Winter Supplement Volume 50

KANELAND

H ap p y Holidays

Wishing everyone the happiest of holidays during this joyous time of year

Volume 50 • Winter Supplement • Kaneland High School December 15, 2023 • Cover by Elliot Krippelz

Feature | December 15, 2023

THE BATTLE OF THE

BY RAFIKA KHAN & LIZZY SIDMAN

SOPHOMORE ALLIE CURTH:

SENIOR MIKALAH SEWARD:

Q: What did you bake for us today and why?

A: I baked these chocolate peanut butter snowman cookies. I wanted to do something that’s winter-themed because I thought it’d be cute. These cookies also have a unique flavor that I think is cool.

Q: What did you bake for us today and why?

A: I baked brownies. Everyone says that I make really good brownies and it’s my favorite thing to bake, so I thought it’d be a good choice.

Q: What is your baking experience, and how did you get into baking?

A: I just bake for fun here and there. In Foods class, I’m usually the head chef and I think it’s really fun.

Q: How important to your family is baking during the holidays?

A: During the holidays, baking is a pretty big deal. My mom is always the baker for the family. She makes all of the desserts, and I get to help her. She’s also told me that my grandma used to like baking too, and I just think it’s cool that I get to do it now.

T:

ALLIE’S SNOWMAN COOKIES

ABBY’S SICILIAN COOKIES

JUNIOR ABBY GONNELLA: Q: What did you bake for us today and why?

A: I baked these Sicilian cookies.

They’re an Italian cookie that you eat with coffee. I love making them.

It’s a go-to in my house. The process to make them is really fun too, because you have to get messy to make them.

Q: What is your baking experience, and how did you get into baking?

A: I don’t have the longest baking experience. I’ve always liked baking with my mom, and eventually I’ve transitioned into baking by myself.

Q: How important to your family is baking during the holidays?

A: Baking is fairly important in my family during the holidays. My aunt loves to bake. She always makes so many treats for the holidays. We sometimes bake a bunch of cookies together for all sides of the family.

Q: What is your baking experience, and how did you get into baking?

A: I’ve been baking for about 10 years because I’ve always helped with Christmas baking and stuff. I just love to cook, and I wanted to be a chef when I was younger. I generally got into baking through helping out with holiday baking.

Q: How important to your family is baking during the holidays?

A: Baking is really important in my family since we all love to bake. It’s always a family bonding experience because we all help with baking. I usually bake for my grandma. I’m always making something for her, and she enjoys it.

MIKALAH’S “HEART ATTACK” BROWNIES

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o determine which baker would win, we chose world language teacher Cristian Hernandez as the judge for our contest. As someone who makes desserts for his students, Hernandez has experience and the ability to judge without bias. When shown the treats, he was drawn in by the presentation. Starting with Abby’s Sicilian cookies and ending with Allie’s melted snowman cookies, Hernandez was open about his opinion on each dessert. The Sicilian cookies reminded him of butter cookies, and he noted that they weren’t too sweet. Mikalah’s brownies were dense and flavorful with the right amount of chocolate, while Allie’s melted snowman cookies had a nice, chewy texture. With each treat having different defining features, Hernandez took some time to choose a winner. Hernandez ruled, “All three of these bakers are very talented, and I enjoyed every treat. My favorite would have to be the Sicilian cookies because of how decadent they are. They’re buttery and crispy without being dry, so they have a snap to them. Every baker did a great job, but these cookies stood out the most.”

2 Feature

Page design by Lizzy Sidman

THE BEST TIME TO BEGIN CHRISTMAS

By Kevin Sigrist

C

Opinion | December 15, 2023

Page Design by Elliot krippelz and sela valignota

hristmas is a beloved holiday for many. Between the festivities, giving of gifts, and media like music and movies that are made for it, there is an unlimited amount of entertainment and activities within the holiday season.

With how much there is to do, it can become difficult to fit everything within the Christmas season alone, which begins to raise the question, “When does the Christmas season actually start?”

Depending on whom you ask, you will get a variety of answers. Some may say that Christmas time begins the week leading up to Christmas morning. Others say December 1, or after Thanksgiving, or even as early as right after Halloween. There is no proper answer as to why these different interpretations exist besides personal preference, so which answer has the most validity?

Like many, senior Lauren Andrews has a strong opinion about this topic for a variety of reasons.

“I start Christmas after Thanksgiving because I think Thanksgiving is an underrated holiday that people overlook

because of Christmas,” Andrews said.

“I think celebrating Christmas right after Halloween, meaning two months of Christmas time, is overdoing it because by the time Christmas actually rolls around, you get sick of it. I think a month or less of Christmas is enough to really take it all in.”

It is entirely true that Thanksgiving is an underrated holiday and should be properly appreciated, but people like senior Allison Breedlove, who begin their celebration of Christmas right after Halloween, have considered this and still find no problem.

“A lot of people think that right after Halloween is way too early to celebrate Christmas because of Thanksgiving, but you don’t buy Thanksgiving pajamas, you don’t buy gifts for Thanksgiving, and there’s not much to [prepare] except for food,” Breedlove said. “Thanksgiving doesn’t require any pre-celebration, and I think Halloween and Christmas do.”

Besides the argument that Thanksgiving can be properly celebrated without having to postpone Christmas fes-

tivities, the reason for the season is also a great counterargument. Thanksgiving and Christmas are both oriented around being with the people you love, being thankful, giving back and showing your appreciation. So, if the seasons share many similar sentiments, why not allow their festivities, like decorations and cooking, to overlap?

Breedlove also starts her Christmas season early in order to get a head start on important responsibilities.

“My Christmas kickoff is buying Christmas gifts, getting fun Christmas clothes, and when it starts getting really cold. It sometimes snows on Halloween, which is perfect Christmas weather,” Breedlove said.

As this time of year is busy with all the Christmas season has to offer, the ideal date to begin Christmas is November 1. The values we hold around this time of year can be extended into what some people call the Thanksgiving season.

Appreciating Diverse Holiday Celebrations

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uring the holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in the wellknown celebrations in America, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. However, there are many international holidays outside of those, such as Diwali, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia’s Day, Hanukkah and Lunar New Year. While these holidays may not be commonly celebrated within our community, many recognize them as a part of their culture.

Senior Kaitlin Liu celebrates Lunar New Year, a traditional festival celebrated by East Asian cultures that welcomes new beginnings and good fortune. Many who celebrate it are also firm believers in superstitions and choose to celebrate in ways to commemorate those beliefs.

“At my house, we do something called hotpot, where there’s a boiling pot of broth in the middle,” Liu said.

“There’s a bunch of little side dishes, and you cook your own food. [We believe that] fish balls symbolize wealth, and there’s a superstition with my grandma where she doesn’t like

By Tiffany Johnson and Sela Valignota cutting the noodles because it cuts time off your life.”

Showing respect towards these traditions within one’s culture brings people closer to each other.

“When I celebrate a cultural holiday, it makes me feel accepted and not weird because I know many others are celebrating the same holiday across the world, which kind of connects us all,” Liu said. “It gives others a better understanding of why people have certain personalities and beliefs. I think it’s good to appreciate that everyone has different experiences, but in the end, we can come together as a community.”

These cultural practices can influence an individual’s life and values. Like Liu, other students believe in honoring their culture and beliefs by celebrating these holidays. Freshman Letty Brophy grew up Jewish and Catholic, holding traditions from both parents. “[Between celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah], my favorite is probably Hanukkah because there’s just so much that goes into it,” Brophy said. “It’s so cool, especially the story that goes along with it. It’s just a really fun holiday.

It’s very important to celebrate because it shows that we survived with just a drop of oil for eight days and eight nights.”

Recognizing these celebrations as a bystander can promote empathy and respect and further spread appreciation towards communities that aren’t as highlighted within American culture. Brophy believes it is important to spread kindness and acceptance throughout our community to those from different belief systems.

“We live in a predominantly white and Catholic area, and you don’t typically see a lot of representation,” Brophy said. “It’s really important to celebrate and recognize this because these cultures and religions are growing, and they will continue to do so.”

No matter what you celebrate this holiday season, it is important to understand that we all share a love for our own cultural backgrounds, so respecting one another is what brings our community together in appreciation each year.

Opinion

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Centerspread | December 15, 2023

INFLUENCE OF COMMUNITY

BY KATIE PFOTENHAUER

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hrough cherished traditions and joyful activities, the holiday season can bring people together.

Whether it’s the bright white snow that lines the trees and makes the outside look like a winter wonderland or the glow from Christmas lights or menorah candles, some things about this time of year can bring warmth and joy despite the Midwest cold.

However, sometimes the cold is

4 Centerspread

the best part. With the cold comes the snow, and the snow can bring an abundance of joyful memories of building snowmen, making snow angels and ice skating until your cheeks are rosy red and your nose is cold to the touch, but it is nothing a mug of hot chocolate can’t fix to warm you up.

For some, that warm feeling may come from something else, like spending time with family and friends or cel-

ebrating religiously. Families can play a vital role in winter holidays, as many traditions involve spending time with loved ones, eating meals together and exchanging gifts, making the holidays a time to create cherished memories and pass down traditions. Similarly, when people celebrate religiously, they are a part of something bigger than themselves, as people with a shared belief system come together to celebrate.

With a growing sense of inclusion that may be fostered as people engage in shared celebrations and traditions, this season is the time neighbors, friends and family can contribute to the shared sense of belonging in a community.

In a town like Elburn, the holidays are met with great adornment and admiration. On December 2, families and friends walked around downtown Elburn for their 29th annual Christmas Stroll, where you could enjoy crafts, like decorating cookies to really get into the holiday spirit, or even stop by Paisano’s Pizza & Grill for a free slice of pizza.

For an even greater sense of community, the Christkindlmarket is a gath-

ering place for people from all over.

According to christkindlmarket.com, “Visitors can explore vendor products from around the world, participate in special events, and enjoy the unique shopping experience.”

With two locations in Chicago and one in Aurora, the Christkindlmarket offers a unique, immersive experience that connects people from different backgrounds. As you are transported into a market with twinkling lights, decorated ornaments and traditional food, you can see people having a good time and enjoying everything about the season, reminding us of the importance of shared experiences with people you love.

Centerspread | December 15, 2023

ON HOLIDAY APPRECIATION

DESIGN AND PHOTOS BY ELLIOT KRIPPELZ

As this time of year is known as the season of giving, it may not be surprising that according to Nonprofits Source, a nonprofit digital marketing agency, “30% of annual giving occurs in December.”

Charitable initiatives and community service prevail during this time of year. You can take the initiative and participate in donating items like winter coats or toys. These small acts of

kindness can make us come together to uplift those who are less fortunate. The collective effort shows what the holiday season is about. You may feel just how much the joy of giving can exceed the feeling of receiving gifts.

Following traditions, the 110th annual Chicago Christmas Tree stands in Millenium Park, which is donated by a family and brings people together as they wait for the lights to shine bright.

According to the Chicago Tribune, “This year’s 110th City of Chicago Christmas Tree is a 45-foot Colorado Blue Spruce donated by the De La Cruz family of southwest suburban Darien.”

As many embrace the act of giving through donating and volunteering during this time of year, there is also a positive feeling that people can get when giving gifts to friends and family. As you carefully pick out the wrapping paper, practice making the perfect bows, and skillfully write their name so they know that you picked their gift specifically for them, you may feel a sense of joy as you cannot wait for their reaction while opening the gift.

Gift-giving can be a meaningful

way to connect with others and show appreciation, which can bring joy to the holiday season.

The holidays can mean different things to different people. Whether you like to rewatch A Christmas Story, Elf, or Home Alone for what may feel like the hundredth time, bake cookies until golden perfection, or decorate a tree with homemade ornaments, there is something that makes the holiday season feel special.

As families gather to enjoy meals together, celebrate religiously, or catch up after being apart for what may feel like a long time, you can embrace the spirit of the holidays and recognize what they mean to you.

Centerspread

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LIDAY WORD SEARCH Design by Sarah Slattery

S N O WM A N D F D V L S S D K A F P Z M A S D A F P F P G J R A U P R U D O L P H DWG G E L L G P F G R J A MM V Z T B MM Y A F E M F S N H H O Q P R B U E D E M P QS C E I NW K E G L Y C M L WU T I E J J S ER R I HE R R K L NB BG PMV K F N V E HR L NE SME E L P AMH S L E I G H B B L E ON N AMU DN B Q U S P Y C Q T U K P K D Q C MW V D D M N Q R R T F P B G UN K P Z D E W I F A Y H A S C S F U P F R D JM I S T L E T O E KWE UGUG S T L T D K CN Y E I CC T BB R CA RO L I NG I I C R A E R KAVUV C P Q I C J M D C E L E B R A T E Z A C R J A D MO B E S A B HDMH E S P A B J Z J P X NOG P H H L P J S B KMRV I E L A A B C B E HOY J OV L F E P K B K E L N I W R W I N T E R B R E A K R K A K B L U MN AT U S SGC A B B N L H A T F N P K I N I NA T FM T J GX TKMA R I AHC A R E YM I E U H B P R S I I B H FML S R A X S AG S I ND BO S A F G R E SO N X X A AM A N T K M X B S N OW F L A K E K N S E G GA E Z S L O V E P S W F B MDM R AMC D L T O Y S 1. SNOWMAN

6. FAMILY

11. MARIAH CAREY

16. SNOWFLAKE

2. RUDOLPH

7. COOKIES

12. HANUKKAH

17. CELEBRATE

3. SLEIGH

8. PRESENT

13. FRIENDS

18. ICE SKATING

4. TOYS

9. CAROLING

14. MISTLETOE

19. NUTCRACKER

5. SANTA

10. CHRISTMAS

15. WINTER BREAK

20. LOVE

Colorfully decorate the illustration by Cartoon Manager Dane Coyne and DM your creation to us on Instagram @kaneland_krier. Our staff will choose the three best submissions, which will lead to prizes for the artists and an announcement on our social media accounts.

w WHAT IS THE WEIRDEST GIFT k d 9 YOU HAVE RECEIVED? x o

BY DELANEY CALABRESE, SAMMY DUNNE & JACKSON KOTTMEYER

“I got a pair of black leggings from my grandparents, and one leg size was up to my knee, and the other leg size was down past my leg. I have no idea what brand they were, and I could not return them.”

- Senior Jade Schrader

“The weirdest gift I’ve ever received was a bottle of beans. I got it from my tia. It was just weird because I got a bottle of beans.”

- Junior Neela Keefe

“One Christmas morning, when I was six years old, my uncle gave me a Pokemon sweatshirt. I had never talked about the show or seen it before.”

- Sophomore Hayden Foster

“The weirdest thing I’ve probably ever gotten was a box of deodorant from Kohl’s because I didn’t have a list that year. I didn’t tell anyone what I wanted, and my uncle and aunt gave me a stick of deodorant. So, that was probably the weirdest thing I’ve ever gotten.”

- Junior Hunter Anello

Page design by Katie Pfotenhauer