The Fall Edition
The Hilight
Volume LXXXVII Issue II October 29, 2021 510 13th St. Cullman, AL 35055
THE NEWSPAPER OF CULLMAN HIGH SCHOOL Seniors: 125 School Days til Graduation!
Dia de los Muertos Following the marigold path Areli Leon, Advertising Editor Halloween. A day associated with monsters, horror, and all things dead. It’s a favorite holiday for many people, but it also begins one of the most important holidays of Mexican culture-- el Dia de Los Muertos. It’s an event that was brought to light through the famous movie, Coco, yet ended up falling into the shadows of the catchy songs sung throughout the film. The movie is undoubtedly a well-represented film, but people seem to forget what it was actually about. El Dia de Los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is all about your deceased loved ones. It begins at midnight on Halloween night, in which the barrier between the human world and the spirit world is said to disappear. To begin, family members create an ofrenda (offering) that is placed on an altar. They gather plenty of fruits, bread, and
other foods that their loved ones enjoyed during their lifetime. A photo of your loved ones (if available) is then placed on the altar, along with a candle for each soul, and a great amount of flowers (usually bright marigolds). Marigolds are used as a path for the deceased to follow into the human world. Then, on November 1st, El Dia de Los Inocentes (day of the innocents), which refers to deceased children, and All Saints Day is celebrated. On this day, children are said to cross over into the human world. On the following day, deceased adults are able to cross over for 24 hours as well. During this tradition, families get together and visit their loved ones' tombstones and decorate them as well. Families often pray for the peace of those that are no longer with us. Many parties are held in Mexico and the U.S. in
which traditional Mexican foods are offered, music is played by bands and mariachi, and people dress up as catrines and catrinas (sugar skulls). Aside from the beautiful decorations and events, el Dia de Los Muertos reminds us that life is a gift that is truly wondrous, and we should forever be grateful for it. Conversely, it also allows us to see that although lives are so precious, death is not something we should fear. Even when we are called from this world, we will always be with our family on Earth. It allows us to be in contact with our spiritual beliefs and really embrace our culture. All in all, this lovely tradition connects us to our roots in a way that can be felt physically and emotionally.
The World Around Us
Halloween Frenzy
Elley Atchison, Staff Writer
Angelina Hughes, Staff Writer
How you can help the Earth Climate change is affecting the world around us at a rapid pace. It has raised the average temperature in Antarctica by five times its average rate, caused 7,883 fires to erupt just in 2021, raised heatwaves tremendously, and so much more. Many people are raising their hands in defeat, simply giving up and relinquishing all hope. To think this way is to be ignorant. Actively fighting against climate change can and will help our Earth. There are numerous actions one can take to make a difference in the world today and in the future.
-Eat less meat. When raising livestock, it produces a gas called methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. If you eat less meat, less methane is produced.
-Recycle your clothes. Take unwanted or old clothes to a local thrift store instead of throwing them away. By doing this, it cuts down on waste and the manufacturing of new clothes.
-Use tote bags when shopping. Carry your purchases in a reusable bag. Using these bags cuts down on large amounts of plastic being thrown away.
-Do homework in natural light. When spending time on schoolwork, try to complete it under the sunlight. This reduces the amount of electricity used.
-Buy a reusable water bottle. By doing this simple task, you cut down on 1,460 plastic water bottles used in a year.
3 last-minute costumes It’s Raining Men- Here’s a weather proof costume to storm any Halloween party. Glue cutouts of your favorite men- Chris Hemsworth, Prince Harry, to name a few onto an umbrella, then wear rain boots and a trench coat to complete the look.
Among Us crewmate- Be “sus” during Halloween with a crewmate costume inspired by Among Us. Wear any color jacket backward so that the hood can be in front. When the hood is up, place a blue face mask as if they were glasses. Wear matching pants to complete the costume.
-Bike/Walk more. If you live in town, try walking or biking to your destination. This will cut down on hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides released from the exhaust of your car.
-Get educated. Many people do not know how greatly climate change is shaping the future of our planet. Listen to a podcast or read a book, so you can be informed on how to advocate for a cleaner, healthier Earth.
Skeleton- To do this, cut a T-shirt to create a rib cage, add some face makeup, and for a cute touch- tape a paper heart to your undershirt for an adorable skeleton