VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3
DECEMBER 2017
PIN TREE POS BEHIND THE TALENT
Interviews with student performers, both repeat and new to the game
BUSINESS
FAIR
Entrepreneurship 12 practices their business
WHAT’S IN A HOLIDAY?
Winter celebrations of past, present, and future
COURT REPORTING
With Law 12’s mock trial ended, Writing 12 reports
2 FIRST GLANCE P.4: SCHOOL
P.9: FEATURES
The Pinetree Post
STAFF EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Emily Liang, Julia Park ARTICLE EDITOR Julia Park CONTRIBUTORS Nazanin Bazazan, Noemi Galdamez, Maryam Gamar, Briana Ho, Aida Kadiric, Noor Khawer, Elisa Korner, Emily Liang, Sunny Liang, Susan Liu, Julia Park, Mr. Wazny, Sophie Zhao GRAPHIC DESIGN Emily Liang ONLINE CONTENT Saina Adamy, Katherine Liu SPECIAL THANKS TO The Pinetree Admin, Mr. Lau, Mr. Wazny, Ms. Rioux, Ms. Loo, Ms. MacPherson, Mr. Kerr, Nazanin Bazazan, Chuhan Tong, Noble Liu, Dahae Kim, Kamilla Nyazullah, Jocelyn Wang, Emily Liu, Lucy Wang, Pansy Wu, Eric Wu
Christmas Concert, the Talent Show and one final Cross Country Report
P.16: WINTER
The History, Animals, and Hotspots of the Holiday Season
Student thoughts, the Business Fair, and Law 12’s Mock Trial
P. 22: LIFE
Which teacher is your Christmas Buddy?
GET INVOLVED IN THE PT POST! Although we at the Pinetree Post try our best to represent the voice of the everyone at Pinetree, we are only a small group of students. To find the most pressing topics and interesting avenues to explore, we rely on input from readers to curate relevant content only. Anyone is welcome to suggest a topic or provide an opinion for Pinetree Post writers and contributors to look
into further. Do you have something to say that needs your voice? The Pinetree Post also welcomes guest content. Feel free to submit an article on a topic you are passionate for, a comic you think everyone deserves to see, maybe even a letter to the editor, which we promise we’ll respond to! You can submit your original content to us at thepinetreepost@gmail.com.
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First Glance EDITOR’S NOTE
Wrapping Things Up
Julia is tucking into winter hibernation early this year.
December is a time of celebration and relief. Emily Liang, Julia Park Editors-in-Chief
Happy Holidays, Pinetree! December is a month of celebration, especially here at Pinetree. That’s why we’ve chosen a suitable theme this month: Wrapping up 2017. You know, like presents. Because you give people presents during winter, and you have to wrap those presents up. Rather than take the somber note of reflection like we did last month, this issue is wrapping up the year like a gift. Join us as we observe various performing arts closing out their 2017 year with a bang (Santa’s Workshop at Pinetree, page 4, and Behind the Talent Show, page 6)! Cross Country season is officially wrapped up with some final reports from Coach Wazny (Cross Country Results, page 8), and a Grade 9 wraps up his first few months at Pinetree (Personal
Mr. Lau / the PInetree Post
Reflection of the Year, page 9). Take a look at what and how other students are wrapping up (What’s Happening Over the Holidays, page 10). Or read about Entrepreneurship 12 wrapping up their big project of the semester (Business Fair 2017, page 12)! Law 12 and Writing 12 come together for a neatly wrapped guest article about the recent mock trial (The Trial of Love vs. Betrayal, page 14). We’re wrapping up nearly all there is to know about the season in the Winter section (Debunking Winter Holidays, page 16, and Winter Creatures, page 19, and Local Holiday Hotspots, page 21). Don’t forget to check out which teacher shares your holiday preferences (Which teacher is your Christmas buddy?, page 22)! With that, this editor’s note is wrapped up. Think of this issue as our holiday gift, from the Pinetree Post, to you. Sincerely, Emily Liang and Julia Park Editors-in-Chief
4 SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Santa’s Workshop at Pinetree
The Pinetree Choir.
The Pinetree Music Department executes yet another successful winter concert. Julia Park Writer
Christmas came early to Pinetree this year, as the Pinetree Music Department invited students and parents to Santa’s Workshop on Wednesday, December 17. These annual winter concerts are filled with festivity, talent, and fun for students, parents, and staff to enjoy, but this year’s was made extra special by the unprecedented structures of the concert, along with all the work put in by students, teachers, and the Music Council to bring the best quality performance to their audience. The Music Department started its preparation in learning festive pieces for the concert from the beginning of the school year, and spent more than a month in creating decorations for to accommodate
Source: Eric Wu
the theme of “Santa’s Workshop.” Students in band and choir worked like elves do before Christmas to draw and make decorations themselves, and prepared a Christmas tree with ornaments and Christmas wish lists from the Music Council, as well as candy canes, toys elves, and reindeer around the cafeteria for extra festivity and holiday spirit. What made this concert extra special for the students, however, was that it was the first one that the Music Council at Pinetree hosted, planned, and executed. They were in charge of the logistics, from the decorations, the backstage, sound and lights, and hospitality. Further, they tried new ideas at the concert, such as combining the jazz and concert bands. “[This year’s concert] was definitely nerve-wracking as it was our first concert for the Music Council,” said Colin Wang, grade 12. “However, in the end, it was a great success and I hope the following concerts can follow suit.” Students stayed after school on Wednesday, as they set up the decorations for the concert and had final run-throughs and warm ups before the big concert.
5
School The pieces they performed include the Three “Songs of Christmas,” “Castle on a Cloud,” and “Fate of the Gods,” many of these which they have never played before.
“What made this concert extra special for the students, however, was that it was the first one that the Music Council at Pinetree hosted, planned, and executed. ” Many of these pieces had soloists, for both choral and orchestral pieces. Soloists were given a chance to flaunt the skills they had worked on over the course of months. “Being a soloist is fun; you get to play around with your solo and add bits of improvisation to your part here and there,” said Christina Zhang, who played piano for the piece “Until I Met You” by Mark Taylor. “Personally, i think that playing a solo in front of a large crowd can be a bit stressful, but the supportive cheers in the crowd are encouraging.” Praises filled the halls after the concert, as
students and parents were amazed by the quality of the performance the music department had put on. “The concert was very well planned out, with beautiful and creative Christmas decorations. For the main show, the bands were excellent in their performances and really struck the audience in complete awe,” said Eric Wu, grade 12 and former band member. “Many of the Christmas pieces sung by the choir also reminded the audience of the happiness of the holiday season. Good job Pinetree Bands! Proud of you guys!”
“‘Being a soloist is fun; you get to play around with your solo and add bits of improvisation to your part.’” The Music Department was able to bring Santa’s Workshop from the North Pole all the way to Coquitlam through their months of dedication, work, and practice. Their efforts were not in vain; they managed to put on another successful winter concert. Behind the grandeur of the concert lies the unnoticed time and effort of the elves, Pinetree’s very own music department students. 8
Mr. Carmichael conducts the band as the audience watches.
Source: Eric Wu
6 SCHOOL STUDENT INTERVIEWS
Behind the Talent Show
Just who are these people who put themselves in front of the whole school for a talent show? Emily Liang Interviewer
Just before school lets out for winter break, Pinetree goes out with a bang by putting on a celebratory talent show, with students showing off their talents in various areas. This year, the talent show will take place on December 22, with the following lineup: “This Love” by Maroon 5 performed by Noble Liu, Kevin Zhou, Lucas Ma, and Gloria Huang, a hip hop dance performance by Emily Liu, Jocelyn Wang, Lucy Wang, and Pansy Wu, metal music by Noble Liu, a jazz medley by Cheng Luo, Rick Son, and Simon Shou, “Stay” by Rihanna performed by Klayna Veloso and Gaby Abdi, beatboxing by Alborz Vahidi, “Stitches” by Shawn Mendes performed by Kyle Fernandez and Selina Guo, and “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder performed by Bobby Chung, David Seo, Rick Son, Jinho Baek, and Andy Seo. The whole school will have the opportunity to learn more about these students through their performances, but to tide you over until then, two groups agreed to be interviewed briefly.
HIP HOP DANCE ROUTINE Q: What are you guys going to be performing? A: We’re doing a hip hop dance to a combination of two songs: the first one is Bang Bang and the second one is B**** Better Have My Money. [laughs] Q: Sorry, what was that? A: … B**** Better Have My Money. Q: [also laughs] Alright, I’m gonna have to censor that. So how did you all meet each other? A: We had the same class last semester, so we’re all classmates. Q: Have you all been dancing for a long time? A: No, this is our first time. We’re a little nervous. Q: Why did you want to join the talent show? A: It’s fun. [laughs] Pansy is graduating this year, so it seemed like time. Q: How do you feel about performing? A: I think when it comes to the dance, we’re quite confident. We’ve practiced so many times. We practice every Sunday for two hours, and we’ve been at it for more than one month. Q: How do you think the school will react to your dance? A: I hope it won’t be too embarrassing! Q: So what kind of music do you guys like listening to? A: [in unanimous agreement] K-pop.
(Left to right) Emily Liu, Jocelyn Wang, Lucy Wang, and Pansy Wu.
Emily Liang / the Pinetree Post
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School Q: Do you have any words for your fellow performers of the talent show? A: Enthusiastic. Q: How would you describe your performance or your group in three words? A: Hilarious. Amazing. Unbelievable.
“STITCHES” COVER Q: What are you guys going to be performing? S: We’re performing “Stitches” by Shawn Mendes. We’ll be singing and playing guitar. Q: Which of you sings and which of you plays guitar? S: Kyle is going to play guitar and we’re going to be switching on harmonizing and singing the vocals. K: Mostly she’s going to be doing the main vocals, because I’m having a hard time playing and singing at the same time, so I’m just gonna be background. Q: [referring to last year’s performance] What happened to the ukulele? S: It grew into the guitar. [both laugh] K: We wanted to try something new and Stitches sounded better with the guitar, so we just decided to play the guitar instead. Q: How did you first get into the whole talent show business? K: We just started doing it because we discovered that we really like singing, so we wanted to try it out. S: For me it was guitar class. You know how every Friday we have to perform something and I think Ms. Fera said, “You should totally try out for the talent show!”, so I forced Kyle to go along with me. K: At first, I thought, “That’s scary, I’m gonna be scared out of my mind,” but I did it, and it was fun, so we wanted to try again this year. Q: Do you play any instruments other than guitar? S: Yes, I can play guitar, ukulele, flute, and piano. K: I can play guitar and ukulele. Q: Do you want to pursue performing arts? S: I do not know. K: I would like to, I feel like it would be really fun. It’s just that I think breaking through the music industry is really hard. S: Pursuing music sounds really cool, but you know all that stuff about parents pressuring you to be a doctor
or a lawyer… that’s always in the back of my mind. Q: How did the audience receive your performance last year? K: They were really into it, surprisingly, they all brought out their phone flashlights. It was really cute and I didn’t expect that. Q: And what were you performing last year? S: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley. [talking to Kyle] I think Ms. Lockwood, I heard she… K: Yeah, Ms. Lockwood! S: She cried after our performance. Q: Are you planning to make anyone else cry this year? K: It’s a bit of an upbeat song, so we’re planning to make everyone happy. Q: How did the two of you meet and decide to start performing together? K: We originally met in middle school but we didn’t really know that we could sing until like the start of Grade 10. S: I think I asked Kyle to start performing with me because during lunch he was just randomly singing. K: Yeah, during lunch time we would usually play something and sing along, so for the talent show we thought, “Oh, let’s do that together.” Q: What are three words to describe your act? K: I really don’t know… I think it’s Shawn. Mendes. Stitches. S: There’s guitar music. K: It’s really acoustic, it’s a bit more slowed down and chill than the original version, and I’m excited to perform it. S: That was definitely not three words. 5 Selina Guo and Kyle Fernandez.
Source: PTP
8 SCHOOL SPORTS
Cross Country Results
From the Coach himself: Mr. Kevin Wazny Teacher, Cross Country Coach
It has been quite a record breaking year for Pinetree Cross Country 2017. After starting out the year losing two good coaches and no grade 9 boys on the team, we rebounded well with a record number of team members and with a spectacular season finishing with winning our 4th Consecutive DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP John Taylor AWARD trophy! (Has never been done before!) I am very proud of our group, as we have truly improved a lot from the beginning of the year. I also want to thank Sophie Zhao (Grade 9 girl) who wrote a great article in the Pinetree Post about our team. It is nice to hear good things from the students about them enjoying the team. I have too many drivers to thank here, as you know, without your help driving our kids up to Mundy Park, there would be basically be no team. Yvonne Wang, Grade 11, represented our team and school at the Provincials on the morning of Saturday Novemer 4. in Jericho Beach Park in Kitsalano. Again, special thanks to the Pinetree Staff and Administration who all help me with this team to be continually so successful every year! Next year, will be our Drive for Five theme! 8 The Cross Country All-Stars.
GRADE 9 GIRLS
Samantha Nix, Nona Mohammed, Sarah Ip
GRADE 10 GIRLS
Emily Jeong, Mehrsa Samani, Erin Petrik, Martine Crespo, Liya Asgharpour, Alice Nui, Sarina Minaei, Kimia Mousavi
GRADE 10 BOYS
Nestor Lin, Thomas Gabut, Orien Huang, Caesar Ni, Matteus Ticne, John Wang, Michael Zhang, Richard Lee, Leon Li, Richard Wang
GRADE 11 GIRLS
Yvonne Wang, Ivana Truong, Rebecca Liu
GRADE 11 BOYS
Nick Rodrigez, Jeff Wang, Angelo Wang, Jacob Angeles, Sunny Sun, Seongho Yeon
GRADE 12 GIRLS
Camila Gomez, Judith Nagy, Elena Balogova, Phoebe Zhang
GRADE 12 BOYS
Taishi Ishioka Michael Chan, Nick Tara, Simon Yu, Chadi Sahlane, Cameron Lee, Malcolm Koh, Abay Nassimov, Pudam Jayasekara, Jacob Sun Source: Kevin Wazny
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Features EDITORIAL
Personal Reflection of the Year
Sunny and a friend walk back into school on a foggy afternoon.
Closing thoughts of 2017, from a newcomer to Pinetree. Sunny Liang Writer
2017 has been my first year of high school and the transition from middle school to high school was certainly quite sudden. The constant traveling between classrooms, different classmates every block, and faster paced courses provide a different experience from the more static classes and month-long units of middle school. I was also pleasantly surprised by the plethora of academic and athletic choices offered. Being allowed to choose electives allows for students to specialize more on the fields they enjoy the most. Paired with the numerous clubs, advanced courses, and athletic teams, I can now start narrowing down my fields of interest rather than learning about things I frankly don’t care much for whatsoever. Certain courses are still required due to graduation and “societal” requirements but the list of mandatory courses seems to dwindle by the year. The social environment, on the other hand, isn’t all that different from middle school. Much of the culture observed in schools seems to be fundamental no matter what school or grade you are in. Whether it be
Emily Liang / the Pinetree Post
the social cliques or social separation between grades, there was nothing fundamentally different about the social structure of Pinetree on a macroscopic scale. On a more personal level however, going from being the oldest grade in middle school to the youngest grade in high school certainly reminded me that I still have three and a half years before I’m done with school; that is, if I were to ignore the existence of post-secondary education. Perhaps the biggest theme of high school for many students here is stress. Depending on who you ask, some ninth-grade students will report being heavily overworked while others will say they are bored by the lack of challenging content. One way or another, teachers and senior students never cease to remind me that it only gets worse as you progress through high school. In addition, we have already been given our course selection sheets which were due by Wednesday, December 12. Beforehand, we were given a lengthy presentation about how to select courses and more importantly, how to fulfill graduation requirements, something I surely didn’t expect to have to think about so soon. The far future aside, I look forward to my next three years at Pinetree, where perhaps I’ll be able to observe my experience as ninth-grade student from a third person perspective. 3
10 FEATURES STUDENT INTERVIEWS
What’s Happening Over the Holidays?
We all have lives outside of school, presumably.
CHUHAN TONG
Susan Liu, Sophie Zhao Interviewers, photos supplied by interviewees
KAMILLA NYAZULLAH
PTP: What are your plans for the holidays this year? KN: Well I can’t really go sledding this year like usual so I’m planning to do some gymnastics and maybe also do some homework, work on some projects. But I also want to be able to enjoy and do some festive activities like decorating the Christmas tree and my house and going skating. PTP: Do you and your family have any traditions for Christmas or New Year’s? KN: We usually have a Christmas dinner and we celebrate as a family so we invite all those relatives over to celebrate. If it snows I usually go outside to play with my friends. I hope we get as much snow as we did last year.
PTP: How do you like to spend your holidays? CT: I usually like to get in the holiday spirit by decorating the house, making holiday food and going Christmas shopping, but this year all I can think of is how I can catch up with all the homework and how I will deal with the coming up tests and exams. PTP: Do you have any family traditions that occur every Christmas or New Year? CT: One tradition is getting red packets from other family members and having it “stolen” by my mom, who claims she is going to use it to pay for my university tuition. PTP: What would be your suggestions for activities to do over the break? CT: Study hard and enjoy the higher grades you get after the break.
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Features DAEHAE KIM
PTP: What are your plans for the holidays this year? DK: My plans for this year’s holiday is having Christmas and New Year’s dinner and having dinner with my aunt’s family. I will also meet my friends and have fun during the rest of winter break. PTP: Do you or your family have any traditions for Christmas or New Years? DK: Our family has a huge dinner and give presents to each other. On the last day of the year, we stay until midnight and when it is the first day of the new year, we give presents to each other. PTP: Do you think you will enjoy this coming break? Why or why not? DK: I think I’m going to enjoy this winter break because this is the first break in my grade nine year!
NOBLE LIU
PTP: Do you have anything planned for the holidays this year? NL: As far as I know, I will go to Grouse Mountain to ski with my friends; other than that, I will spend time with my family, and I might get my driver’s license as well. PTP: Are you excited for the break? Why or why not? NL: Absolutely! For me, winter break means I get to spend more time with my family, and do lots of other things I want to do. Of course, I get to sleep more :) PTP: Does your family celebrate Christmas or have any traditions for this time of the year? NL: My family does not celebrate Christmas; however, my family does celebrate New Year’s Eve. PTP: What would you do to celebrate? NL: Well, I anticipate that my family will get some family friends to come over and celebrate the last day of 2017 with us. PTP: If you could describe how you want your break to feel like in three words, what would they be? NL: Warm, excited, and relaxed. 5
12 FEATURES ENTREPRENEURSHIP 12
Business Fair 2017
Candle sales as seen from above.
How fair is it, really? Aida Kadiric, Noor Khawer Writers Entrepreneurship 12 is an elective offered at Pinetree Secondary taught by Ms. Lu. In this class, students learn what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. They learn that entrepreneurs have a certain set of traits rather than skills. They need to be passionate, creative, ambitious, and able to take control. The class teaches students about innovations, inventions, and advertising among other aspects of entrepreneurship. Eventually students are taught how to make their own products that they have the opportunity to sell later during the business fair. The fair comes towards the end of the semester and is the most anticipated event in the class. It is an opportunity for the students to put all the knowledge they have learned throughout the semester into their own business idea. This semester, the fair took place from December 12 to December 14 in the foyer at lunch. At
Emily Liang / the Pinetree Post
this time, students and teachers were invited to stop by the tables and buy the products the entrepreneurship students were selling. Students sold a variety of different products ranging from food to clothing. Many students were selling food related items such as hot chocolate, pizza, bubble tea, takoyaki, and cookies. Other products included candles, shoe cleaners, t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, hoodies, and hats. Each group selling went through their own process of making their products. For example, for hoodies and t-shirts, groups had to create the designs themselves and send it to a company to get the vinyl. The groups that were selling food had to either make their product from scratch at home or buy it from a third party. The groups that were selling more miscellaneous merchandise often had to make their products at home. Students put a lot of time and effort into making the products. The students seemed to have mixed feelings about the fair. Some were stressed and worried because they weren’t sure if anyone would buy their products or if they were even prepared to sell them, while others
Features were excited because they finally got to show off their hard work. They prepared for the fair by making sure their merchandise was ready to be sold on December 12, the first day of the business fair, and that their tables were set up in a way that would catch the customer’s eyes. Advertising was done prior to the fair through social media, word of mouth, and posters.
“I am very proud of what my students have achieved in those three days. It is probably one of the most mentally and physically draining activity that I have ever done with a class. But it is also a lot of fun.” The fair took place over three days in the foyer at lunch. During those 40 minutes, students and teachers throughout the school could come to the tables and see what the entrepreneurship students were selling. On the first day, the foyer was packed. Teachers and students from just about every grade level came down to the fair to see what was being sold. Many said that they would come back the next day to purchase items because they weren’t prepared to buy products on the first day. On the second day, the foyer was just about as packed as the first. The third day was more vacant than the rest. Most of the students had already seen the products so they did not bother coming back for a third day in a Nick, Tait, Mitchell, and Kane guard their wares.
13 row. The food items such as hot chocolate and pizza seemed to be the most popular amongst the teachers and students throughout the three days. “I am very proud of what my students have achieved in those three days. It is probably one of the most mentally and physically draining activity that I have ever done with a class. But it is also a lot of fun,” said Ms. Lu, the Entrepreneurship 12 teacher, when asked how she felt about the fair. “it was really exciting to see what the future looks like, where my students will go and what they will do. It was nice seeing my students in a professional setting. I think the future is bright.” Students had various comments: Saina Adamy said, “The only part that stressed me out was when my friends came to my booth and pretended to drop my candles and steal my money.” Kuan said, “It was the only time my mom was proud of me,” and Jesse said “It was kind of stressful because we made our shirts at the last minute.” In the end, the students had a blast being a part of the fair. Even though the fair is over, products can still be purchased . If students still wish to buy, they can contact the students selling either through their social media accounts or in person. The business fair is a way for entrepreneurship students to flaunt their skills as a business man, and a fun fair for students and teachers to buy homemade products and observe the bright future of Pinetree students. 4 Emily Liang / the Pinetree Post
16 WINTER GENERAL INTEREST
Debunking Winter Holidays Who was the Ghost of Christmas Past, what is a hanukkiah, and where did the Nguzo Saba come from? Maryam Gamar Writer Imagine you are a British child living in midVictorian England. It is December and outside your window, snow pummels down onto the dark world as you wait for your father to bring the Christmas tree home. Now imagine you are a Jewish child listening to the sleet run through your eaves. You can smell latkes frying from the kitchen and then your mother calls you to help light the candles of the hanukkiah. And now imagine you are an African American child in the 1970s. You light candles as well, as you listen to your aunts sing the long-lost tales of your ancestors. Throughout history, winter has been a cold, dead time, spent mostly waiting for spring. But societies around the world have found ways to celebrate this time of year with meaningful gatherings that represent spirituality, identity, and togetherness.
CHRISTMAS This beloved holiday now associated with Santa Claus and gift-giving has gone through much fluctuation in terms of what it represents and how it is celebrated. Traditionally, Christmas is a Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus. According to scripture, Jesus was born on the night of December 24 (known as ChristMass Eve) in the year 336. This night is significant to those who practice the Christian faith because Jesus is considered to be a saviour of mankind who sacrificed himself for his people’s sins. Consequently, Christmas became a time of spiritual reflection. By the 18th century, however, Christmas was no longer a religious cornerstone nor the jolly holiday it is today. Part of the reason for this was the Puritan Christian influence. In the mid 1600s a fringe group broke from the Catholic church in England because they believed its religious practice and guidance were not “pure” enough. These people became known as Puritans and sailed to the New World of North America to practice their religion and lead their lives far from the influence of the English Church. This freedom was
“A Christmas Carol” has been adapted to many mediums.
Source: getboulder.com
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Winter
Depiction of the Menorah on the Arch of Titus in Rome. welcomed; however, part of Puritan doctrine was to abstain from celebration or anything that could be seen as frivolity, and this influenced the way celebrations, even religious ones, were regarded. The dismal time of Christmas was perpetuated back in England under the residual gloom of the Industrial Revolution. The winter streets of London were populated with hollow-eyed children and beggars too weak to work. This blatant show of poverty was in sharp contrast to the rich business and elite class who separated themselves. In the midst of this tightpocketed society an author named Charles Dickens saw room for change and took action by writing A Christmas Carol. It tells the story of a selfish old man named Scrooge who had no “Christmas spirit� and on Christmas Eve was visited by the ghosts of christmas past, present, and future. These specters show Scrooge the consequences of his stingy actions and teach him how to use his fortune to benefit others. The story had a tremendous impact on the way Christmas was celebrated. In fact, the custom of sponsoring people in need during the Christmas season began after the story was published and has been maintained by those who can afford to give.
HANNUKAH The celebration of Christmas emerged from a significant birth, and similarly Hanukkah, the Jewish winter holiday, came from reverence of rebirth. In 586 BCE the First Holy Temple in Jerusalem
Source: Beth Hatefutsoth
was destroyed when the city was conquered by a Babylonian army. The temple signified the one place Jewish people could worship, so the destruction caused widespread difficulty for the massive community. 70 years later the Second Temple was built and this repossession of the important Jewish symbol is celebrated every year during the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah. The celebration is opened with the lighting of the hanukkiah (or Hanukkah menorah). This candelabrum has eight identical branches with the ninth branch or shamash, usually raised above and used to light the others. One additional candle is lit on each night of Hanukkah until they are all lit on the final night. One common misconception is that the Hanukkah candelabrum is the same as a menorah. In fact, menorahs are a symbol of the Jewish faith and are often kept alight in synagogues, however not specifically for the celebration of Hanukkah. There are specific blessings to be said during the lighting of the hanukkiah, known in Hebrew as brachot. These blessings vary according to each religious sect, however the common sentiment is gratitude and remembrance of the past. Perhaps this constant reminder of the origins of the holiday is what has kept the celebration of Hanukkah similar to what it was at its beginning. Another important symbol of Hanukkah is olive oil. When the Second Temple was built, the hanukkiah was lit with a small flask of oil which kept the candles alight for eight nights. This miracle led to the veneration of olive oil and the incorporation of it
18 WINTER into many other Hanukkah traditions. Unlike Christmas, the traditions of Hanukkah have remained generally the same over the years. From the foods that are eaten to the religious ceremonies held, Hanukkah has stayed true to the way the it was originally celebrated. For example, latkes (a type of potato pancake that is fried in olive oil) have been a Hanukkah treat made by Jewish families since the mid1800s. Other foods prepared in hot oil are eaten such as sufganiyot, or jam-filled doughnuts. In Canada, Hanukkah is celebrated in a variety of ways depending on the individual’s country of origin (e.g. Hungarian Jewish versus Israeli) as well as retainment of religious practice.
KWANZAA Both Christmas and Hanukkah were founded from the emergence of something new while the holiday known as Kwanzaa emerged as a form of reconciliation. In order to understand this winter holiday, some historical context is necessary. In the 15th century, the international slave trade began during which European traders bought men, women, and children from the coastlines of Africa to resell in the New World. This atrocity lasted until the mid1900s and during the transport, sale, and degradation of human beings, these peoples lost much of their culture and tradition. This meant that after slavery was abolished in the 1860s, people of African descent in North America had lost all connection to their roots. In 1966, Mualana Karenga, a Maryland, USA native, began the celebration of Kwanzaa. His intent
was create a holiday that would honour African peoples and encourage them to regain the culture of their lost homelands. The creation of Kwanzaa was also a major part in preventing violent uprisings in the United States by indignant African Americans searching for justice. They felt that their identity had been taken away without any chance of regaining it, and Kwanzaa gave them a chance to begin a “cultural revolution.” This revolution inspired much research and reconnection, but because many people had no way of knowing their country of origin, Kwanzaa is a conglomeration of East and West African traditions. For example, some common symbols of the holiday are colourful patterned clothing such as Kenyan kente cloth, and fresh fruits such as Ghanian guava that represent the idealism of the future. The celebration of Kwanzaa involves lighting seven candles on a candelabrum much like the ones used by Jewish peoples, however the purpose is to represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba): unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Evidently, Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, rather it focuses on all key aspects of a harmonious community that is strong in its identity. The tradition of celebrating holidays of culture and religion has existed for centuries. In the midst of today’s pressing global issues, it is easy to think of this tradition as trivial or outdated. However through time, winter holidays have adjusted to fit current societal needs while retaining the essence of celebration and human togetherness, and have continued to inspire positive change in all who participate. 2
A typical table setting for the celebration of Kwanzaa.
Source: UNO Gateway
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Winter GENERAL INTEREST
Winter Creatures
Learn about the fascinating animals that thrive in cold weather. Elisa Korner Writer The temperature outside is rapidly dropping, and humans have developed various methods of adaptation, from hydronic systems to heaters. How do animals, who lack the technology that humans do, adapt to these colder winter months? Hibernating animals, such as bears and snakes, are widely known, but not many know the adaptations taken by Musk Ox or the Caribou. Read on to find out some of what animals do to not only survive but thrive in the winter. Source: jeffshea.org
Snowy Owls have body systems that make them adaptable to colder temperatures, but they take action to adjust to the changing environment nonetheless. Instead of the brown they typically wear, their feathers are white in the winter for better camouflage in the snow.
Source: animalcorner.co.uk
Musk Ox, which live in Northern areas like Alaska, grow extra fur. When winter comes these ox develop a second coat underneath their first, which provides extra warmth.
Source: foxesandfriends.com
Source: allaboutbirds.org
Caribou migrate for winter; when their summer feeding grounds become too cold, they move South.
Similarly to the Snowy Owl, Arctic Foxes change the colour of their coats for camouflage. While in the summer it’s brown, in the winter it’s white.
20 WINTER
Source: allaboutbirds.org
Black-Capped Chickadees change their diets. Instead of eating mostly insects like they do in other seasons, they eat a lot more seeds. Further, they can hide food in the ground and store it for later.
Source: wallpapergeeks.org
North American River Otters have two coats of fur. Their outer coat repels the cold water, while their inner coat keeps them warm.
Source: mmc.gov
Pacific Walruses have blubber, which provides insulation and keeps them warm.
Source: marketbusinessnews.com
Eurasian Lynx have large paws which act like snowshoes, allowing them to move swiftly above snow.
Source: bioweb.uwlax.edu
The Long-Tailed Weasel can also turn white in winter. However, only those living in the North or in environments with heavy snow change their coat colours.
Pinetree students can learn methods of adaptations from these clever animals. Take a page out of the Black-capped Chickadee’s book, and stash your holiday chocolates where your siblings won’t steal them. You can save it for a cold winter day where your family believes all chocolate is gone but bam – you have some in your stash. Learn from the Eurasian Lynx to not sink into the depths of the snow by constantly wearing snowshoes. If you want to leave the house without being spotted by passing by teachers, students, and family members, dress in all white to camouflage into the snow. Stay warm by copying the Musk Ox or the North American River Otter, and wear multiple layers. Heck, if you really do not like the cold, go on a warm vacation to the Maldives or Hawaii, like a caribou would. Observing various animals allows us to develop new ways to survive and thrive in the cold winter months. 1
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Winter GENERAL INTEREST
Local Holiday Hotspots
Hear about the nearby events that make the holidays bright! Briana Ho Writer
Jingle Bells Night (Dec. 22) On the last day of school before winter break, Lafarge Lake will be hosting a Jingle Bells Night from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., rain or shine. Caroling choirs will be stationed around the 1.2 km lake trail, filling the air with festive music, while hot drinks and snacks will be sold beside the Welcome Tent. At 7:30 p.m., everyone will stop what they are doing and join in on a community-wide Jingle Bells sing-a-long. This year, Park Spark is aiming to break their record of 500 singing voices. A completely free, fun, drop-in family event, Jingle Bells Night is an opportunity to celebrate the holidays and the last day of school.
Christmas Market (Nov. 22-Dec. 24) If one has missed the Coquitlam Craft Fair and is looking to get festive, then the 8th annual Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza may be the place to go. More than 75 traditional huts selling varieties of gifts from both local and international artisans are to be found in the winter wonderland, one of the reasons to the Vancouver Christmas Market’s fame. Paper star lights, knitted apparel, scented candles, and both new and traditional foods from over 20 food huts are only a few things to be bought and enjoyed. -This year, the market also features a 9-metre walk-in Christmas tree twinkling with more than 36,000 lights.- Live entertainment, a festive Trivia Night (Nov. 28), the Christmas Carousel, and the classic Christmas shopping destinations are only a few things that draw people from near and far to the Vancouver Christmas Market. Senior admission (65 years and up) is $9, adult admission (13 years and up) is $10, youth admission (ages 7 to 12) is $5, and children 6 and under visit free.
People of every age crowded the pathways taking in the magical display.
Robson Square Ice Rink (Dec. 1-Feb, 28) In the heart of downtown Vancouver, free skating is available at Robson Square’s outdoor skating rink from Friday to Saturday (9 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and Sunday to Thursday (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) with varied times on holidays such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. Skate rentals are provided (cash only) until half an hour before the closing time, as well as a concession stand with warm drinks and snacks. With little to no cost, this classic Vancouver tradition has become one of its most popular winter activities for people of all ages during the holidays.
Robson Square offers free skating in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Source: Robson Square
START FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT
Which teacher is your Christmas buddy? Noemi Galdamez Interviewer, visual design
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