The Quill's Holiday Special!

QUILL

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VOLUME 5

ISSUE 4 HOLIDAY SPECIAL

HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2018

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DEAR READE R If you have been checking out the Quill’s spectacular publications over the years, you must have noticed the annual seasonal editions assembled by our committed members.

Whilst other high school students are occupied with their midterm studies, our team has been meeting up on numerous occasions to arrange a Christmas Edition for you!

Let the merry spirit of the holidays recover the forgotten feeling of tranquility as it whispers, “Forget all the work, grab a cup of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows, cook a batch of popcorn, and turn on your favorite Christmas carols.” As the soothing music settles into your ears, learn how Santa Claus and the various traditions came into existence in Christmas History, and explore the overlooked parts of Christmas in the Christmas Satire. Lastly, do not forget to skim through the poem, and enjoy the festive comic!

As we move into the year of 2018, the Quill Editorial Board and Writing Team would like to sincerely wish everyone good fortune and happy holidays!

Quill-fully yours, PUNPUN & AMY

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TEAM Mark Cooprider Advisor

Amy Limtrajiti

Co-Editor-in-Chief

Pawan Wirawarn Art Director

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PunPun Leelamanthep Co-Editor-in-Chief

Allan Rubio Amy Jain Arjav Sanghavi Daniel Shin David Bang Ferdinand Edward Gene Boonpienpol

WRITERS Hayoung You Hyunwoo Koh Isaiah Xumsai na Ayudhaya Joseph Ha Jessica Shah Jedi Kanchanabogin Jooyoung Kim

EDITORS Alex Tam Arjav Sanghavi Erica Kim Karuna Khatri Pumpanchat Suthisamphat LAYOUT DESIGNERS Kantapat Jungpaibul Napatsorn Chadanuntakul Pawan Wirawarn Ruchipat Kumpusiri Yunkyoung Kim Ryu Ngammuang

McKenna Sanchez Naran Suvarnpradip Pam Rangchaikul Serumi Yoon Tachpol Posaphiwat Thanapeam Sirisereewattana Vichida Phisitkul

PHOTOGRAPHERS Apichaya Sethaudom Artch Dechpokked Chayut Srirungrojana Joanna Pinsuvana Napassorn Wongakkarakhun Nattee Soorapanthu Nutthun Tulayathun Ouki Nishioka Pawat Wirawan Thaam Limwattananon Thapakorn Yongphiphatwong Werawut Withayarukson Gene Boonpienpol

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HISTORy

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CHRISTMAS Written by McKenna Sanchez

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The holiday we know as Christmas is usually associated with things such as Santa Claus, gift-giving, and caroling, among other things. It’s also known as the day Jesus Christ the Messiah was born, which is how the holiday and celebration initially began. However, many of the other well known traditions we have come to love and practice - almost religiously- were born from odd and unconventional beginnings.

The legend of St. Nicolas (more commonly known as Santa Claus), is one we rarely care to think about, because it seems as though this jolly,

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gift-giving, red-suit wearing man has almost been omnipresent throughout our lives. However, as fictitious as he may exist in all our minds, he was once a very real person, who lived around the third century A.D, in modern-day Turkey. He was a monk who was characterised by his kindness and charity, it has even been reported that he donated all of his inherited wealth, and travelled the country helping the poor and sick (history.com). One of his most famous stories involves three poor sisters, whom he saved from the sex trade and prostitution by their father. By providing a dowry, they were viewed as potential partners and

were thus soon married. As a result of his kindness, he soon garnered a large following, and became known as the Protector of sailors and children.

His feast day was celebrated on December 6th, the anniversary of his death, which was considered to be an extremely lucky day. He remained a beloved and admired saint throughout the Renaissance and the Reformation periods, especially the Netherlands.

The actual name of Santa Claus originated from his Dutch name Sinter Klaas, but was later evolved into Santa Claus when his legacy reached America in 1804. The red and white outfit that we so often associate with Santa, was created but the Salvation Army, who needed a mascot to champion

donations from the public to fund their annual meal preparation for needy families. The suit and iconic red hat have become trademarks of Christmas ever since.

The tradition of him climbing down peoples chimneys to deliver presents was created a few years later, in 1822, when Clement Clarke Moore, an Episcopal minister, wrote a long Christmas poem for his three daughters entitled, “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas.� His poem was initially very controversial, as he was described as a supernatural being, but he managed to gain attention and popularity until eventually an illustrator drew the now familiar depiction of Santa Claus.

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CHRISTMAS THE WORLD

AROUND

Written by Thanapeam Sirisereewattana

As holiday season is coming around, you might be thinking about the amazing festivities of such things as giving out gifts, the chilly weather and much more that comes with the month of December. However, the thing that makes Christmas so wonderful is how it is celebrated all around the world.

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USA

The United States is mostly known for its diversity, and unsurprisingly, its celebration of Christmas is also a multicultural mix from a variety of countries as the UK, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland and Mexico. Such differences in celebrations are things such as decorations used; some examples are: a pickle ornament, and using popcorn on a string to wrap around a Christmas tree. Activities done can also differ, like how the southwest area takes and uses Mexico’s party-filled sand that has a candle inside of it, known as a ‘luminarias’ or ‘farolitos’. However, the majority of the Americans’ Christmas is to have a hearty meal, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in a church, sending Christmas cards, and lighting up their house with decorations. The children also believe in Santa Claus, sometimes leaving cookies and milk for him.

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Germany

Germany, indeed, has numerous customs that they partake in. There are many characters that young German children believe. In some parts of Germany (mainly southeast of the country), children write to the ‘das Christkind’ asking for presents. The word ‘das Christkind’ is translated as ‘The Christ Child’, but does not hold the image of Jesus; rather, a girl with Christ-like qualities. Every single year, a young girl is chosen to represent ‘das Christkind’ to participate in a parade wearing clothes that is a holy representation. The Christkind of the year also has to complete over 150 tasks, such as visiting hospitals. Santa Claus or Father Christmas is also believed by the children in some parts, in that he is the one who brings the presents rather than the Christkind. Stollen is a quite popular fruited yeast bread that is eaten during this time as well.

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Mexico

In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from December 12th to January 6th. From December 16th to Christmas Eve, a distinct element of it is that children often perform the ‘Posada’ procession or Posadas. In Spanish, this means inn or lodging, which is celebrating the part of the Christmas story where Joseph and Mary looked for somewhere to stay. During the Posadas, the exterior of houses are decorated with evergreens, moss and paper. In each Posada (9 in total), children are given candles and a board with painted clay figures of Mary riding on a donkey, and Joseph starting to round the streets with it. They go to houses in the neighborhood and sing a song at each home. They are told that there is no room and must go away, until they reach a house in which there is a room, and they are able to enter.

When they do enter, they sing a prayer of thanks.

Each night, a different house holds the Posada party, and at the final posada on Christmas Eve, a manger and figures of shepherds are put on. When the final house is found, a baby Jesus is put into the manger and families go to a midnight church service.

After the church service, there are more fireworks for the start of Christmas. Another famous element is the piñata. The special part is that they are designed like a ball with seven peaks around it to represent the seven deadly sins. By beating up the piñata, they are removing the seven sins and gaining the sweets the piñata drops.

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South Africa

One thing about South Africa that makes it so unique to others is its time of Christmas. Since it is in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is in the summer, in which there are endless fields of blooming flowers. During their Christmas meal, they eat turkey, duck, roast beef, mince pies or suckling pig with yellow rice and raisin and vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding or a traditional South African desert called Malva Pudding. Other than that, due to the engagement and relationship with the UK, the celebration was also influenced by the country. The children also believe in Santa Claus, and they go carol singing and hiking.

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Japan

In Asia, Christmas is not seen to be a plain event that celebrates actual Christmas, unlike European and North American countries. Japan’s infamous extermination of Christianity in the 17th Century had shaped Japan’s Christmas to be more of a festival for pure entertainment rather than based on religion. Additionally, only in the recent decades have Christmas begun to be popular in the country.

In Japan, they view Christmas Eve as a romantic day, where couples spend time together exchanging presents. This is nearly the same as Valentine’s Day in the UK and the US.

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CHRISTMAS

SATIRE Written by Serumi Yoon

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Christmas.

You merrily walk to the tunes of the Christmas carols as you look around for holiday sales in the biggest malls nearby.

You understand that this day comes only once a year, and proceed to buy all the things Santa would probably approve of. You go along and buy a festive Christmas cake to celebrate with your family. You bring home strings and strings of colorful lights and garlands to hang around your house. You laugh as the funny presents are unwrapped and smile at the thoughtful ones. You watch your favorite Christmas movie and think of how much you love Christmas. The movie reminds you to help the poor, and so you go along to donate your used clothes to the nearby charity.

Or maybe your Christmas is a little different than what was described above: You are continuously bombarded by peaky voices screaming tuneful festivities as you are lured into the schemes of

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various corporate businesses to buy their products in this once in a lifetime sale. You are gullible, and so fall into the traps. You buy things you’ll never need. You buy the most tacky cake to be found to follow this commercialized trend.

You find the best deals on Christmas lights and garlands so that it will effectively contribute to the rising plastic pollution once you decide to throw them out a couple months later.

You squirm through the presents you don’t like but follow along the parade of thanks. You agree to another Christmas movie and learn for the thousandth time that not enough believes in Christmas anymore. You hope that wearing a shade of red will still be considered the Christmas cheer and spirit necessary to fly Santa’s sleigh. You remember to do something nice and donate a bunch of clothes to Africa, effectively inhibiting the rising market for clothing industries is the continent.

What’s your Christmas like?

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Christmas Apocalypse Written by J-di Kanchanabhogin I set up the Christmas tree, I set up the table.

I made sure it was ready, For my friends and my neighbors.

The fireplace was lit, The embers were ablaze.

And, thus, next to it I sit, Without any haste.

Recalling happy thoughts, I slowly close my eyes.

There was nothing else I sought, As I slowly let time fly.

I was awakened by the clock, At midnight it rings.

Alone in my Christmas socks, I listen to silence sing.

I watch as the fire dies, As the last embers flicker.

I watch my tears go by, Amidst ghost and specters.

Another Christmas alone, With no one to call on the phone.

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A CHRISTMAS

MIRACLE Written by Amy Limtrajiti

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scintillating fairy lights wrapped around newly purchased christmas trees scented candles filling up every home: a natural holiday perfume. children with twinkling eyes and smiles too big for their small faces rosy cheeks and gloved hands clasping cups of hot chocolate making wishes on santa’s lap and building snowmen taller than you... ...flickering fairy lights tangled around dead trees cut from their roots to be placed in the empty homes of broken families, attempting to shield their dysfunction with the smell of freshly cut pine. the stench is poison to their lungs. scented candles burnt to the stump turn black when the night comes to an end, and when the aroma dissipates: all there is left is the rotting of what used to be hope. children with darkened eyes and frowns that don’t quite match their youthful faces with puffy eyes and hands burnt from grasping the too-hot mugs: nobody ever taught them how to drink their hot chocolate.

santa smokes cigars in the foyer and kisses the woman down the block that’s not your mother santa smells like alcohol and yesterday’s clothes — the smell that’s so familiar, it’s almost become a natural holiday perfume. children building snowmen larger than the world in the fragile hope that perhaps they’ll cause an avalanche powerful enough to bring reality crumbling down; leave them in naïvity… ...on christmas day, i wake up alone i make my way down the stairs i enter the living room i see the christmas tree. and not a soul stirs beneath the snow. there is silence. can you hear the wind blowing? can you hear the branches rustling? can you hear me breathing? there was an avalanche last night, and today, the milk and cookies have not gone to waste. today, i wake up to find gifts under the christmas tree for the first time.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

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