he would not go to the underworld. A year later, Stingy Jack led the Devil up a tree to pick some fruits. While the Devil was occupied, Jack slyly drew a cross on

place for myself. Excited, I reached for the archaic door handle, and to my surprise the towering door smoothly

did.

Creeeaakk-k-k. The noise screeched from my bedroom door like nails on a

swung open. Light poured in from the large windows and a dazzling interior presented itself before me. An elaborate

chalkboard. I froze in place, stunned by the sudden noise. As I gradually regained control of my limbs, I turned

chandelier hung from the ceiling while

slowly towards my previously closed

two grand flights of stairs stemmed

door. The door had been cracked open,

from the left and right sides of the entrance, carpeted with a bright red

ever so slightly allowing the gloomy, jet blackness to seep into my room.

rug. All of the furniture was in perfect

Frightening figures formed themselves

committed such devious acts in heaven. The Devil, keeping his promise, did not take Jack’s soul into the underworld. Jack, instead,

condition, and there was not a single speck of dust in sight. In the master

in the empty darkness before my eyes as I tip-toed towards the light switch placed

disappeared into the dark depths of night, holding only a carved turnip with burning coal

bedroom upstairs, the king-sized bed

right next to the door handle. I was two

was covered with soft silk pillows and an elegant canopy hung on top of the bed. Slightly overwhelmed by my discoveries, I decided to get some rest.

feet away from flicking the switch when — Tap-tippity-tap-tap. A hollow, rhythmic beat sounded from my window.

This time, learning from experience, I turned around immediately, before fear could overcome my senses. Just as my eyes fell upon my curtains, a shadow flew out of the corner of my eye, just quick enough so that I couldn’t make out any details. Terrified by the imminent dangers I was sandwiched between, my knees buckled as I fell to the ground and curled up into a ball, whispering “Stop, please stop, stop, stop”.

I woke up, blinded by the sunlight beaming into my room. As I sat up, I realized that I had been sleeping on the carpeted ground, two feet away from the light switch.

inside to light his way. Irish immigrants brought the legend of Stingy Jack and the practice of carving Jack’s Lantern or “Jack O’ Lantern” to the Americas. This tradition later became an extremely popular Halloween activity, and the Jack O’ Lantern now serves as a universal

the tree trunk, preventing the Devil from climbing down. He later allowed the Devil to come down, on the condition that the Devil wouldn’t bother him for ten more years.

After Stingy Jack’s death, God, disappointed

by Jack’s actions, did not want someone who had

symbol for the famous holiday.

VOL. 1, NO. 2

TOP 10: CHINESE TREATS

By Winston Gu & Julee Jiang Candy has become an integral part of American Halloween tradition. From Nerds to KitKats, these popular candies are widely consumed and enjoyed by children and adults alike. Today, we'd like to introduce you to candies that you may find on the other side of the world, in China.

1 黑糖话梅

BROWN SUGAR DRIED PLUM

Found almost anywhere in China, this candy consists of dried plum coated in brown sugar.

The result is a perfect combination of sweet and sour flavors, with the outer layers of sugar seeping into the slightly sour dry plum.

2 番石榴糖果

GUAVA CANDY

Guava candy is a guava-fragranced confectionary, originating from Asia. The small, round candy is sweet and flavorful, which makes it enjoyable for adults and children alike. Produced with guava essence, sugar, salt, and citric acid, small bags of these popular candies can often be found in

4

6 旺旺雪饼

WANG WANG SNOW COOKIE

Covered in a white coat of sugar that resembles spots of snow, the Wang Wang Snow Cookie is a popular snack in China. The cookie sports a light and puffy base, providing a satisfying crunch for every bite. As you chomp down the snack into smaller pieces. the starch slowly breaks down, allowing the sweetness to overtake the saltiness.

7 辣条

SPICY STRIPS

Spicy Strips are delicious sticks made of wheat, flour, and various spices. Coming in a small package, the strips are savory and chewy, exhibiting a remarkable taste. The chili oil drizzled on top of the ropes puts a nice finishing touch to create the perfect combination of flavors.

8 旺仔牛奶糖

CHINESE MILK CANDY

Chinese Milk Candy is a hard candy produced by

旺仔

Asian supermarkets.

the company of Wang Wang Snow Cookie, . A perfect dessert for those with a sweet tooth, the sugary delicacy is milky and sweet. The candy produces a powdery sensation that overwhelms your taste buds with a creamy flavor.

3 大白兔

9 凤梨酥

treat that exhibits a sweet and milky taste as well as a hard texture. After resting in your mouth for a while, the hard candy melts into a gum-like substance bursting with flavor every time you chew.

butter, flour, eggs, sugar, and pineapple slices.

The sweet and sour dessert crumbles easily, giving it a flaky and crisp texture. As a quick refreshment to snack on, this delicacy is often given among friends and family during Chinese New Year.

WHITE RABBIT CANDY

White rabbit candy is a traditional Chinese

PINEAPPLE CAKE

Pineapple cake is a delicious pastry that contains

4 花生糖

10 水果果冻

5 QQ糖

CREDITS:

PEANUT CANDY

Peanut candy is a crunchy sweet that consists of peanuts, sugar, and salt. The crunchiness and saltiness of the peanuts combined with the caramelized taste of sugar makes for a salty and sweet confection, which is perfect for those who enjoy peanut snacks.

FRUIT JELLY

Fruit jelly is an appetizing and healthy dessert made from kanten powder and fresh fruits.

Pieces of fruit are carefully embedded inside of the see-through jelly, making each bite flavorsome and refreshing. This is a simple recipe that is perfect for a humid day!

QQ CANDY

QQ Candy is a chewy and sweet treat.

Similar to fruit gummies, QQ candies come in a variety of flavors such as strawberry, mango, and lychee. After swallowing a sugary, flavorsome piece, an unstoppable craving compels you to reach for yet another piece.

Teacher Advisors: Ms. Abdelaziz and Mr. Betcher Student Advisors: Julee Jiang and Olivia Ma Editors: Christopher Chen, Julee Jiang, Winston Gu, and Olivia Ma Graphic Designers: Christopher Chen Club Members: Bella Alcaine, Katherine He, Kylah Kao, Aarav Kumar, Vera Lin, Ryan Liu, Louis Lu, Sachit Parekh, Vivian Sun, Caroline Wang, Amber Wang, Ariana Yi, Olivia Ma, Julee Jiang, Winston Gu, and Christopher Chen