The Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year, among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities. The New Year celebration is celebrated for multiple days. In 2024, the Lunar New Year begins on February 10. The second new moon determines this date after the winter solstice.

Each year is represented by a zodiac animal, one of 12 in a continuous cycle. 2024 will be the Year of the Dragon, which last occurred in 2012. The other animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and the pig. People born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be ambitious, energetic, charismatic, passionate, confident, enthusiastic, and risk-takers. They inspire others and have magnetic personalities. The Chinese calendar counts its years according to the stem-branch system, a 60-year rotating system known as the Chinese sexagenary cycle. A year’s name contains two parts: the celestial stem and the terrestrial branch. The celestial, or heavenly stem, is taken from a rotating list of 10 terms concerning the yin/yang forms of five elements (fire, water, air, earth, and wood). The terrestrial-earthly-branch is taken from a rotating list of the 12 animal names of the Chinese zodiac.

Houses are thoroughly cleaned in preparation for the Chinese New Year to rid them of inauspicious spirits. Cleaning is said to also clear room for goodwill and good luck. Children get “lucky money” from their parents and older family members, always in a red envelope. (Or in a white patterned envelope if celebrating in Korea). The lights of fireworks, candles, and handmade lanterns banish the symbolic darkness during the winter celebration. There are dragon dances, performances, and festival parades with music and acrobatics. The festivities continue for two weeks, finishing with a special lantern festival; it signals the end of the New Year celebration period.

Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean families all celebrate the holiday uniquely. China and Vietnam experience a lot of travel during the time as families gather together to celebrate. However, in Korea, it is common to celebrate within the family, only traveling to the home of the oldest male relative and paying respect to both the ancestors and elders. Vietnamese families decorate their houses with kumquat trees and flowers such as peach blossoms, chrysanthemums, orchids, and red gladiolas. Each country also calls the celebration a different name. China’s Lunar New Year is known as the Spring Festival, or Chūnjié in Mandarin, while Koreans call it Seollal, and Vietnamese refer to it as Tết. These differences are also shown through each culture’s traditional foods.

• In China, long noodles are served to represent longevity, and dumplings are commonly made for good luck and wealth in the coming year. Sometimes a coin can be found in the dumpling as well! Families eat them when the clock strikes midnight. Chinese people also have fish for good luck, rice ball soup, and moon-shaped rice cakes.

• In Vietnam, families feast on five-fruit platters to honor their ancestors. Celebrations can also include bánh chưng, a rice cake made with mung beans, pork, and other ingredients wrapped in bamboo leaves. Snacks called mứt tết are commonly offered to guests. These sweet bites are made from dried fruits or roasted seeds mixed with sugar.

• In Korea, a famous dish is sliced rice cake soup. The clear broth and white rice cakes symbolize starting the New Year with a clean mind and body.

Sources:

• Lunar New Year 2024 - Animal, Dates & Celebrations | HISTORY 

Lunar New Year 2024: Year of the Dragon | Chinese New Year | The Old Farmer's Almanac 

The wind howls in your ear and spiders crawl up your skin. All Hallows Eve will send chills down your spine. But the question is,  why is it full of ghouls and ghosts? How did our Halloween get to be full of treats?  October 31st was often a sad day. It represented the end of summer and the beginning of death itself, where the crops wilted and the earth grew cold, leaves fell, and the moon was full. So why do people now dress up and laugh? 

Spooky Sacrifices

The Celts (also known as the Kelts) lived around 2000 years ago, yet they still have cultural influence today. The most popular and well-known Celts today are descendants of the Irish—but why are they important? These people had a tradition called the Festival of Samhain (Sah-win),  which was a religious practice. They usually held this festival, lasting three days and three nights, from October 30th to November 1st. During this time, “celebrants believe that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world break down during Samhain” allowing them to interact with the denizens of the Otherworld. The Celtic Otherworld was a world that was next to us or a world that was like a paradise under the earth. In this place, it was told, that the souls of the dead would go to rest with everlasting youth, beauty, health, and joy. And denizens meaning an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place. The festival of Samhain was mandatory and anyone who committed crimes during these days would be faced with death or illness seen as “punishment by the gods”. They would leave fires to burn out and harvest their year's crops.

Tricks

Samhain Monsters were common and some are linked to our ghouls today.  Since during the festival of Samhain Celts believed the Otherworld was open, some monsters would pass through. They left sacrifices for these monsters by leaving people in fields and others would dress as animals or monsters so they would not get taken themselves. There was one famous monster, “a shape-shifting creature called a Pukah that receives harvest offerings from the field” called The Lady Gwyn. She was a headless woman in white who chased ‘night wanderers’ and was often accompanied by a black pig. 

Treats

As the years went on the festival progressed and was often referred to as “The Fire Festival.” People would light personal fires to ward off the monsters. Some lit fires in carved-out turnips, which soon became pumpkins with coals in them. The spirits were still said to roam the land, including during a dinner called “Dumb Supper”. They would communicate with the living like those during the Day of the Dead in Spanish culture. Children would dance, play, and leave cakes for the dead by leaving their doors open. Soon the name changed, once again, to what we now know as Halloween. Trick or treating was said to come from choirs who sang for the dead at people's doorways and were paid in cake. All of this was packed into one festive day of the year, October 31st.

Trick or Treat.

February is all about love, celebrated largely on days like Valentine’s Day (February 14).In the past decade, however, platonic love has been highlighted during the month as well. Here’s a look at another one of these holidays: Galentine's Day.

What Even Is Galentine’s Day?

Galentine’s Day is a day to show love for all the important girls in your life: sister, mother, aunt, best friend, etc. The support system that exists outside of one’s significant other is equally important. Galentine’s Day has also expanded to simply Palentine’s Day, as a celebration of all platonic relationships. 

Where Did It Originate?

Galentine’s Day was first introduced on the show Parks and Recreation in 2010. It was the creation of Leslie Knope. In the sixteenth episode of the second season of the show, Leslie and the other female cast members celebrated their friendship with brunch and a gift exchange. The fictional holiday gained popularity immediately afterwards. The once unknown holiday is no longer unofficial, with many businesses creating promotions centered around the joy of female friendships. 

When Is It Celebrated? 

Galentine’s Day is celebrated on February 13th every year. 

Why Celebrate Galentine's Day?

• Celebrate Platonic Relationships

  • Romantic relationships come and go; the best friendships are ones that stand the test of time and remain steadfast. Friendships serve such an important role in people’s lives, especially as adults. They create a lasting sense of community and stability. 

• Beat Any Valentine’s Day Blues

  • Sometime’s Valentine’s Day is a reminder of those relationships that didn’t last. And those not in a relationship may feel alienated by a holiday all about significant others. But not with Galentine’s Day!

• Girl Power!

  • Women supporting other women rocks. And on Galentine’s Day, women celebrate one another's accomplishments (both in and out of friendships). And sometimes those relationships go unrecognized throughout the year. The female empowerment that comes with Galentine’s Day makes it an even more important movement.  

How Is It Celebrated?

The most important step is to gather the group together. Then, the sky’s the limit!

1. Have brunch

2. Host a gift exchange

3. Go ice skating

4. Watch movies (about female friendships naturally) and order out

5. Group spa day

6. Mani-pedis at a local salon

7. Happy hours specials (21+)

Source: 

https://nationaltoday.com/galentines-day/ 

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner which means it's time to show your loved ones how much you care about them. Since  nothing is better than baking  homemade treats,here are some last-minute desserts to make for your loved one this Valentine’s Day. 

Oreo Truffles

These from scratch truffles are perfect for an easy treat that is way more sentimental than anything store bought. It requires only three ingredients: baking chocolate, oreos (of course), and cream cheese. The step-by-step instruction by Bakers are 

1. Melt the chocolate 

2. Use a food processor or crush in a ziploc bag to make Oreo crumbs 

3. Put crumbs into a bowl to mix with softened cream cheese

4. Roll the mixture into balls 

5. Use a fork to dip the balls into melted chocolate 

6. Place the balls on a lined cookie sheet and sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs 

7. Refrigerate until firm (at least an hour) 

And you don’t have to use the regular Oreos, you can switch out whatever kind you think they’ll like best!   

Source: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/127491/easy-oreo-truffles/ 

Strawberry Brownies 

Anyone with a sweet tooth will absolutely fall in love with these easy-to-make chocolate covered strawberry brownies. For your ingredients you will need: 1 stick of butter, 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (chopped), ¾ cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ cup all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and 1 pound sliced strawberries. 

Directions:

1. Melt the chocolate into the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and let cool 

2. Mix the sugar into the eggs along with the vanilla extract 

3. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt 

4. Mix the melted butter into the egg mixture followed by the flour mixture

5. Pour the batter into a grease 8 inch baking pan and bake in preheated 350F oven until a toothpick pushed into the center comes out clean (20-25 minutes)

6. Sprinkle strawberries on top of the brownies 

7. Melt the chocolate over medium-low heat on the stove or in a microwave, pour it over the strawberries and let cool until the chocolate is set, about 30-60 minutes 

This recipe was found on Chocolate Covered Strawberry Brownies  

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Wafer Cookies 

This cute and festive treat only takes about 10 minutes. You will need 12 ounces of white chocolate chips, 1 package strawberry wafer cookies, and ½ cup sprinkles. 

Directions:

1. Place the white chocolate chips in a medium bowl (microwave safe)

2. Heat on HIGH in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until melted, 1 ½ to 2 minutes

3. Set aside to cool for 2 minutes 

4. One at a time, dip ⅓ of each cookie into the chocolate then place on a baking sheet lined with parchment 

5. Sprinkle the chocolate with ¼ teaspoon sprinkles 

6. Let chocolate set for 30 minutes 

Source: https://www.thekitchn.com/chocolate-dipped-strawberry-wafer-cookies-22994245 

Red Velvet Cookies 

For any red velvet lovers, these cookies are perfect for Valentine Day. Ingredients are 1 c. granulated sugar, 1 stick salted butter, 1 large egg, 1 ½ tbsp. Buttermilk, 1 tbsp. red food coloring, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1 ¼ c. + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour, 2 tsp. cocoa powder, ¾ tsp. baking powder, ½ tsp. kosher salt, ½ c. white chocolate chips, ½ c. semisweet chocolate chips, and 2 tsp. sparkling sugar.

Directions (found on https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a41532009/red-velvet-cookies-recipe/ ):

1. For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350. Line 2 to 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. 

2. Beat the granulated sugar and butter on medium speed in the bowl of a stand mixer until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low. Mix in the egg, then the buttermilk, food coloring, and vanilla.

3. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture in two batches with the mixer on low speed. Scrape the bowl once and mix a final time until well combined. Fold in the white and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

4. Scoop dough using a 2 tablespoon scoop, and place cookies about 2 inches apart on the prepared pans. Grease the bottom of a glass and press cookies to be about ½ inch thick. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sparkling sugar. Bake until the cookies are puffy and set on the edges but centers remain slightly soft, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sparkling sugar. Let cool for 2 minutes on the pans, then remove the cookies to a rack to cool completely.

This recipe is by Hannah Klinger

Valentine Rice Krispie Treats 

Lastly, these heart-shaped homemade rice krispie treats will surely impress your valentine. They are made with 3 tablespoons butter, 1 package of regular marshmallows or 4 cups miniature marshmallows, 6 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal, sprinkles, and chocolate melts.

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Stir in food coloring (if desired). Remove from heat.

2. Add KELLOGG’S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

3. Using butter spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into a 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool slightly. Using heart shaped cookie cutters coated with cooking spray cut into desired shapes.

4. Heat chocolate in 30 second intervals in the microwave until smooth. Dip Rice Krispies Treat in chocolate and cover with sprinkles/nonpareils

5. Let chocolate harden and serve.

Source: https://www.mommysfabulousfinds.com/easy-valentines-day-treat-recipes/ 

Even if you don’t have a Valentine, give these a try and enjoy them yourself! Happy Valentine's Day!

With Christmas quickly approaching, it’s time to start making those yummy treats. The most delicious food always seems to arrive just in time for the Christmas season. Here are some quick and easy treats to bring to any holiday party.

Italian Christmas Cookies

Mixed with the perfect amount of lemon, vanilla, and sugar, these cookies are a staple for any Christmas gathering. To add a decorative look, you can put icing and/or red and green sprinkles. 

Pretzel M&M's Hugs

These treats are a combination of salty and sweet ingredients that made an awesome treat. This snack is perfect for any event and is guaranteed to be loved by all.

Christmas Rice Krispies Treats

Bringing a holiday twist to a popular snack is Christmas Rice Krispies Treats. They are tasty, easy to make and a fan favorite. You can be creative in choosing your toppings to make it your own.

If you are debating on a Christmas treat to bring to a holiday event, maybe give one of these a try! Have a Merry Christmas and make sure to eat a lot of food!

It's that time of year again. When commercials highlight gifts and Santa with a cute Christmas jingle humming in the background. When stores hold Holiday sales and are decked out in green garland and red bows. When radio stations play the holiday tunes we all know by heart. 

Christmas has become so popularized in recent decades that it is now the most celebrated holiday in the world according to scholarly.com. A recent poll showed that 93% of Americans celebrate Christmas and about half of the global population joining in on the festivities. In addition to this, an estimated 63% of Americans are Christian, showing that Christmas, despite religious origins, has grown and expanded to be celebrated by people of varying faiths. 

This growth is due to a couple of factors, with one being large companies commercializing the holiday to increase sales. Before 1840, Christmas was not a major holiday in the US, but once Christmas reached the Northeast, large cities turned it into a commercial holiday that they aimed towards children. German immigrants introduced the idea of gift-giving which created a new market opportunity for corporations to produce for children. Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol” in 1843, which also helped spread the message of Christmas to a large audience. They also introduced Saint Nicholas, who is modernly known as Santa Clause, and companies incorporated the image of Santa into their commercials, starting with Coca-Cola The first image of modern day Santa appeared in a Coca-Cola advertisement in the 1930’s, depicting the well-known red jacket, white beard, and red hat with the white puff at the end that modern society recognizes today.

With the creation of mass-advertising, the popularity of Christmas only grew throughout the country as the holiday season became a very profitable time for companies. In the 1900’s Christmas music took hold with songs like “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby being recorded in 1942, quickly topping the charts. 

Advertisers wanted to create a secular image of Christmas and they attempted to break Christmas away from solely being a religious holiday, as this way, they had a larger market to sell their goods to. Over recent decades, this has contributed to the celebration of Christmas and the expansion of the Holiday Season. Today, Christmas is a widely celebrated holiday, with themed movies, holiday tunes, and a wide variety of decorations, the celebration of Christmas has exploded in part to the commercialization of the holiday.

Sources:

https://comfyliving.net/how-many-people-celebrate-christmas/ 

https://bscholarly.com/most-celebrated-holidays-in-the-world/ 

https://jagwire.augusta.edu/is-christmas-too-commercial-well-thats-the-reason-it-became-popular/#:~:text=Marketers%20in%20New%20York%20saw,their%20advertisements%20in%20the%201840s. 

The holiday season is a time for families and friends to spend time together and celebrate what matters most. One activity which can easily accomplish this is watching a Christmas movie! There are several Christmas movies to pick from, but only a few that truly stand out amongst the rest. That said, continue reading to find out some of the top Christmas movies to watch over winter break!

Home Alone

Home Alone is a Christmas movie about a young boy, Kevin McCallister misbehaves the night before a family trip to Paris, France, his mother forces him to sleep in the attic. After the entire family accidently heads to the airport without Kevin, which they soon realize once landing, he wakes up in an empty house all to himself. To Kevin, this is his dream as an 8-year-old boy who is desperate for time to himself. However, his excitement is short-lived when two men attempt to rob the McCallister home and it is now his job alone to protect the house. Home Alone was released in 1990 and stars several big-name actors including Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Catherine O’Hara. This thrilling family comedy and all-time classic is a fan favorite that never disappoints. Home Alone is available for viewing on Disney Plus and Apple TV.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is the sequel to Home Alone as it presents a similar concept and same characters (with some new ones), and different plot. After Kevin, who is still a young boy at this time, loses track of his father at the airport, he accidentally gets on a flight to New York City. Meanwhile, the rest of his family is planning on enjoying a nice family vacation in Florida. At this point, he is alone in the iconic Big Apple and somehow makes his way into staying at the Plaza Hotel in NYC and starts to stir up trouble. Yet, the “Sticky Bandits” escaped and are now on the loose, desperate for revenge. This sequel is one of the best as it lives up the expectations of the first while adding new aspects to the plot that make that much more exciting. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is available to watch on Disney Plus, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is about a man named Clark Criswold who is eager to have an ideal family Christmas. That said, he troubles his wife, Ellen, and two kids, as he makes sure everything is in order such as the decorations and Christmas tree. Yet, things head down hill almost immediately. His cousin, Eddie, and the rest of his family show up without any notice and start staying at the camper on their property. To make matters worse for Clark, his employers go back on the holiday bonus he needed. Given all of these details, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a chaotic holiday movie that’ll keep your family entertained for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Christmas Vacation was released in 1989 and stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, and Johnny Galecki. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is available for viewing on HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas

I’ll Be Home for Christmas is about a college boy named Jake who is headed home to New York for Christmas time with hopes of receiving a Porsche as a gift. However, the entire football team ends up dumping him in the desert in a Santa suit, he is left with no identification or money to help head home. At the same time, his girlfriend, Allie has no idea where he is and takes a ride with Jake’s nemesis, Eddie. Given those details, Jake is desperate to get home and spend his holiday as he planned. I’ll Be Home for Christmas was released in 1998 and stars Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jessica Biel, and Gary Cole. I first watched this movie a few years ago when I was searching for a good Christmas movie to watch and was not disappointed. Although it is not as popular as the other ones on this list, I definitely recommend watching this movie over winter break this year. I’ll Be Home for Christmas  is available to watch on Disney Plus, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas is easily one of the most iconic movies to watch this holiday season. A Charlie Brown Christmas starts when Charlie Brown is frustrated with the overwhelming materialism that he analyzes amongst everybody during the holiday season. In response, Lucy recommends that he becomes the director of the school Christmas pageant. He then takes on this responsibility but it turns out to be a struggle. When his attempt to restore the true spirit fails, he is in need of Linus’ help to learn the main meaning of Christmas. A Charlie Brown Christmas was released in 1965 and is the only animated movie on this list. Not only that, but it is much shorter than a regular movie as it only lasts 30 minutes. Regardless it is a perfect fit for this list as it teaches families all about what’s truly important during the holiday season. A Charlie Brown Christmas is available for viewing on Apple TV.

Of course, there are many other movie options to choose from but these are just a few of the fan-favorites. Whether you’re eager to spend time with your family on Christmas or avoiding the several page packet you have due for class, these are great options. Merry Christmas!!

Everyone observes the holiday season differently. All cultures have their own traditions and customs, and, obviously, Christmas is not the only holiday that’s celebrated this time of year - there’s Hanukkah and Kwanzaa to name two. But, especially in European countries, the Christmas traditions are varied and unique. 

Germany

Germany is most famous for its Christmas Markets. They start in late November, and are in almost every village, town, or city. The stalls are decorated and offer entertainment and several types of food. Two of the most popular are roasted chestnuts and Gluhwein, a mulled wine. You’ll also find hand-carved working nutcrackers and giant gingerbread frosted with messages (Lebkuchenherzen). Though families gather a lot in the weeks leading up to Christmas, also known as Advent, the biggest gathering is on Christmas Eve. On Heiligabend, the final tree decorations are hung and gifts are exchanged. It's common to eat potato salad with small sausages or carp before opening presents. Huge banquets mark Christmas Day. Roast goose or duck, long bread loaves overflowing with nuts, raisins, citron and dried fruit called Christstollen, spice bars called Lebkuchen, and a heavy, moist bread filled with fruits called Dresden Stollen.

England

During Christmas, spending time with family is the highlight of English celebrations. The Christmas meal is often a bacon-topped turkey along with potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts, and desserts like plum pudding. The UK alone has the Christmas pantomime, where many television stars dress up (the men dress as women and vice versa) to spread cheer. Another anticipated event in England is the Royal Variety Performance, attended by many members of the royal family. 

Iceland

Christmas lights are put up early in Iceland to combat the short and dark days. The main Christmas celebration takes place on the 24th. Families have either ptarmigan, lamb, or pork steak. And on Christmas, the main meal enjoyed in Iceland is Hangikjot, or smoked lamb, and Laufabraud, or leaf bread. Leaf bread is thin, and deep fried. Families get together to bake it, cutting decorative patterns into the dough. Baking in Iceland at Christmas time is special, and provides an opportunity for families and friends to do things together. Children love to dance around the Christmas tree and sing carols during these gatherings. Thirteen Santas/Yule Lads give kids small presents in their shoes for the 13 nights before Christmas. Naughty kids get an old potato.

France

The Christmas season lasts until January 2 in France and is marked with traditional French foods. Snacks around the holidays include foie gras, figs, and onions confit. Christmas Eve dinner is called Reveillon, and it’s a feast of cheese, potatoes, lamb, and oysters. This is served either late Christmas Eve night or very early on Christmas morning. Kids have to wait to open their gifts from Pere Noel until after Christmas breakfast. The main Christmas meal includes turkey served with pommes dauphine or dauphine potatoes. These are crisp potato puffs that are made from mashed potatoes mixed with a savory choux pastry. The lights and decorations (including huge trees) in French towns and villages are not put up until several days before Christmas.

Netherlands

Kids in the Netherlands most look forward to Sinterklaas, a holiday that takes place on December 5. They place a shoe down the chimney before going to bed, known as the zetten hun schoen, and filled with a carrot and hay. Then, the kids sing Sinterklaas songs. A present and Pepernoten, or a small spiced biscuit, are found the next morning. In December, many companies give their employees a Christmas box called a Kerstpakket. Traditionally, it contains lobster soup, bread sticks, ragout, parries, candles, crips, and mulled wine. Everyone in the Netherlands enjoys the Advent calendar, where kids receive a chocolate a day leading up to Christmas. Christmas dinners are either a roulade with trimmings or a raclette dinner.

Sources:

UTracks | Christmas Traditions Across Europe 

European Christmas Celebrations and Traditions 

Have you ever watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and wondered how it got its start? What about watching two people snap a tiny white bone in half while one screamed in victory? Or wondered why the president pardons a turkey each year? These traditions seem so normal to us today that few stop and think about the historic events that formed our modern Thanksgiving dinner. 

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade got its start in 1924 to commemorate the opening of the “World’s Largest Store.” Those who have seen the parade may have noticed that the floats and events are all much less focused on Thanksgiving and are more relevant to a later holiday: Christmas. Macy’s focus on the Christmas holiday was purposeful, as they hoped to promote holiday shopping and get consumers running to Macy’s. In earlier parades, Macy’s even borrowed animals such as camels, elephants, monkeys, and more from the Central Park Zoo to march through the streets of New York, but these were replaced by the inflatable balloon floats we have come to recognize today. Though Macy’s could be argued as the biggest store-sponsored parade, they weren’t the first to host a Thanksgiving parade. In 1920, Gimbels Brothers Department store in Philadelphia held a Thanksgiving parade with 15 cars, 50 people, and a Santa Clause. Gimbels was the first Thanksgiving parade with other stores, including Macy’s, creating Thanksgiving Parades of their own. 

Originating much before the idea of Thanksgiving parades, or even Thanksgiving itself, is the breaking of the wishbone. The wishbone is a bone found in the breast of the turkey that looks like a “U” or a “V.” In modern day, two people each take one end, make a wish, and snap the wishbone with whoever holds the bigger side supposedly having their wish come true. This tradition can be traced all the way back to the Etruscans, an ancient civilization in modern-day Italy. To them, birds were oracles and capable of predicting the future. After a bird's death, they would take the wishbone and place it on the ground and when people touched it, they would make a wish. The breaking part of the tradition came about from the Romans, who would snap the bone, the winner being the one who gained the larger piece. This tradition eventually spread to Britain in 1455 and finally to the United States in 1842 when an article was published mentioning the wishbone.

A later tradition that sparked in America is the annual pardoning of the Thanksgiving Turkey. It has been an annual tradition since 1989 with President George H.W. Bush. Bush announced “But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone's dinner table, not this guy -- he's granted a Presidential pardon as of right now -- and allow him to live out his days on a children's farm not far from here.” Though, Bush was not the first to pardon a turkey, many credit that to Abraham Lincoln, who unofficially pardoned a turkey that he had been gifted to him that his son had supposedly grown fond of. The first official pardoning of a turkey is credited to John F. Kennedy who said, “Let’s keep him going.” The turkey was a gift for Thanksgiving dinner but the president decided to spare the bird, thus having other presidents following in his footsteps until it became an annual tradition with George W. Bush.

Although one may not be aware at first, there are many special traditions with unique histories that make Thanksgiving the holiday it is. Happy Thanksgiving!

Sources:

https://www.history.com/news/the-first-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade 

://www.makeitgrateful.com/living/celebrate/thanksgiving/breaking-the-thanksgiving-wishbone-a-history/ 

https://www.whitehousehistory.org/questions/which-president-started-the-tradition-of-pardoning-the-thanksgiving-turkey 

https://www.whitehousehistory.org/pardoning-the-thanksgiving-turkey 

Halloween is one of the most popular holidays celebrated around the world. To some people, it means dressing up with their friends while others strictly celebrate it for the candy. Either way, Halloween is viewed differently from all age groups as one’s perspective of the holiday changes over time. One night you’re dressing up in a princess costume at 5 years old, and seemingly the next, you’re relaxing at home while watching a horror movie.

At a younger age (5-13 years old), October 31st is a day to dress up as one of your favorite characters while showing off your costume at school. Most schools dedicate the day to Halloween by having class parties, a Halloween parade, and eating a plethora of candy. To elementary and middle schoolers, this day is all about spending time with your friends while getting as many pieces of candy as possible. Halloween at this age is when it’s most memorable as you get full flexibility to dress up as whoever you want without a care in the world. For me, I stuck to the classics as I always enjoyed dressing up as Disney princesses such as Cinderella and Belle. Other popular costumes include superheroes, villains, foods, etc. At this age, you just have to let your imagination run wild with your costume.

As for the people who are 14-22 years old, Halloween becomes less about trick or treating and more so hanging out with friends. Instead of going around neighborhoods in search of candy, most teenagers and young adults choose to spend it with friends at a costume party. This allows everyone to pay homage to their younger selves and the fun of those early Halloween celebrations by dressing up. Instead of buying full-blown costumes from stores, most people turn to customizing their own costumes with clothing pieces they already own. Some other activities include watching horror movies, making Halloween-themed snacks, and more. Nevertheless, even though trick-or-treating has passed for this age group, they still find a way to have fun.

Once Halloween has passed these two stages, Halloween is left up for your own interpretation. While some prefer to spend time with friends at a costume party, others would much rather sit on their couch and watch movies like Halloween, The Nightmare on Elm Street, and Friday the 13th. Regardless of your age, this day is meant to be fun and there are endless possibilities as to how you want to spend it. It’s the one night a year you can dress up as whoever you want and not have a care in the world. Happy Halloween!

Halloween is the highlight of the year for horror fanatics. It is a time when the most anticipated horror flicks get released.  This October, numerous movie trailers have arrived just in time for the spooky season. 

Prey for the Devil

Coming to theaters October 28th, directed by Daniel Stamn, is the supernatural horror film, Prey for the Devil. Jaccqueline Byers stars as Sister Ann, the first female exorcist. At her exorcism school, she is chosen to battle the demon who once possessed her mother and now is terrorizing a young girl’s soul. She finds herself faced not only with the demons of the past but with saving this girl from evil. 

Halloween Ends

Currently streaming on Peacock since October 14th, Halloween Ends is the final installment of the iconic Halloween series of films. In this film, Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis since the first film in 1978) is enjoying her life as a grandmother after her most recent run-in with Michael Myers four years ago, and she is writing a memoir. Since the disappearance of her long-time nemesis, Laurie has left her rage behind until she is once again forced to face him and is not willing to back down. Although it is sad to see this movie series end, the producers provided us with the conclusion needed to finish this story.

Though watching new films is exciting, revisiting the classics can be just as entertaining.

Friday the 13th 

With the original released in 1980, the Friday the 13th film series lasted 29 years and earned its place as one of the most well-known, beloved series in the horror genre. Starring Kevin Bacon, Adrienne King, Harry Corsby, Jeannine Taylor, and Mark Nelson, the original movie follows a bunch of teenagers who camp at Crystal Lake and end up encountering the sociopathic killer they were warned about prior to arriving. They must outsmart the killer if they plan on escaping alive. This movie is well-known for its amusing scenes and ground-breaking entertainment. 

Overall, regardless of what Halloween movie you choose to watch, there are several good options available on all platforms. Happy Halloween!!

Sources:

https://www.halloweenmovie.com/synopsis/ 

https://www.preyforthedevil.movie/synopsis/ 

Growing up, most of us watched Disney classics like Cinderella, Alice In Wonderland, and The Lion King, but have you ever seen their Halloween movies? There is something for everyone, and nothing's better than taking a trip into the past through these movies most of us saw as kids on Disney Channel's Monstober.

Monstober was a series, previously named Hauntober Fest, which started on October 1, 2005. It used to show movies for kids ranging from not-at-all-scary Mickey Mouse episodes to hauntingly creepy movies like Girl vs Monster which featured a plot where a teenage girl found out her parents were actually monster hunters and she needed to step up in their place. They even showed older movies like 1993's Hocus Pocus for our parents to enjoy while taking care of us. 

In addition to movies, the original Hauntober Fest included Halloween and fall-themed episodes from all our favorite shows. For example, they had episodes from Good Luck Charlie, Austin and Ally, Gravity Falls, Fish Hooks, Jessie and (my personal favorite) A.N.T Farm with their famous “Calling All the Monsters” music video. The wide variety of shows was what made everyone tune in to watch this addicting series on Disney. 

Remember these?

• My Babysitter’s a Vampire (2010)

• Twitches (2005)

• HalloweenTown High (2004)

• Halloweentown (1998)

• Twitches Too (2007)

• Monsters, Inc. (2001)

• Spooky Buddies (2011)

• Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie (2009)

• Toy Story of Terror (2013)

If you have never seen these movies, I highly suggest taking a look this Halloween!

Although they are meant to be for everyone, those looking for truly scary content will have to look elsewhere. Their movies and shows are meant to be funny, entertaining and enjoyable. Looking at the list above, most of these movies feature teenage protagonists to make it as relatable as possible to kids. When younger audiences see high school as the setting, it makes them excited for the years to come and adds even more to the plot. They also add lines or character traits that the majority of students can relate to such as being annoyed at your parents, with homework etc. 

Disney celebrates fall not only through the showing of Monstober but also with elaborate decorations at Disney World. It is filled with pumpkins, fall leaves, orange flowers and so much more right when you walk in. They offer food and drinks to add to the fall aesthetic like cocktails, cakes and cupcakes. These tasty treats are both delicious and beautiful. Characters dress up and guests are encouraged to do the same. At night, the Headless Horseman rides through town on his horse that is as black as night. 

I had the pleasure of experiencing Disney's magical Halloween one year as a kid and it was a night to remember. Seeing all the decorations, amazing foods, and the scary Headless Horseman made fall immediately my all-time favorite season. Disney definitely has a magical touch on everything they do and make the spooky season a much more festive experience for every kid. 

Sources:

https://www.halloweenmoviesontv.com/archives/2012-disney-channel-monstober-schedule/

https://disneychannel.fandom.com/wiki/Monstober#:~:text=Monstober%20

https://vanderbilthustler.com/2021/10/31/the-hustlers-definitive-ranking-of-the-most-iconic-disney-channel-monstober-movies/ 

https://tothemouseandbeyond.com/2018/10/01/monstober-disney-movie-list-2018/ 

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/disney-vacations/halloween-at-disney-world 

A holiday is something that is meant to be celebrated and to have significant meaning. When we hear the word, we often think of Christmas or Thanksgiving, maybe even a birthday. I don’t think the first thing to come to most people's mind would be “National Lima Bean Respect Day” celebrated on April 20th, or “National Lost Sock Memorial Day” celebrated on May 9th. These silly holidays are getting out of control and are taking away the meaning that makes holidays special.

On the day that this article is being published, we are celebrating a ton of these “holidays”. Here is a quick list of just a few.. 

• Happy Ascension Day (Of Jesus)

• Eat more Fruits and Vegetables Day

• National Blueberry Cheesecake Day

• World Lindy Hop Day

• National Paper Airplane Day

The list goes on to describe many more celebrations. Every single day of the year, these “holidays” are simply made up to perhaps produce recognition of something such as… National Waffle Day is celebrated on August 24th. Don’t get me wrong–I love waffles but I couldn’t recall off the top of my head when the “National Day” for them was. I doubt the majority of people can. We utilize holidays as a way to recognize something genuinely meaningful and to spend time celebrating said event/thing. 

While one could argue that it’s simply just for fun & laughs, the amount of unofficial holidays out there is mind-boggling. There are 11 federal holidays established by the United States, and they are as goes:

• New Year’s Day

• Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday

• George Washington’s Birthday

• Memorial Day

• Juneteenth National Independence Day

• Independence Day

• Labor Day

• Columbus Day

• Veterans Day

• Thanksgiving Day

• Christmas Day

The majority of people in the United States probably recognize most if not all of these holidays. I certainly don't see “National Do a Grouch a Favor Day” (February 16th) or “National Pro-Life Cupcake Day” (October 9th) on this list. Whether or not these silly holidays have meaning to some people is certainly not my place to say, but it begs the question of “are there too many holidays now?”. Every day you can go onto Google and search for the holidays of that day, and a list of ten to twenty will appear. They change every day. There could be well over 7,300 ridiculous holidays in the United States. Comparing that to the simple 11 that the government has set is simply jaw-dropping. 

Does having this many days to celebrate silly things take away from the true meaning of a holiday anymore? 

Apparently anyone can register for a national holiday for free, anytime and it will be published in the “official” nationalholiday.com website. Most people simply see this as a joke, but is it getting out of control? Should we add more to the list? I could suggest celebrating “National Sneak Some Zucchini into your Neighbor’s Porch Day'', but that’s already being celebrated every August 8th for the rest of time. 

Overall, there are an abundance of wacky and silly holidays being celebrated every day that people are hardly aware of. At this point, holidays can be to celebrate anything and everything, no matter how crazy it sounds.

Leprechaun’s are very smart and tricky creatures. Once caught, they can provide you with three wishes, but be careful not to wish something foolish. The only way you can have access to a leprechaun is by catching them, which can be a very difficult task. One of the most commonly used ways is by designing a trap that has aspects that could attract the Leprechaun. This could be done by decorating the trap with bright green colors and having gold coins also in the trap!

Typically Leprechauns are around 3-8 inches which can be used to your advantage when designing your trap. A common misconception about Leprechauns is that they are not the smartest. In reality, they are very intelligent. With most traps, they find a way to collect the items that were used to lure them in and escape safely leaving a mess behind them. 

With all this information in mind, you now know the three things to consider when catching a Leprechaun. Ensuring you have alluring items that would entice them, their height and their intelligence. It is important to make smart wishes once you have caught the Leprechaun. Good luck in your attempts this St. Patrick's Day!

Sources:

https://tripleccamp.com/ellens-leprechauns-fairies/ 

https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/history-of-leprechauns-trickster-fairies/#:~:text=The%20origin%20of%20leprechauns&text=Tales%20of%20these%20small%20creatures,began%20circulating%20among%20the%20Celts. 

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and it is a day where people either spend it alone with chocolates, with their friends for a galentines party, or with their significant other. However, if you do have a valentine this time of year, then you more than likely have a cute backstory, or love story if you will, about how you fell in love. Although that is very corny, everyone has a special someone who has been by their side for a long time.

 For instance, several of our Seneca teachers and staff are married or currently involved in a relationship. Thus, I chose to ask a few of the Seneca teachers about their cheesy love stories.

Ms. Zeigler, History teacher and Bird’s Eye View Head Advisor, said, “I met my husband on match.com when we were 2 single parents raising our respective toddlers. We hit it off immediately and, later, so did our kids. More than a decade and 2 more children later, we are still going strong! I'm glad he "winked" at me that day because I was ready to delete that app for good. It's crazy out there.” 

Mrs. Lambusta, English teacher and Assistant Bird’s Eye View Advisor, explained, “My husband and I met when I was 23. I was finishing up my senior year in college and working at PetSmart. He came into the store to purchase some fish and wound up leaving with my heart.”

Mr. Seeley, a TV Broadcasting teacher here at Seneca, detailed, "My wife and I met on Halloween through a mutual friend, by then end of that year we were attending the Junior Prom as friends. Within three days of the prom weekend being over we began dating. Since then we have shared two apartments, purchased three homes, completed our masters degrees, welcomed three incredible dogs in to our lives and are raising two amazing children. Last May we celebrated our 25th dating anniversary and we are quickly approaching our 20th Wedding Anniversary. I know for a fact I’d do it all again, I believe she would too."

Finally, Mrs. McCloskey, Business teacher and DECA Advisor, detailed, “I first met my husband Brett in 6th grade. As a child living in Tabernacle in the 70's & 80's, we all played at a local camp, Camp Inawendiwin. About 20 of us would meet in the camp and swim, play paintball, ride horses, motorcycles, skate & sled in the winter, camp out and play until it got dark. Throughout elementary & middle school we all stayed friends, but when we entered high school, I went to Shawnee and he went to Lenape. It was after I graduated college and returned home one Thanksgiving that I went to a local hangout called the Indian Chief. That's where I saw the old gang, and there was my now husband. He was there with a date as was I. By the end of the night we both ditched our dates and started dating each other. It was nice to reconnect, share what we had done throughout the years and begin a life together. 30 years later here we are with two awesome adult children, a wonderful life and planning for our retirement as ranch owners and travelers!”.

Overall, despite the corny and cheesy aspects of relationships, most of them have their own meaningful purpose in people’s lives and their love stories are something they cherish. Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day alone, with your friends, or with your special valentine, we are all wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day!!

I’m not a big fan of chocolate. I feel that’s something important to lead with because so much of the Valentine’s Day holiday revolves around that one flavor. While keeping that in mind, I hope you enjoy as I describe & rate some Valentine’s treats that I have baked, bought and/or tasted over the past few weeks. I did take pictures for some, but not for others so please keep that in mind as you read!

First up, we have your standard chocolate chip & chunk cookies. I decided to choose this one to rate because homemade cookies are almost always a sure way to go if you want to surprise someone. I made some into heart shapes with the few chocolate chips I had, and then the rest were made with chocolate chunks or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I will always support homemade cookies though; they’re the best comfort food when they’re fresh out of the oven. For the particular recipe I used, I would rate them a 9/10. They were just a bit too sweet but nonetheless, amazing. 

Next, we have the classic chocolate covered strawberry. I feel like this is the standard symbol of Valentine's day, next to the heart. I did not make these myself, but instead received them as a gift from a friend. I’m a big fan of the tart mixed with the sweet, especially since the chocolate was warm & melted on them; it really sealed the deal on this tart treat. I would have to give it a 7/10 though because after a few bites, the sweetness got to me. I could only eat about 3 before I had to stop. A great dessert nonetheless.

Following that, I happened to be roaming around my local grocery store when I came upon a Reese's shaped heart. I figured it would be perfect to try and so I popped it in my cart. I went home that night and my first taste was not wonderful, quite honestly. Reece’s are pretty bomb, but I could not bite that heart for the LIFE OF ME. The chocolate on the edges was really thick and finally, after an eternity, got a bite through. The flavor was well worth the wait & I got a brief toothache. It was super sweet and I couldn't finish the whole thing in one sitting; though I wouldn’t be too surprised if someone could do it. If you’re a solid chocolate bunny fan, I do think this would be a wonderful choice for you. That and if you’re a fan of Reece’s cups. Solid 8/10. (get it? Because the chocolate was thick? I’m not very funny…)

Finally, we have the traditional brownie. I REALLY wanted to put walnuts in the batter and I couldn’t find them in my pantry. The brownies are a hundred times better with walnuts in my opinion but I tried to be unbiased when tasting nonetheless. I was really bummed, not gonna lie. Anyway, I made the batter from a box because I also didn't have any cocoa powder. I was very disappointed by these realizations but I did not let that stop me. I found a box of brownie mix and made my way through. The final result was nothing interesting but didn’t fail to delight my tastebuds. They were fudgey so pretty nice; I didn’t overcook them either (I usually do) so I was pretty proud of myself for that one! I’d say these were a 7/10..would’ve been a 10/10 with those walnuts though ):

I forgot to get an after picture of the brownies so enjoy the batter!

Overall those are my opinions on these “holiday” treats. All of them were pretty good, but if you’re going to make them yourself- homemade is always the way to go. It carries way more sentimental value and often has better taste if made correct. Happy Valentine’s, Galentine’s, Palatine’s, or however you spend the 14th! May these treats grace your way in some way shape or form.

There’s nothing wrong with going out to a nice dinner or the movies, however, it can start to become repetitive. It can start to become the same old. Do you ever feel like doing something different? With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, here are a few creative date ideas so that you and the special someone in your life can have a Valentine’s Day to remember!

Bundle up and go ice skating at an indoor or outdoor ice skating rink. It may seem intimidating for some, but I promise you will be in for quite a few (or a ton) of laughs. Do not worry if you are not a professional or can not skate without falling, the more fun the better!

Do you have an artsy or creative side? Grab some paint and canvases! Paint dueling landscapes or portraits of each other. This will surely make for a lot of laughs if you both are not the best at painting or it can make a stronger connection if you both have a passion for art. 

Instead of going out to dinner, try making a new recipe you never have made before with your significant other. You could make one meal or three courses! It’s a great idea for any level of skill in cooking because you can make something easy or challenge yourself. 

Feeling a bit competitive? There are plenty of towns in our area with bowling alleys. Who cares if you have not been bowling in a while or cannot score high?! If bowling is not your thing, Top Golf is another entertaining option. For some, the idea of golf can seem so boring, but Top Golf is not normal golf. They have fun golf games for all skill levels, including Angry Birds! Not into bowling or golf? Rock climbing is an adventurous option. Indoor rock climbing is becoming very popular. There’s nothing more competitive than seeing who can climb to the top the quickest!

In need of some relaxation? Want to go to a spa but you would rather not pay the expensive price? Have a spa night of your own! Light some candles, set up an oil diffuser, put on some face masks, and relax. This could even be paired with watching a movie!

No matter what you choose to do with your significant other this Valentine’s Day, I hope it is a special day to remember! Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Ever since returning to school from a fast but lengthy winter break, the weather forecast has been nothing but unpredictable here in New Jersey. Upon Seneca High School’s students and staff returning to school, we experienced two full snow days in one week, one being Monday, January 3rd and the other being Friday, January 7th. Thus, it gives all of us the opportunity to choose how we spend our time. Whether that consists of binge-watching shows or checking off things on to-do lists, snow days have different psychological impacts on those involved. Thus, we have developed some “Snow Day Personalities” so you can determine which category best fits you! Continue reading to figure out which category best fits you!

Free Hygges - This person takes a Hedonistic approach to a snow day binging on all things Netflix as well as junk food. Despite having the ability to finish up some school work, this type of person on a snow day chooses to focus on their personal to-do list instead of their school to-do list. They choose to spend their time finishing tv show seasons instead of catching up on school work.  Hey, some people have their own top priorities and we totally respect it.

Great Expectations - This type of snow day personality tends to severely overestimate what they might accomplish with their additional 7 hours of snow day freedom. For instance, they start off hoping to check about 400 things off their to-do list but end up disappointed when, in reality, they accomplish fewer than 3. They’re essentially setting themselves up for failure by setting such high expectations for themselves to accomplish countless things within a certain time frame. Come on now, everyone knows you weren’t going to finish that AP Lang essay.

The Snoozer - From the snoozer’s perspective, 1 snow day = 3-7 extra hours of sleep. Although the snoozer might not be as productive in terms of work, by sleeping for a longer period of time than usual, this gives your body time to recharge after getting minimal amounts of sleep earlier in the school week. This can apply to both teachers and students as most teachers are often staying up late grading assignments while students are up until early in the morning rushing to complete school work. In fact, there seems to be a pattern that the more you age, the less sleep you get. For example, students in higher level classes need to have more time dedicated to school work. As for teachers, it can be extremely difficult to balance having a job while running a family. All in all, the snoozer is willing to get extra rest, even if it’s as little as two hours.

The Snow Lover - Do you wanna build a snowman or snow village? And then sled for four hours? This stereotype tends to fit the younger portion of students as they will more than likely not have as much school work to accomplish. Yet, any student is able to enjoy their neighborhood “winter wonderland”. Thus, giving them ample time to trick their parents into building snowmen with them and dressing them up in all kinds of crazy winter gear.

The Money Maker - Very few people tend to fit this stereotype as many people don’t feel like getting out into the often painful chilly weather and doing work, despite being able to earn money. On the other hand, those who choose to take up the opportunity to make some extra cash, they break out the shovel and get started on their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Overall, no matter what personality best fits you, snow days are a chance of freedom for everyone. Whether you aspire to get work done, sleep in, or make money shoveling your neighbors’ driveways, snow days can be beneficial in various ways. That being said, the next time a snow day comes around, do what you will and make the most of it! Even if that means sleeping in…

Around this time last year, the Bird’s Eye View decided to celebrate the last day of school before Christmas break, the rest of the staff and I decided to celebrate via Google Meet by watching a Christmas movie. Prior to picking a movie, which I believe we decided on Home Alone, I messaged the current staff and said that I believed Home Alone 3 was better than the first two Home Alone movies. The first person to disagree with me was none other than our head advisor herself, Ms. Zeigler, as she thought that Home Alone was superior to Home Alone 3. At the time we didn’t think much of it and just believed it was a genuine disagreement. Of course, a year later, we still both stand very strongly against each other as we both are on opposite sides of this debate. To prove to our Bird’s Eye View readers and most importantly, Ms. Zeigler, that Home Alone 3 is the greatest movie of the series. As a disclaimer, I was born in 2005 and grew up in the late 2000’s, so I didn’t grow up with the original holiday movies like Ms. Zeigler did. Continue reading to discover why Home Alone 3 is the best Home Alone movie to date. 

DISCLAIMER: I don’t not like the first two Home Alone movies, in fact, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a close second. I just enjoy watching the third one the most!

Over the past few decades, there has been some discussion about which Home Alone movie is actually the best. The most well-known Home Alone movies include Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and Home Alone 3. While all three are arguably great and entertaining movies, there is one that sticks out, at least in my opinion. And that movie is Home Alone 3. Many choose to disagree with that opinion as it isn’t the original and obviously doesn’t include the famous, “Kevin McCallister”. However, the third movie in the series offers a different perspective with various new characters and an even more detailed plot. Continue reading to understand why Home Alone 3 is officially the best Home Alone movie.

Now, there are six main factors I will be “grading” about this movie: the main character, plot, visuals, acting, uniqueness, and the overall grading.

Basic Information

Released: December 12, 1997

Director: Raja Gosnell

Music: Nick Glennie-Smith

Production companies: Hughes Entertainment; Fox Family Films

The Main Characters

Instead of having Macaulay Culkin play the original main character, Kevin McCalister, the third movie switches it up a bit. This time, the main character, Alex Pruitt, is played by Alex D. Linz. While Culkin was more popular during the release of Home Alone, Linz’s character is adorable and sweet. In the movie, Alex amazes the crowd with his cuteness and his surprising intelligence for just a little boy. For example, unlike Kevin whose main goal was to just slow the burglars down, Alex actually designed unique traps to hold the criminals there until the police arrived. He constantly messes with the four criminals throughout the entire movie and never fails to entertain the audience with those crazy traps. Not only that, but Pruitt literally fought four international terrorists who the United States were attempting to catch for awhile. On the other hand, Kevin fought two local crooks, one of which was incompetent. Finally, Alex’s heroic actions were recognized by the police, Air Force AND the FBI, while Kevin’s practically went unnoticed as he just wanted to see justice done. Not only did Alex beat him in multiple categories, but he was much nicer and more well-liked by others than Kevin, as Kevin often had an attitude and practically wished his family away. All in all, Alex Pruitt is not only one of the most adorable characters to exist, but he is also far more superior than Kevin McCallister.

In the movie, Alex has two older siblings Molly and Stan. Molly is played by Scarlett Johansson, one of the most well-known women actors of our time and this was her film debut. Stan is played by Seth Smith and his character, and just like Molly, they both show a little bit of disrespect towards Alex. Yet, it is on a much smaller scale than how Buzz treated Kevin in the Home Alone movies. 

Interestingly enough, Karen Pruitt, played by Haviland Morris, is very similar to Kate McCallister. Yet, their personalities are very different in the way that they treated their son. For instance, Kate McCallister quite literally FORGOT HER OWN CHILD, not once but twice! Not only that, but Kate remembered hours after she left her own son HOME ALONE. To add, she also constantly yelled at Kevin and she treated him like garbage compared to the rest of his siblings even when he didn’t get in trouble. Yes, he tended to have an attitude but the other times he did nothing wrong…On the other hand, Karen Pruitt clearly had a soft spot for Alex but lectured him when she needed to. Overall, Karen Pruitt was loving, caring, and always showed compassion towards her children.

Of course, you can’t forget about the four criminals that Pruitt had to face off with in order to protect his town. The four terrorists include Petr Beaupre, Earl Unger, Burton Jernigan, and Alice Robbins. 

Plot

As for the plot, contrary to popular belief, the plot in Home Alone 3 is very different from the previous two Home Alone movies. For instance, in Home Alone, Kevin is left at home as his family forgot to take him on vacation, and in the 2nd he gets lost in New York. However, in Home Alone 3, the plot starts off with the four terrorist who work for a North Korean terrorit organization got hired to get a U.S. $10 million missile cloaking microchip. Yet, the chip is concealed in a remote control car in order to make it easier to sneak past the airport security. At the airport, there was extra screening which resulted in the luggage mix-up which is the cause of the rest of the movie. One of Alex’s neighbors, Mrs. Hess, who happens to be at the airport, who was carrying loaves of bread in a similar bag, accidentally takes the criminals’ bag instead. The terrorists soon realized this mishap and and had to split up and check the gates, practically searching the entire airport, but it is nowhere to be found. Beaupre then realizes that the chip has to be on another flight that is headed to Chicago. Despite their efforts to try and retrieve the toy car at the airport, they find Hess’s address and track her down. 

This is where Alex Pruitt officially gets introduced as he is given the remote control car for shoveling the snow for Mrs. Hess. He came home and quickly appeared to be sick with chickenpox and must stay home from school temporarily. Eventually, Alex spots the four terrorists hiding out in a home in their neighborhood with his telescope while they’re trying to discover the chip in the toy car. After he found them in the house, he chose to reach out to the police and notify them of the problem, but they escape before anyone arrives, leaving nobody to believe that Alex is telling the truth. Thus, determined to defeat the four criminals and get them put away for good, he continues to spy on them by mounting a camera on his toy car, hoping to film some footage of them. Unfortunately, the remote control car gets found before it can escape and Beaupre ends up taking the tape. Yet, Alex refuses to give up and keeps spying on them and starts setting his traps. Some of his traps that he set up included filling up a water balloon, setting a Santa flower pot by the window in the attic, using fireworks, etc. Alex’s traps are much more thoroughly detailed and thought out compared to Kevin McAllister which is yet again, another reason as to why this movie is greater. Luckily, Alex Pruitt catches them in time and gets acknowledged by the FBI and Air Force for catching literal terrorists at such a young age. After that, his family held a celebration for his outstanding success and in return, he also received a replacement remote control car. Overall, the plot is heavily detailed and differs from Home Alone 1 and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York greatly!

Visuals

As Home Alone 3 only came out in 1997, movies were still advancing and there wasn’t easy accessibility to everything. However, this movie still didn’t disappoint whatsoever. 

There were various locations that they shot it including the meeting the criminals had at the beginning of the movie which was filmed in Chicago. As for the house, it was filmed in Normandy Place, Evanston, Illinois. 

Acting

For the actors and actresses in the movie, many of them aren’t too well-known but they all played their roles effortlessly. The main character, Alex Pruitt was played by Alex Linz who has been in countless movies including The Cable Guy, Max Keeble’s Big Movie, Full-Court Miracle, and voiced as young Tarzan in the animated movie. Perhaps the most popular actress from the movie is Scarlett Johansson who is one of the highest paid actresses to date. Johansson has been featured in Black Widow, the entire Avengers series, Lucy, Under the Skin, and much more. Although at the time her career was just beginning when filming Home Alone 3, that got her started on her successful career. Alongside these two actors was Haviland Morris who played the role of Karen Pruitt(Alex’s mother), who has starred in Sixteen Candles, easily the top rom-com of the 80’s, Who’s That Girl, and much more including even TV shows. There are various other actors and actresses in this film not mentioned, but they all perfectly played their roles and executed flawlessly. 

In terms of quotes included in the movie, one that I incorporated into the title of this article was one of Alex’s while trying to trap the criminals. He said, “You’re not gonna find me up there, you big, dumb, law-breaking knuckle-heads!”.

Uniqueness

As previously mentioned before, due to the plot of this movie being very different from the first two movies, it easily sets it apart from the rest of the holiday movies. It has the perfect amount of entertainment, thrill, action, and the appropriate family comedy aspects. 

Overall Movie Experience

Overall, I’ve watched Home Alone 3 multiple times, mainly with my family, and it is easily my top holiday movie to date. My family and I have had a great time enjoying this movie as its humor, characters, and visuals all contribute to this amazing fim. If you need a movie to watch over holiday break, make sure to check out Home Alone 3 on Disney+! Merry Christmas!!

For more information regarding this movie, check out https://homealone.fandom.com/wiki/Home_Alone_3!! 

*some information regarding the plot was included from this website*

When our esteemed editor-in-chief, Paige Venable, first proclaimed her ardent belief that Home Alone 3 was the “best movie” in the Home Alone franchise, I thought she HAD to be joking. Clearly, the original Home Alone is an iconic cinematic and cultural gem. Home Alone 2 is arguably of equal quality to the original; a huge feat for any sequel. But Home Alone 3? The film Rotten Tomatoes describes as a “hollow sequel, which doubles down on the broad comedy while lacking all the hallmarks that made the original a classic?” Not on my watch. 

Shortly after it was established that Paige actually believed the travesty she was spouting, I began formulating the arguments featured in the article you are currently reading. Paige has chosen the categories through which we are to present our ‘cases,’ and they are: main characters, plot, acting, visuals, uniqueness, and overall movie experience. So let’s make like the “Wet Bandits'' and break this discussion wide open like it’s the coveted “Silver Tuna”.

Main Characters: 

The character development of the first Home Alone movie blows Home Alone 3 out of the water. Let’s start with Kevin versus Alex. Paige likes to tell me that Alex in Home Alone 3 is far more adorable than Kevin in the original movie; to which I say, ‘so what?’. A great protagonist cannot thrive on cuteness and a raspy voice alone. Kevin, as played by Macaulay Culkin, is multidimensional and believable as the oft maligned youngest child in a house full of siblings and busy schedules. Add to that a preponderance of visiting cousins and a verbally abusive uncle all frantically preparing for a family vacation overseas for the holidays, and the audience can fully relate to Kevin’s desire to get some alone time. His tantrum in response to older brother Buzz’s constant antagonism, culminating in the no-more-cheese-pizza debacle, seems warranted; and the sass Kevin dishes at various times throughout the film in speaking to his mother, the cashier at the grocery store, and our villains, Harry and Marv, is both side-splittingly hilarious and realistic in its delivery. Despite this verbal bravado, Kevin is terrified of both the furnace in his basement and his elderly neighbor,  and, initially, traumatized by the R-rated movie he watches with no one there to tell him ‘no’. What’s more relatable than that? As an elderly millennial, I can tell you, that’s how we rolled in the early ‘90s!

Harry and Marv, a.k.a. The Wet Bandits, are the perfect balance of creepy criminal and lovable doofus.  Their banter, Harry’s constant annoyance at Marv’s lack of foresight, and their increasing frustration as they make their way through a booby-trapped McMansion provide consistent laughs throughout the film. They are so much more than the physical comedy gold for which they are best remembered. They are fully developed, nuanced characters with a believable backstory, and, while we are happy to see them being carted off back to prison at the end of the movie, we are hopeful we’ll see them again; hence, the box office success of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

By comparison, the nameless, forgettable villains of Home Alone 3 are wrong from the start.  Their backstory is incredibly far-fetched and not relatable in the slightest. Terrorists hiding a microchip in a toy car, really? The audience doesn’t get attached to them in any way, and they mostly serve as vessels for the delivery of slapstick physically comedic moments strung together with very little substance. Additionally, many of the moments of physical comedy are nearly identical to what were original ideas in the first 2 Home Alone movies.

Kevin’s mom in the original Home Alone is movie perfection. She alternates seamlessly between stern, concerned, tender, panicked, and loving–just like a real mom. Despite the insanely neglectful act of leaving their son behind while they fly to Paris, we are rooting for Kate and Peter McAllister to get home to their son, and we find ourselves relating to the chaotic circumstances that led to the catastrophe of leaving their 8-year-old home alone. Kate’s relationship with Kevin, and her desperation to get home to him as soon as possible no matter the cost or inconvenience, is at the heart of what makes this movie more than just a bunch of funny pranks on the bad guys.  Her reunion with Kevin is a heartwarming, complicated, tear-jerker of a moment. By comparison, the parents in Home Alone 3 come off as detached. We get the feeling they were bound to end up leaving Alex to fend for himself at some point through sheer negligence. Meh.

Plot: 

As mentioned previously, the plot of Home Alone 3 is far-fetched from the start. There’s not much to it because this Kevin-less third installment was a greedy grab for box-office cash. The plot is thin because the point was to get to the physical comedy as quickly as possible.

In contrast, the plot of the original Home Alone is carefully crafted to make a highly unlikely family crisis seem both believable and relatable, right down to the moment when we get a clear shot of Kevin’s milk-soaked boarding pass getting accidentally tossed into the trash, along with a handful of wet napkins, on the eve of his adventure in solitary living. The movie seamlessly  weaves together a handful of memorable relationship-building moments between even relatively minor characters creating a finished product that is so much more than just a physical comedy gag-reel.  In addition to the heartwarming reunion of mother and son, followed closely by father and son and siblings, we see the small but meaningful evolution of Buzz’s and Kevin’s bond, Kevin’s recognition of his misjudgment when it comes to his elderly neighbor (who will become his friend and hero before movie’s end), Kevin’s wisdom-beyond-his-years moment in assessing the elderly neighbor’s estrangement from his son’s family (which leads to the sweet, hopeful resolution of that rift by movie’s end), and the unlikely bond between Kevin’s mom Kate and Gus Polinski of the Kenosha Kickers polka band which is forged on a bumpy drive over stories of epic parenting fails. This movie comes with an ever-present reminder that family and connections are of the utmost importance and that we shouldn’t take those things for granted or let grudges get in the way of love.

Acting:

While Home Alone 3 features Scarlett Johansson’s acting debut, it serves as but a blip on her resume.

Comparatively, the original Home Alone is stacked with Hollywood heavy-hitters who were, and in some cases still are, some of the most revered comedic actors around. Catharine O’Hara shines as Kate McCallister. Home Alone served as a big breakthrough moment for the Canadian actress who first caught many people’s attention two years earlier in the film Beetlejuice. She went on to star in many critically acclaimed movies and, most recently, won the hearts of a whole new generation of fans with her portrayal of Moira on Schitt’s Creek. She is an absolute comedy icon and genius.  Her scenes with the equally iconic comic/actor John Candy (as Gus Polinski) were mostly improvised, which is enough to prove that these two deserve every acting accolade they’ve ever received. When John Candy nonchalantly mentions his son’s trauma and selective mutism after his experience being left behind at a funeral parlor with a corpse “all day, I mean ALL DAY,” it’s indisputable comedy gold.

Harry and Marv are played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, two more actors with extensive resumes filled with well-known roles.  Nothing beats the stream of gibberish that spouts from Joe Pesci’s mouth after his head meets Kevin’s blowtorch and Daniel Stern’s reaction to coming very much face-to-face with Buzz’s pet tarantula is a hugely memorable movie moment.

In fact, Home Alone contains several immediately recognizable lines that have become part of the American pop culture lexicon.  From “Keep the change, ya filthy animal!” to that classic scene with Kevin and the aftershave and the scream, to Catharine O’Hara’s familiar “KEVIN!!”, it’s hard to argue that this film is anything less than a modern classic.

Visuals: 

The house that served as the exterior of the McAllister household in the original Home Alone is still a popular tourist destination in a suburb of Chicago 31 years after the release of the film. It’s a timeless piece of Americana. Enough said. 

The majority of the original Home Alone set was literally built from scratch inside a high school gymnasium and empty pool. It’s mind-blowing. If you haven’t already seen it, check out the “Home Alone” episode of “Movies That Made Us (Season 1)” on Netflix. It’s amazing.

Uniqueness: 

This one writes itself…the original Home Alone was unique in that it is the original Home Alone.

Overall Movie Experience: 

I took a video of my son watching Home Alone for the first time when he was 5, and I watch it about 25 times every time it comes up in my memories on social media.  His laugh is genuine and contagious. He loses his breath because he is experiencing the pure enjoyment of a well-written, well-acted American comedy classic. 

Christmas is easily the most popular, let alone widely celebrated holiday in the United States and various other countries around the world. Depending on your own individual perspective, Christmas has a different meaning to everyone. For instance, for some, it’s important to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ while others choose to focus on exchanging gifts with family and friends. Yet, at the end of the day, the one true meaning of Christmas that can apply to everyone is that it should be about celebrating quality time with loved ones and appreciating what you have in life. Continue reading to learn more about the true meaning of Christmas!

Before we dive into the true meaning of Christmas and how you can apply that this holiday season, let’s learn about the background of the holiday and where it originated. Now, depending upon your religious beliefs, it could be different for each person. However, the main “origin story” of how this special holiday came about was the birth of Jesus Christ many centuries ago. This belief mainly applies to Christians(any form of Christianity), but interestingly enough, several people who aren’t religious still celebrate Christmas, which makes it even better!

Now, what is Christmas Day really about?  As previously mentioned, most celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as he plays a major role in Christianity. Yet, the one main meaning that both Christians and non-Christians value is the fact that the holiday season allows families to spend quality time together, as for most, that is difficult to do at times. In life, it is crucial to cherish the time you have with your loved ones including friends, family, extended family, etc. As unfortunate as it is, every day should be viewed as a gift because anything unexpected can happen at any given time. Not only that, but especially nowadays, many people miss that key aspect. For kids, they just naturally focus on receiving presents which is totally normal. Yet, there are still teens and adults who focus on that and ignore what it’s all about. It’s sad that that’s what society has become but we all have the ability to change that if we focus on what really matters in life. Finally, there are countless people out there who aren’t as fortunate as others and don’t even get any gifts for Christmas. These are just a few of the reasons why we should be thankful for all we have and to never take anything for granted as the future is often unpredictable.

Overall, Christmas Day and the holiday season as a whole is a special one. It allows families to spend time together, people to exchange exciting gifts, etc. Just always remember that this holiday isn’t all about the presents, it’s about what we have in life and that we should cherish that forever. On behalf of the entire Bird’s Eye View Staff, we are wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season and a happy new year!

Christmas is one of the most popular holidays in America, and a great thing about it is how different it is celebrated throughout all families. Some people celebrate the story of Jesus’ birth and place and some people will make it all about the presents, while others will use it to spend quality time with their family. After interviewing some Seneca students, I was able to dive deeper into just how some of us spend the holiday.

One anonymous student has divorced parents, so she spends the 23rd and 24th with her father and the 25th with her mother. This started when her parents had originally separated. She has a party with her dad and then a family dinner with her mom. She loves how her holiday is spent, and doesn’t wish to change anything about it.

Tess Strittmatter explains that when she was younger, she would run outside with her sisters barefoot in the first snow of the year. She hosts Christmas Eve dinner at her house and invites her dad’s side of the family. They typically exchange gifts, then eat pasta & meatballs. She then described how, “Christmas Day is spent at my grandparents house on my mom’s side of the family. We go there around 3 in the afternoon and eat an early dinner. Later in the night, we reenact the story of Jesus’s birth, then exchange more gifts and eat dessert.” She does miss decorating her grandparents house before Christmas Day as a whole extended family. Unfortunately now that things are busier, there isn’t much time to do that anymore. 

Another anonymous student described how, “Every Christmas Eve we host for my mom's side of the family. This tradition started as a way to see family members that live far away. I spend my Christmas at home with my family watching Christmas movies and opening presents.” He concludes by saying there isn’t anything he would change because he likes to cherish what he has.

Personally, my family isn’t religious, and like many of the people I spoke to, we like to take Christmas as a time to spend together as a family. We play board games, watch movies, bake cookies…the usual celebrations. On Christmas Eve night, we will take our Christmas Tree from the year prior, cut off the branches, and burn it in our fireplace. We get a set of matching pajamas that night and then the next morning, we open presents together. 

Overall, the Christmas season is a special time for many people, and it's important to remember that it doesn’t need to be spent in a certain way. Some people celebrate differently, or just not at all, and that’s okay! I hope that whatever holiday you celebrate at this time is wonderful for you and your loved ones.

It's often thought that those who have a birthday around the holidays are often made to feel less important. People think it's a “bummer” that their birthdays are so close to every holiday around those specific birthdays are more special. My birthday is eight days before Christmas, and I’ve always been told “Aw, that must stink”. In reality, I love having my birthday before Christmas. The entire year helps to build up the anticipation for Christmas as well as my birthday. Sometimes I feel bad for people who have their birthdays in the summer because they don’t get to experience it the way I do. I’m very close knit with my family, so we spend my birthday together, and I get to have a great day. Following this, there’s a few days before break starts and then it's Christmas- and I get to spend a lot of time with my loved ones. If I get lucky, sometimes it’ll snow and make the day that much more special. The only downside is that people outside of my family don’t always care, because their minds are in the spirit for Christmas. It’s never too noticeable though, and I’m still always made to feel special on my birthday. 

Thus, I decided to reach out and see if any of my fellow December-Birthdays experience their day differently than myself. 

Seneca Senior Lilli Schneider was born on December 1st, and she loves having a birthday near Christmas. She says that even though she isn’t too close to Christmas, her spirit for the holidays is not affected. “I think my birthday is pretty even compared to those who aren’t born in December,” she adds. She ends by explaining that, “The only reason my birthday makes the holidays a little less special is because it can be frustrating when I ask for gifts, because then I run out of ideas for Christmas gifts.”

Another senior, Virginia Wilson, who has a birthday on December 15th, said how it “makes me more excited about the whole month because Christmas is my favorite holiday and having my birthday so close makes it even more special to me.” She does feel that her birthday is a little different from others because it is more centered around another holiday whereas for most people their birthday is just their birthday. When asked if she wished she could move her birthday, she explained that she “love(s) having my birthday in December. I wouldn't want it any other time of the year and having it so close to Christmas is even more time to spend with my family plus getting gifts is never a complaint.” She ends by explaining that it makes Christmas more special for her, and it gives it so much more meaning. It isn’t just some holiday, it's a time to celebrate so much. 

Overall, whether you have a birthday near Christmas, let alone any holiday, just know that everyone deserves to have a day to celebrate themselves. Birthdays are a unique thing that all of us have in common and the date of it shouldn’t impact how we feel or celebrate due to how special birthdays are alone. Happy Birthmas?!

With the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving, it is important to remember while we eat a big meal with family and friends, to practice gratefulness and give thanks. Showing gratitude has many emotional benefits, and even some physical benefits. Additionally, it can help improve relationships or friendships. Some specific emotional benefits include reducing stress, greater feeling of overall happiness, improved self-esteem, greater resilience, and reduce anxiety or depression. Some may also find it surprising how much gratitude improves physical health as well as it can improve sleep quality, lessen fatigue, and lower inflammation in the body. 

There are countless ways to show gratitude to the people around you. To start, simply thanking someone in your life, whether it be a friend, family member, teacher, or co-worker, for all that they do is a great way to show thankfulness this holiday season. Additionally, providing a small token of this gratitude like a card, flowers, or a gift with meaning, is also a great addition to showing gratitude. 

Next, you could start a gratitude journal. A gratitude journal is a journal in which every morning or every night, you write down three things that you are grateful for. These items can include specific things, vague ideas, people, items, qualities in yourself, or anything else you are thankful for in that moment or from that day. This is a great way to take a moment to appreciate something or someone good in your life and acknowledge it. This activity can promote positivity in your life, encourage self esteem, reduce stress, and increase your overall happiness. Additionally, it can allow you to gain a new perspective on your life which allows you to differentiate what is important to you in your life and what you should change long-term to foster more happiness and less stress.

Finally, you can show thankfulness towards a community or group by giving a donation, or volunteering your time. Many non-profit organizations host events, try finding one near you and donating your time to assist in helping the event run smoothly. Also, you could donate to these organizations to show support and express gratitude towards them or their cause. This is a great way to show thankfulness, and it also supports the organization or helps them out in some way.

As you can see, practicing showing gratitude and thankfulness are great ways to promote positivity and happiness in your everyday life. And with so many easy ways to express gratitude, it should be practiced in everyday life. This Thanksgiving, make sure to tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them and keep the tradition going into the New Year!

The holidays are a time to be surrounded by family and friends. It’s a time to catch up and bond with those you love, after not seeing each other for a while. One thing that keeps families together during the holidays is family traditions. Whether it’s a special game, certain clothes, or a unique type of food your family makes, we each have our own traditions. Continue reading to learn about some of our Seneca Family’s student body’s traditions.

Freshman Emma Harris’s family goes to her aunt and uncle’s house for Thanksgiving. Every year they throw their very own mini turkey bowl. The game is usually cousins vs cousins, but she said that occasionally, her uncles and dad will join in. 

Sophomore Eddie Wirth’s family enjoys watching football together every year. 

Sophomore Grace Ingrao’s family makes three different dishes that are a staple in her home during the holidays. They serve three layer jello, cherry cheesecake, and apple pie. In addition, they also watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and attend Seneca’s Turkey Bowl game. She stated that her family has been attending the Turkey Bowl game since she was little. Lastly, after they all have finished eating dinner, they all watch a Christmas movie together to get the next holiday season started.

Junior Christina Rowan’s family serves various dishes on Thanksgiving. Her family serves candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, crescent rolls, and of course turkey. 

As for my holiday traditions, I have two that always come to mind when I think of the holidays. For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving day is when my Elf-on-the-Shelf would arrive. The elf was named Twinkie and we still have him. He goes up on the mantel every year starting on Thanksgiving day. This tradition is special to my family because it all started when my grandmother was a little girl. My other family tradition comes from my father’s side of the family. My mom-mom makes this dish called jello slop. It is made up of cherry jello, fruit, and cream cheese. Personally, I dislike this dish, yet, everyone on my father’s side of the family devours it every Thanksgiving.

Overall, many things bring families together, especially those special traditions. If you enjoyed some of these traditions I mentioned, maybe try them out! On behalf of the entire Bird’s Eye View Staff, we are wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving!!

The past two years have taught us to be grateful for the little things in life. Despite the pandemic bringing unexpected events upon us, it was an important life lesson that everyone needed. Especially nowadays, we often forget to appreciate what matters most in life such as family, friends, relationships, etc. With Thanksgiving coming up fast, our Seneca Family is counting their blessings during this time of year. Continue reading to find out what a couple of our Seneca students are grateful for.

Abby Sheldon said, “I’m grateful for the people and the experiences I have gained here at Seneca.” She went into further detail stating that her experiences and friends here at Seneca have changed her life.

Julianna Zimm is grateful for “My friends here at Seneca and music.” When asked why Julianna said her friends are like a support system to her while music helps her feel less alone. 

Ashley Grello said she is thankful for her “Loving family and her close friends.” She stated they support her in everything she does and are always there for her. 

When Siya Patel was asked what she was grateful for she said, “I am thankful for my friends because they are always there for me. Although it sounds cheesy, no one can relate to me or understand me as much as they do. I know that whenever I need something, I can count on them. I always look forward to seeing them at school and I don’t know what I would do without them. Meeting them has been one of the greatest things that have ever happened to me.” 

Paige Venable explained,  “I am most thankful for my family, friends, and teachers. My family means the world to me, especially my mom who is always looking out for me and making sure I reach my full potential. My friends, especially at school and with sports, give me a sense of relief whenever I am stressed or worried. I know I can always talk to them and hanging out with my close friends easily lifts my spirits whenever I am having a bad day. Finally, my teachers because I truly value my education and knowing that they’re always willing to provide extra support and help and just establish relationships with them is one of the best things I could ask for.”

Overall, people who often practice gratitude by taking the time to reflect and notice the things they are thankful for tend to experience a happier lifestyle. This Thanksgiving, the Bird’s Eye View Staff hopes everybody in our Seneca Family expresses their gratitude not only on November 25th, but all year round.

It's finally the time of year where thanks and joy are being spread all around! With Thanksgiving being three days away and Christmas right around the corner, we thought we should ask Seneca High School students how and when they start decorating for these two major holidays. The Bird’s Eye View Staff sent out a survey to students asking them about their holiday decorating traditions. 

The survey asked Seneca students eight questions about their decorating traditions. Two questions were about Thanksgiving while the rest were about Christmas. The first question asked students if they decorate for Thanksgiving. 80% of the students responded with yes leaving 20% who said no.

Second, respondents were asked what their favorite Thanksgiving decoration is. The options included pumpkins, cornucopia, turkey, fall leaves, garland, or wreaths. Fall leaves and pumpkins are the favorites tying for first with 40% of the vote while cornucopia came in second with 20%. 

Now for the Christmas decorating questions! The third question asked students when they put up their Christmas decorations: the beginning of November, the middle of November, Thanksgiving weekend, the beginning of December, or the middle of December. Thanksgiving weekend and the beginning of December tied for first with 40% of the vote while mid-December came in second with 20% of the vote. 

For the fourth question, students were asked to select things they decorate their Christmas tree with. The teens could choose from lights, garland, tinsel, ornaments, and a tree topper. The three most popular tying for first were lights, ornaments, and a tree topper!

Interviewees were then asked what is their favorite ornament to put on their tree. Some answers were ones of baby pictures, family, an angel, an old red Chevrolet truck that belonged to their dad, and pictures of pets. 

The sixth question asked students what their overall favorite Christmas decoration is: a Christmas tree, lights, stockings, snow globes, poinsettias, garlands, wreaths, reindeer, and angels. The most popular answer was a Christmas tree with 60% of the vote. Christmas lights and snow globes followed with each having 20% of the vote.

For the seventh question, teens were asked if they put up outdoor Christmas lights. 100% of responses were yes!

Finally, respondents were asked what their favorite color is to decorate with for Christmas: red, green, gold, silver, or white. Red won with 40% of the votes with green, silver, and gold tying for second with 20% each.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are both special occasions during this time of year that give people the opportunity to express their love for the holiday season! Whether you go all out, or choose to be minimal, any decorations are always a nice special touch! On behalf of the Bird’s Eye View Staff we would like to wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving Break and holiday season!

Fall is a great time to spend with friends and family and brings along many activities that fit perfectly with the season!

To start, a very popular fall activity is going to a local farm and participating in local harvests. In our area, we are lucky to be surrounded by local farms and plenty of farmland like Russo’s in Tabernacle or Johnson’s Farm in Medford. Farms like these offer hay rides to go apple-picking, corn-picking, and various other crops. Additionally, some locations offer a corn maze to get lost in with friends or other fun group activities.

There are many great ideas for fall activities to do with a group of friends or family. First, a bonfire is a great hangout idea to invite over a group of friends and roast marshmallows over a fire, and the fire is a great way to keep warm now that the weather is becoming much colder. Next, gather a group of friends and play a game of football outside or watch professional sports games on television. Finally, hosting a “Friendsgiving” is a fun gathering with friends and food to celebrate the season of being thankful!

Even though the weather is getting colder, there are still ways to stay physically active outdoors. To start, hiking locally is a great way to get active and get some beautiful sights of the brightly colored leaves and see some stunning local nature. Along with that, biking is a great outdoor activity to see similar sights and stay active.

Finally, cooking and baking classic fall treats are a great way to pass the time. Some ideas for baking could be apple pie, pumpkin pie, cookies, or pumpkin bread. Additionally, you can practice cooking Thanksgiving dinner to perfect your recipes!

Candy Corn Jars

Materials:

• Paintbrush

• mason jar

• Red, orange, and white paint

• Twine

Steps:

1. Paint the mason jar using the attached photo above as a reference (may take multiple coats)

2. Wrap the twine along the brim on the mason jar once the pain is dry

Fall Light-Up Jars

Materials:

• Mason jar

• real/fake leaves

• Mod podge

• Twine

• Tea light

Steps:

1. Using the mod podge, glue the leaves to the mason jar

2. Once dry, wrap twine around the brim of the mason jar

3. Add tea light in center of mason jar

Fall Wreath

Materials:

• Colored paper

• Scissors

• Template of a leaf (find one you like online)

• Ribbon

• Glue

Steps:

1. Find a template for a leaf online

2. Use this template to cut out many leaf shapes of multiple colors of paper

3. Glue the leaves onto a ring of paper or to each other

4. Glue the ribbon to the top of the wreath so you can hang it up and display

In my opinion, Halloween is the best time of year in terms of movies, specifically those that fall under the horror genre. I am obsessed with Halloween movies because they are one of my favorite things to watch. If you are struggling to find something good to watch this time of year, here are my top four picks for horror movies!

4. Halloween (1978)

The first out of 13 movies, Halloween is about Halloween night in 1963. Where six year old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17 year old sister Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years. On October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, 21 year old Michael Myers steals a car and escapes. He returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims.

3. Fear Street Trilogy (2021)

Loosely inspired by R.L. Stine’s Fear Street book series. The Fear Street Trilogy contains three parts. Each film was released within a week of each other. The film is mainly about a cursed town called ShadySide. Cursed because of the many murders that have taken place. Due to the enormous amount of murders, ShadySide has been given the nickname Killer Capital USA. Every couple years, a shadysider goes crazy and goes on an insane killing spree. Everyone in town believes it's the curse of the witch Sarah Fier, a young girl who was hanged in 1666 because she was believed to be a witch. Townspeople believe that every few years Sarah seeks revenge. A group of teens in 1994 work together to get rid of the old curse.

2. It and It Chapter 2 (2017, 2019)

Based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel It, the movie tells a story of a group of seven children in Derry, Maine who are terrorized by Pennywise, the dancing clown. In the process, they are forced to face their own personal demons. Later on in the second movie, it follows the same group of kids twenty-seven years later. Thus, the evil clown Pennywise returns to Derry, Maine once again. Now, the kids are adults and they must conquer their deepest fears to destroy the shape-shifting Pennywise, who is now more powerful than ever since the last time they saw him.

1. The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2 (2013, 2016)

The Conjuring series is one of my favorite horror movie series. It follows the real life cases of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The first conjuring movie is about one of the many haunting cases that Ed and Lorraine faced. The movie takes place at an 18th century farmhouse in Rhode Island. Roger and Carolyn Perron and their five daughters were terrified because of the bizarre things happening in their home. That is when the Warren’s were called. They have to force the evil spirit out of the home so the Perron family can live in peace. The second movie tells the story of the case of the Enfield poltergeist, which took place in the London Borough of Enfield from 1977 to 1979. It involved the haunting of two sisters and their mother in their house. The Warren’s were called in by a church to investigate. Both movies are extremely well done, I 100% recommend this series.

Overall, the spooky season is a great time to relax, eat candy, and watch some horror movies! On behalf of the entire Bird’s Eye View Staff, we are wishing you all a happy, healthy, and safe Halloween weekend! Happy Halloween!!

Megan McNamara

With the autumnal holidays coming up quickly, it is useful to have a few easy recipes in case of emergencies. From a super-easy dessert to two lesser-known dishes, here are three easy recipes to stay cozy. 

Pumpkin Mousse 

Ingredients:

• Instant Butterscotch Pudding

• 1 ½ cups cold milk

• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

• 1 cup canned pumpkin

• 1 ½ cups Cool Whip

Steps:

1. Prepare Butterscotch pudding with milk as normal, and then add canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. 

   1. Make your own pumpkin pie spice by combining 3 tsp cinnamon, 2 tsp ground gingers, 2 tsp nutmeg, 1 ½ tsp ground clover, and 1 ½ tsp ground allspice.

2. Add thawed Cool Whip and fold until well combined.

3. Enjoy with gingersnaps, Nilla Wafers, or any other cookie of choice.

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Ingredients: 

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon pepper

• ¾ cup milk or milk alternative

• 1 head cauliflower

• ¼ cup buffalo sauce or hot sauce

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil or vegetable oil

• 1 tablespoon honey

Steps: 

1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

2. Add flour, paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and milk to a large bowl and stir to combine.

3. Cut or break the heads off the cauliflower, and add the florets to the mixture. Once the florets are evenly coated, arrange them on a baking sheet.

4. Bake the florets for 20 minutes and flip halfway through.

5. While the florets are in the oven, combine the buffalo sauce, coconut/vegetable oil, and honey. Coat the cauliflower in the mixture and bake in the oven for another 20 minutes.

Delicata Squash

Ingredients:

• Delicata Squash

• 1 tsp olive oil

• ¼ tsp salt

• ¼ tsp pepper

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 4 degrees. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds.

2. Cut squash into slices, around ½ an inch in size. Coat pieces in olive oil.

3. Sprinkle salt and pepper on pieces.

4. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Flip pieces and roast for another 15 minutes. 

Enjoy these edible pieces of Autumn spirit!

In all the hustle and bustle that is required to end your school year with a BANG!, have you forgotten about Father’s Day? The holiday will take place on June 20th, only two days after summer officially begins for Seneca students, which puts it in a position that is easy to overlook. However, it is vital that we recognize our father figures and all they have done for us in a celebration. Since planning a day dedicated to your dad might sound stressful, in itself, check out the ideas below for inspiration about what to give him and how to celebrate!

Fantastic Fathers’s Day Gift Ideas:

• A Tie - It’s the OG of gifts for dads, and very practical for many.

• A Book of Jokes - Over the years, our fathers have proven that they need some help in the comedy category.  Give them this and you give yourself the gift of never having to hear those corny, one-liner dad-jokes ever again!

• A Gift Card - Who doesn’t love some free money to their favorite store?  … Exactly. 

• A Sock Subscription - Because, why not?  The perfect gift for a goofy dad.

  • https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KSFD8LH?linkCode=ogi&tag=goodhousekeeping_auto-append-20&ascsubtag=[artid|10055.g.336[src|[ch|[lt|

• A Waterproof Speaker - I know my dad loves to listen to his “Totally-Tubular Tunes” in the shower, so I’m sure yours would too!

• A Wireless Charger - While my dad still struggles with the average smartphone capabilities, I’ve heard some are pretty techy.  This gift certainly pays for itself, after the first time you don’t have to untangle a knot of charging cables.  

• A Beef Jerky Subscription - Tell me your father loves his snacks, without telling be your father loves his snacks. 

  • https://www.amazon.com/Jerky-Subscription-Beef-Month-Club/dp/B086K2RRJ4

• A Red-Prayer Plant - Moms aren’t the only ones crazy about plants!  This low maintenance option is sure to peak your father’s interest. 

  • https://bloomscape.com/product/red-prayer-plant/?utm_source=Rakuten&utm_campaign=3157217&utm_term=845618&utm_medium=1&utm_content=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodhousekeeping.com%2Fholidays%2Ffathers-day%2Fg336%2Ffathers-day-gift-guide%2F&ranMID=44946&ranEAID=3157217&ranSiteID=tv2R4u9rImY-aCDhgTuklaNwEh.XbOU9HQ

• An Items Organizer - Who doesn’t love a clean workspace, and knowing where all of their daily necessities lie? 

  • https://www.etsy.com/listing/582570398/dad-gift-dad-birthday-gift-dad-fathers

Father’s Day Activities:

• A Fishing Trip - Whether out on a boat or to a nearby lake, this activity will grab the attention of the hands-on type of dad, especially if you pack a cooler with lunch!

• Dinner Out - Does your dad have a favorite restaurante?  Chances are you couldn’t get there because of the pandemic on Father’s Day last year, but this time around you might just be able to satisfy his craving for a delicious burger and some crispy fries.  

• A Homemade Brunch - I’ve heard there is nothing dads like more than waking up to the smell of a home-cooked meal (just kidding, but it sounded good, right?).  From pancakes to grapefruit and bacon, fixing this meal for your dad will show him how much you genuinely care. 

• A Day of Yard-Work - I have no idea why, but for some dads, working in the yard is like therapy.  If this is the case for your father, I regret to inform you but he would probably love a day of your help with landscaping. 

• Water-Balloon Fight - This is a terrific option for the sporty dads who love to get into a game, and a great way to cool off in the middle of June!  

• A Trip to the Beach/Boardwalk - Many dads just want to spend their special day with their kids, but there is no denying that some sand between their toes and ice cream in their hands would make the day even sweeter.

Sources:

• https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/fathers-day/g336/fathers-day-gift-guide/?slide=59

Mother’s Day is a holiday celebrated globally for mothers all around the world that takes place on the second Sunday of every May each year. The first celebrations of Mother’s Day can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome where they celebrated the goddesses of motherhood, Rhea and Cybele, through festivals. Over time, this tradition evolved into what we know today as “Mother’s Day”.

Additionally, the beginning of a celebration for mothers in the United States started back before the Civil War with Ann Reeves Jarvis. Jarvis started a club where she taught local women how to care for their children properly. Around the same time, feminist and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe wrote “Mother’s Peace Day” which called mothers into action to promote peace in times of unrest. She later campaigned for the second of every June to be celebrated as “Mother’s Peace Day.” After her mother died, she felt the idea of Mother’s Day would be an excellent way of honoring sacrifices mothers made for their children. With the assistance of John Wanamaker ,she organized the first celebration of Mother’s Day held at a church in West Virginia. Thousands of people joined in and attended the celebration and she lived to see Mother’s Day added to the national calendar in 1914.

Not only that, but Ann Reeves Jarvis wrote to several newspapers asking them to observe and write about and spread this holiday for others to celebrate. Ann had originally intended for those celebrating the holiday to wear a white carnation and visit mothers or attend church services, but it wasn’t long before other industries such as the floral industry, commercialized the holiday forming into the holiday many Americans know today. Mother’s Day is celebrated in many countries all around the world, however, the holiday occurs on different days and each culture has its own traditions surrounding the holiday. Despite the different celebrations, the day is meant to thank and honor all the mothers out there for everything they have done for their children. On behalf of the entire Bird’s Eye View Staff, we wish all the outstanding mothers out there an amazing Mother’s Day!!

Mother’s Day is often a time of celebration and love, but it can be stressful for those looking to buy gifts, as well. Many companies boast incredible gifts to show your appreciation to your mom, but end up costing an arm and a leg to purchase. Especially for students, it can be difficult to find a practical gift for the holiday. To help guide you with gift buying, below is a list of affordable gifts for this Mother’s Day. 

1. Reusable Grocery Bags

This gift is easy to obtain for a relatively low price. You can order a pack of them online on Amazon or a variety of other stores, or even just pick a few up in the check out line of most grocery stores. With endless choices of styles and prints, this gift is customizable to fit your mother’s taste.

2. Pressed Flowers

For this gift, you can either order them online, find a store in your area that sells them, or make them yourself by cutting a flower in half and pressing it between the pages of a heavy book. These come in a variety of options, such as pressed between glass or laminated into bookmarks. If you’re choosing to do this gift at home, you can simply use them to enhance your card as well. 

3. Customizable Puzzle

This gift can be pricey depending where you look, but there are companies that offer these puzzles for around or under twenty dollars, such as Shutterfly. These puzzles let you choose a photo to create out of the pieces, and is a great option for a mother’s day gift without hurting your wallet.

4. Candles

This may seem almost too obvious, but never doubt the magic of a perfect candle as a gift. Big name companies sometimes have daunting prices, but there are plenty of well-made candles that are affordable. Stores online often have candles priced reasonably, as well as trading posts and small storefronts. 

5. A Gift Basket

For this idea, simply purchase a nice basket at a number of different stores, such as Target and Walmart, and fill it with knick knacks that your mother would like. You can also add homemade treats such as cookies or muffins if you choose to do so. This gift can cost as much or as little as you want it to, and is extremely easy to assemble.

Mother’s Day doesn’t have to break the bank, and there are countless gifts that you can purchase for an affordable price to show your appreciation for your mother. Many stores send out catalogues around this time of year for sales on gifts. If you want to buy flowers, skip the expensive floral arrangement and pick up a bouquet at the grocery store and put it in a nice vase instead. Trader Joe's has a wide variety of options at a range of prices and their flowers tend to last for a long time.

If you choose gifts with care, they will always mean something, despite the price tag on them. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing mothers out there, we love you and adore you!!

Despite the fact that this Easter and spring season will still look very unusual compared to years past, we can all still look forward to all of the brightness that this beautiful season brings to our lives. The springtime is always filled with optimism and brightness(in colors and happiness), as many look forward to Easter, fun activities, the weather, flowers, etc. To truly grasp and understand the perspective of the student body here at Seneca, the Bird’s Eye View staff sent out a survey for fellow students to fill out.

The Easter survey first started off by asking the students five fun questions about their specific preferences about this time of year. The first question asked about student’s favorite Easter/Easter-related movies. The choices included, Peter Rabbit, Rise of the Guardians, Easter Under Wraps, HOP, It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, and Zootopia. The favorite movie with a total of 37.5% of the votes was HOP. Yet, the 2012 film, Rise of the Guardians, came in a close second with 25%.

Next, the students were asked to pick their favorite Easter candy. The options were Hershey’s Easter Bunnies, Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs, Cadbury Creme Eggs, Peeps, Jelly Beans, and Hershey’s Kisses. Unsurprisingly, the universal jelly beans came in first with 37.5% of the total votes. Then, there was a tie for second between the classic Cadbury Creme Eggs and Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs, both coming in with 18.8%.

The third multiple choice question asked about the students’ favorite Easter symbol/theme. They could choose from one of the following: eggs, bunnies, the pastel colors, or lilies. Predictably, pastel colors had the most votes with an astonishing 62.5% of all the votes. As for second, bunnies took that spot with 18.8%.

For the fourth question, students were asked to choose what their favorite part about Easter is. Their options included the Easter egg hunts, going to brunch or eating out on Easter morning, watching Easter/spring movies, and going to mass on Easter Sunday. As expected, the majority vote went to the Easter egg hunts, which gathered a total of 50% of the votes. Then, going to brunch or eating out on Easter morning came in second with a close 37.5% of all the votes.

Finally, the last easy and fun question was where the students got the opportunity to rank Easter, as a whole, from 1 to 10(1 being they don’t like Easter at all, 10 being that they absolutely LOVE this time of year). The overall vote showed that most would rate it an 8, coming in with 25% of the vote. This is because many students rank Easter either a 7, 9, or 10.

After the quick questions about Easter, students could now briefly explain and describe their Easter/spring break plans for this year. Many responses were very similar and ranged from just staying home due to COVID-19, safely visiting family, Easter egg hunts, and just simply spending quality time with loved ones. Once they mentioned their plans, many also continued on about how much they love the Easter season! For instance, countless students detailed how they enjoy getting time to spend with family, eating candy, the weather, celebrating an important time religiously, etc.

Overall, despite all of the changes that we have to adjust to and sacrifices that we have to make, this time of year can still be looked at from a positive perspective! The spring and Easter season bring so much optimistic and positive energy that we must use it to our advantage, especially during these times. From all of us at The Bird’s Eye View, we’re wishing you and your families a happy, health, and safe spring break and Easter!!

It’s just about that time of year again! Eggs are hiding in the bushes and chocolate bunnies are stocking the shelves. That’s right--it’s Easter time! Many families celebrate the holiday slightly differently, if at all. I interviewed some of our Seneca Family to see how they typically spend the holiday, and I also asked them if our global pandemic affected their plans at all.

Kayla Mau, a freshman, explained that when her family wakes up, they open their Easter baskets. Then, her extended family comes to her family’s house for dinner, and they all have an Easter egg hunt. She says that unfortunately, the pandemic did alter her Easter last year, but only at her dad’s house, not her mom’s.

Kira Steiner, an 11th grader, reminisced when she told us how she used to look for eggs that her parents had hid around their house. Now that she’s older, she watches as her younger sister scrambles around to find the eggs, and “enjoys that experience herself”. Following the egg hunt, her family goes out for lunch to “enjoy each other’s company..it’s a simple day, really”. Kira mentioned that COVID-19 did affect their holiday last year, and they didn’t get to go out for lunch. She hopes that this year will be different, “a step back to normal”.

Kaitey Kunz, a junior, typically spends Easter with her family, as well. Her grandparents live right next door to her house, so they all enjoy breakfast together. Then, they just hang out at her house all together. Thankfully, the pandemic didn’t affect her tradition too much, since her family is so close.

Many people spend their Easter holiday in a similar way, but to each person, it may mean something different. Some people may have brunch, or an egg hunt, and then others may just spend the day relaxing with family. However you spend it, I sincerely hope it’s a good day for you! Take the day to relax with family, and enjoy the spirit! Happy Easter everyone!

Spring has just arrived and the weather is finally getting warmer, which can only mean one thing: Easter is almost here! The day filled with bunnies, eggs, and pastel colors is coming up soon, which means that activities must be planned to make the day full of fun. 

It wouldn’t be Easter without an Easter egg hunt, but with Covid, certain safety measures need to be in place. One way to safely and successfully complete an Easter egg hunt is to assign each participant a certain color of egg that they are supposed to collect, so that they will only end up touching their own (not including the golden egg, of course). You could also never go wrong with dying eggs with family and friends. You could use paint, stickers or just original dye--whatever you want to make it totally unique! If you want to spend some time outside, you could spend Easter planting a garden, playing at a local park, participating in a game of the sport of your choosing, or going on a nature walk; there is an endless amount of options!

Pinterest has hundreds of Easter crafts that you could make, from printable coloring pages, to step-by-step art creations, to fun snacks. All you have to do is to search “Easter crafts/ideas” and an endless surplus is formed before your eyes. If you are feeling more sentimental around this holiday, you could write a letter and send it out to the people that you care about; anyone would appreciate such a kind gesture! Of course, Easter would not be Easter without taking a picture with the Easter Bunny, which is a must-do for this holiday. There are so many things that you can do to have fun this Easter, but the most important thing is to take time to appreciate your loved ones.

Megan McNamara

When we think of Easter, we often think of bunnies, eggs and candy. However, Easter is a religious holiday, but most of the aspects associated with it are never mentioned in the Bible. So, how on Earth did these traditions come to be?

The Easter Bunny

The first believed mention of an Easter bunny comes from German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. The “Osterhase”, tied to the spring goddess Ostara, was a mythical creature who looked like a hare and laid colored eggs. Much like Santa on Christmas Eve, some children would leave out carrots for the hare, and make nests for the eggs. Overtime, the tradition morphed from just laying eggs to also bringing candy and other treats for the children.

Easter Eggs

Yes, the Osterhase supposedly laid the eggs for children. However, there are other explanations for this specific tradition. One comes from pagan spring festivals. The egg represents rebirth and new life. Another comes from decorating the eggs during the Lenten season, and then eating them once the period of time was over. Christianity explains the eggs as a metaphor for Jesus’ resurrection: the chick is Jesus, and the eggshell is the tomb. 

Easter Parade

On Easter Sunday, 5th Avenue of New York City is flooded with people in flowery, brightly colored hats. This tradition originated in the 19th century. Well-to-do Christians would finish up their Easter church services and take a pleasant walk down the avenue. They would show off their latest clothing, making the parade a glorified fashion show. Storefronts quickly caught on and would create festive displays in shop windows. At the time, beautiful hats were in style, and the tradition stuck around.

Easter Candy

You might be asking, “What’s chocolate got to do with Easter?”. Interestingly enough, chocolate actually plays a significant role in this holiday besides the fact that it’s delicious. Many give up sweets for Lent, and enjoy them again on Easter. In 19th century Europe, moulding chocolate into different shapes, such as eggs or rabbits, proved to be quite the feat to overcome. As it began to become easier to work with the chocolate over time, the chocolate eggs shifted from being very plain to carving designs on the outer shell of the chocolate. As for jellybeans and Jordan Almonds--they look similar to Easter eggs, so into the basket they go.

Easter Lilies

Flowers are associated with Spring and rebirth, but the Easter Lily holds even more meaning in regards to the holiday. Their white color represents the purity of Christ, 

and many Christians view them as a symbol of hope.

Some of these traditions have seemingly nothing to do with the holiday itself. But it’s fascinating to see how people give and take from other traditions and form entirely new ones over time.

Passover 2021

In the year 2021, the Jewish holiday Passover, also called Pesach, is being celebrated from Saturday, March 27th to Sunday, April 4th.

The holiday’s origins revolve around the book Exodus of the Bible, explaining the enslavement of the ancient Hebrews in Egypt with the celebration mainly focusing on how the slaves were freed. This story is the main part of the Torah (the Jewish holy book that also constitutes the first five books of the Christian Old Testament) and reflects the general themes of Jewish history, which is the desire of liberty from foreign powers.

The Origins of Passover

In the book of Exodus, the Pharaoh, or the ruler of Egypt, begins to worry about the Jewish people overwhelming the population of his own people. In response to this, he forces them into slavery as well as orders any son of the Hebrews be drowned in the Nile river. This is where a man (you have probably heard of) named Moses comes in.

Moses was a baby when he was adopted by the Pharaoh’s daughter, who hid him away and raised him. When he grew up, he was told by God to command Pharaoh to let the Jewish people go. The Pharaoh refused, and God responded by sending Ten Plagues upon Egypt.

The Ten Plagues consisted of demonstrations of God’s power over the gods of Egypt. First, he turned the Nile River into blood. He then sent frogs, lice, and flies. He put a plague on the livestock, and then cursed the Egyptians with boils. He sent hail and swarms of locusts. Then, he cursed all of Egypt with a blanket of darkness.

Finally, the last plague, from which Passover derives its name, was put into place. The final plague consisted of the death of the firstborn of any sons of Egypt, whether that be the Pharaoh’s, a servant’s, or the livestock. However, the Jewish people were told that if they wanted the lives of their firstborn sons to be saved, they were to put lamb’s blood on the door of the home, making the plague “pass over” them.

During this event, the Pharaoh's son was killed, convincing him to let the Jewish people go free. However, he changed his mind, chasing them until they reached the Red Sea, where God parted the waters, finally leading the Hebrew people to freedom in Canaan.

The Holiday Passover

The traditions of Passover are holding a Seder for the first night (or two nights if you live in Israel). The Seder is the traditional Passover meal that includes reading, drinking four cups of wine (representing the liberation from the Pharaoh’s four decrees), telling stories, eating special foods, singing, and other traditions.

During the time of Passover, those who celebrate it may not eat anything containing chametz (things that contain grain that has risen). This is related to the fact the people did not have enough time for their bread to rise before fleeing Egypt on the journey to freedom. Prior to the holiday, houses are thoroughly cleaned and so are kitchens. There are certain utensils and dishes used specifically for Passover as well.

Conclusion

As you can see, the celebration of Passover is an important one. For Jewish people, it defines the birth of their nation, and the root of the meaning of their culture. Happy Passover!

Sources:

https://www.vox.com/2014/8/5/18001980/what-is-the-passover-story 

https://www.vox.com/2014/8/5/18002022/what-are-the-ten-plagues 

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/what-are-10-plagues-egypt#livestock 

https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default_cdo/jewish/Passover.htm

https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1751/jewish/What-Is-a-Seder-Passover-Meal.htm 

St. Patrick’s Day is a well-known holiday not only celebrated in the United States but around the world as well! This holiday, recognized on March 17th, can be celebrated in various ways such as parades, focusing on Saint Patrick, dressing in green, eating traditional Irish foods, and much more! Continue reading this article to discover multiple aspects of this day special to many.

History

The history of St. Patrick’s Day is unique and different from others. For instance, Saint Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland as well as the country’s apostle. Patrick was born in Roman Britain and at sixteen years old, he was brought to Ireland as a slave after being kidnapped. Fortunately, he eventually escaped but then returned to the country and was known for bringing Christianity to the people. It is believed that he died on March 17, 461; therefore, many celebrate his legacy on this day.

Since about the ninth century, the people of Ireland have “observed” the Roman Catholic feast day of Saint Patrick on the 17th of March. In fact, the first-ever parade wasn’t located in Ireland. Instead, it took place right here in the United States of America. According to accessible records, a St. Patty’s Day parade was held in 1601 in what was a Spanish colony at the time but is now St. Augustine, Florida. Approximately one hundred years later, Irish soldiers experiencing homesickness while serving in the English military chose to march in NYC on this day in 1772. They decided to do this because they wanted to honor Saint Patrick. Over time, the enthusiasm for these parades has only grown.

Food

Since St. Patrick’s Day is heavily focused on Irish culture, there are countless foods that families with this heritage make and enjoy with their loved ones. Some of the most traditional dishes to make are corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and Irish soda bread. Check out the links below if you’d be interested in making any of recipes listed above!

Corned Beef and Cabbage: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/16310/corned-beef-and-cabbage-i/ 

Shepherd’s Pie: https://www.thewholesomedish.com/the-best-classic-shepherds-pie/ 

Irish Soda Bread: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/grandmas-irish-soda-bread/ 

Celebrations

As mentioned earlier, there are multiple different celebrations for St. Patty’s day, specifically parades. Yet, what about the history behind them? In the year 1848, several New York Irish Aid societies chose to unite all of their parades into one to form the official New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Fast forward to present day and now it’s the world’s oldest civilian parade and the biggest in the United States of America with 150,000+ participants. Each year, about 3 million people line the 1.5-mile parate route to watch the parade, which lasts for over five hours. Yet, New York City isn’t the only city in America that celebrates with a parade. Others that do similar things are Chicago, Philadelphia, and Savannah, which all have around 10,000 to 20,000 participants each. Chicago even dyes their river bright green for the occasion.

Colors and Outfits

Considering the fact that green(dark and/or light) is the main, and practically only, color “used” on St. Patrick’s day, it is the one mostly associated with decorations and attire. The reason why green is so popular with this holiday is because in the 1800s, green became a symbol for the country of Ireland. Thus, wearing this color is essentially viewed as an act of “paying tribute” to the nation. If you’re looking for ways to incorporate green on this day, consider wearing any shirts/outfits with leprechauns, shamrocks, and/or any other meaningful symbols of Ireland. 

Symbols

Interestingly enough, there are actually quite a few different symbols for St. Patrick’s Day. However, probably the most well-known one is the shamrock. The word, “shamrock”, is a popular name for various kinds of three-leafed clovers that are native to Ireland. It was chosen as their national symbol because of the legend that Saint Patrick himself had used it to demonstrate the doctrine of the Christian Holy Trinity. For instance, he did this by explaining the meaning of the three-in-one by picking out a shamrock from the grass and showing it to the listeners with him. Not only that, but the people of Ireland have considered it as a good-luck symbol for a long time.

Another famous symbol of this global holiday is the “leprechaun”. In fact, this word comes from the old word “luchorpan” which means “little body”. Since this word comes from Irish roots, a leprechaun is essentially an Irish fairy who resembles a small, old man that is about 2 feet tall. Along with that, but they’re also usually dressed like a shoemaker, with a hat that’s crooked and a leather apron, too! Unfortunately, according to legends, they are known to be mean and aloof and even live alone. Yet, they have a hidden pot of gold!

The last main symbol of St. Patty’s day is the harp. As most know, the harp is not only a musical instrument, but one that’s considered to be ancient as well. This is yet another symbol of Ireland! Harpists, who were commonly known to be blind, occupied an honored place in their society. For example, harpists, and poets, were so important to the structure of their country that they were even supported by chieftains and kings! Despite the fact that it isn’t as recognizable, especially for this holiday, it’s a popularly used symbol and appears on Irish coins, state seals, uniforms, etc.

Sources:

https://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/photos/favorite-st-patricks-day-recipes 

https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day 

https://english-zone.com/holidays/st-patsymbols.html#:~:text=One%20traditional%20symbol%20of%20Saint,the%20doctrine%20of%20the%20Trinity

What is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday(the literal French translation), is a holiday celebrated in predominantly Catholic areas around the world. The event has other names such as Shrove Tuesday and Pancake Day. In America, Mardi Gras is largely celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana. Nowadays, it is best known for its celebrations, parties, and parades, but the holiday has religious roots within Christian beliefs dating back thousands of years.

The First Mardi Gras

The origin of the holiday takes place on March 2, 1699, when the French-Canadian explorer, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville, arrived somewhere relatively close to New Orleans. He named this place “Point du Mardi Gras.” His men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday, prompting the name.

Bienvielle also established another place in 1702, and in 1703, America's first Mardi Gras was celebrated at Fort Louis de la Mobile.

Much later, he would be the founder of New Orleans (60 miles up north from Point du Mardi Gras).

The “Krewe”

One of the main highlights to the holiday is the large celebrations and parades that include intricate costumes and floats. These are made by no other than the krewe (pronounced like the word “crew”).

Many people believe that they are based off of the secret society that was established in 1704 called the “Masque de la Mobile”. The society lasted until 1709, and then became a new society called the Boeuf Gras Society (Boeuf Gras meaning “Fatted Cow” in French). This one lasted for around a century and a half.

However, these Krewes also have a darker origin. When racism was a prominent thing in New Orleans, many black neighborhoods felt they couldn’t participate in the New Orleans parade. Eventually, they made up their own ways to celebrate Mardi Gras. Their krewes were named after imaginary Indian tribes to pay respects for those who aided in escaping the tyranny of slavery. Local Indians would often accept them when they made a break for freedom. This is why costumes associated with Mardi Gras are similar/based on Indian culture.

As said before, the Krewes make the floats and costumes. Both of these integral parts take almost all year to prepare, and costumes can cost as much as $1,500, which isn't as bad compared to how much the floats cost to make: $30,000 to $100,000! Often they support the colors of Mardi Gras, chosen in 1872 by Rex, the King of Carnival (this holiday is around the same time as Mardi Gras). The three colors are purple (justice), gold (power), and green (faith).

Throws

Once again, the secret society of the Boeuf Gras was unfortunately disbanded, but a new one popped up. In 1870, the second Krewe (the Masque de la Mobile wasn’t considered a Krewe), known as the Twelfth Night Revelers, was formed. This was the first account of Mardis Gras “throws,” or little items that are thrown off the floats in the Mardi Gras parade.

Throws often include doubloons, beads, cups, homemade trinkets, and toys in the Mardi Gras colors.

Yardi Gras (2021)

Mardis Gras took place this year on February 16th. However, due to COVID-19, an alternative had to be planned due to the CDC guidelines prohibiting the usual celebration. Nevertheless, New Orleans still knows how to party no matter what, and managed to get around the guidelines by preparing a “Yardi Gras” instead.

The premise of the holiday was still the same, but instead of floats, they decorated their houses (or “yards”) in order to follow social distancing guidelines. Each house had a different theme decided by their crew, and their property was decorating accordingly. 

Conclusion

Mardi Gras is a fun and exciting holiday, as well as a meaningful one. Multiple cultures come together and celebrate in order to promote unity, and with what happened in 2020, New Orleans made it their top priority to “let the good times roll” or, in French, “laissez les bon temps rouler.”

Sources:

https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history/ 

https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history/mardi-gras-indians/ 

Valentine’s Day is a well-known holiday celebrated here in the United States of America and other countries around the world. However, everybody has their own unique opinions about this day that is more important to some than others. Whether you usually celebrate Valentine’s Day with friends, a significant other, or even just yourself, everyone has their own thoughts and certain experiences. Continue reading to discover how some of Seneca’s very own students responded to a survey about their favorites and feelings about Valentine’s Day.

The first question in this survey asked what their favorite Valentine’s Day movie was. The options were 10 Things I Hate About You, Valentine’s Day, The Notebook, and Love Actually. With no surprise, the famous The Notebook, won the majority vote with 10 Things I Hate About You following in second place.

Next, they were asked about their favorite candy/snack with the following options: box of chocolates, Reese’s hearts, conversation hearts, Hershey’s lava cake kisses, pink and red lollipops, and Starburst FaveReds. The winner ended up being a box of chocolates, with 37.5% of votes, as we all know it is one of the most common gifts someone can give their significant other on this holiday. Yet, Hershey’s lava cake kisses came in a close second with 25% of the votes.

For the third question, the students were asked who/what is their favorite Valentine’s Day symbol. The options that they had to choose from were hearts, Cupid, red roses, and love birds. The majority of them selected hearts which came in with 37.5% of the total votes. In second, there was actually a tie between Cupid and red roses, both carrying 25%.

Then, for the final multiple choice question, they were asked what their favorite part/memory about V-Day in elementary school was. They could choose from three choices: giving and receiving candy, having some time off to relax during the school day, and Valentine boxes. The majority showed that Valentine boxes were a favorite highlight of elementary school memories. Nonetheless, giving and receiving candy followed with 37.5% of the vote, just one short of tying with Valentine boxes.

Before the open-ended questions, the students were asked to rank Valentine’s Day from 1-10(1 being that they strongly despise the holiday, 10 being they love V-Day). In fact, there was actually a very interesting turnout. For instance, there was a four-way tie for 4, 5, 6, and 10 and each had 18.8% of votes!

Finally, students were asked to answer two open-ended questions. The first one asked, “What are your Valentine’s Day plans for this year?”. There were a variety of responses, all ranging from spending time with family and/or friends, eating candy, watching movies and tv shows, and cooking/baking. The second question asked, “What do you love most about Valentine’s Day?”. Yet again, there was much diversity with the answers being along the lines of candy, seeing everyone happy, the love in the air, dressing up in red and pink, and the time spent with loved ones.

Overall, even though Valentine’s Day may not be a holiday for everyone, it’s definitely a day where there are endless options to do whatever you want. No matter what, make sure that on this Valentine’s Day, you’re staying positive, spending time with loved ones, and eating as much candy as possible. Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Valentine's Day is known to humanity as a day of love, when people all over the world make an extra effort of kindness and romanticism for their loved ones. While we might celebrate the holiday with chocolates, roses, and heartfelt cards in today’s era, it wasn’t always recognized in such a manner. So, how did the day of “XOXO”’s and “I love you”’s begin in the first place?

The exact details of the holiday’s creation are heavily debated by many historians, but Valentine's Day is agreed to be named after Saint Valentine, otherwise known as the “Patron of Lovers''. It is also a common belief that Pope Gelasius designed the celebration in the third century A.D. to mask the pagen holiday of Lupercalia, which was celebrated by many on February 15th.  

The celebration of Lupercalia was especially important to the ancient Romans, who observed the holiday in order to honor Luperca, the god of fertility, throughout their communities. They began the commemoration with an animal sacrifice by the Roman priests. At least one male dog and male goat were killed in this ancient ritual, which was intended to represent sexuality. The spilled blood was then used to decorate the foreheads of two naked priests, and wiped off with a piece of sheep’s wool that had been soaked in milk. This demonstration represented the making of new life, or offspring. The famous Feast of Lupercal followed the display, which simply consisted of mass eating for a prolonged period of time. After that, the celebration took on a more “sensual” aura. Some Roman men were given strips of the sacrificed goat’s hide, while women prepared to receive fertility-filled lashes. Many historians have noted that, surprisingly, the Roman women eagerly awaited the annual strokes, some going so far as to undress to collect red welts on their bare skin. Finally, the time for matchmaking would arrive.  Men would excitedly pick the name of a woman within their community from afar, who they would then stay with for the rest of the festival. The goal of this was to impregnate as many women as possible to further glorify the Roman god of Luperca, who was legend to have been a female wolf that raised the founders of Rome from infancy. In the end, many of these couples truly fell in love with each other, and eventually married.  

Through the history of Lupercalia, many similarities can be drawn between the heathen holiday and present-day Valentine’s Day.  For example, the red and white color schemes match in both holidays, although the hues once represented a symbolic combination of milk and blood.  The holidays also have comparable themes, although, much more chaste and civilized  in today’s day and age.  

All in all, the seemingly-innocent day of conversation hearts, hugs, and kisses had a much more bizarre start than you may have thought.  

Movies are a large part of many people’s lives. They excite us, or even just distract us. This Valentine’s Day, when it’s advised to stay in our homes, a good list of movies is more than welcomed.

10. Love, Actually (2003)

Love, Actually follows a group of people in various different romantic situations. Filled with drama and, of course, love, this movie explores each character’s life as they navigate the holiday season. Watch for free on Peacock, or rent/buy on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu, or Google Play and iTunes.

9. Titanic (1999)

Titanic is filmed in a more dramatic, serious way than the last movie, and for good reason: the movie tells the story of a now elderly woman’s tragic love story on the RMS Titanic. A heartbreaking story that deals with love, loss, and class divide, Titanic is considered a classic. Free with subscription to Hulu, Starz, Sling TV and Amazon Prime, or rent/buy from YouTube, Vudu, or Google Play and iTunes.

8. The Notebook (2004)

Based off of the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, The Notebook is a story of summer romance between a poor man and a rich woman, one that has to go through the tests of time, miscommunication, and even another engagement. With all that the main characters go through, this emotional rollercoaster of a movie is definitely a tearjerker. Free with subscription on Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Starz, and Sling TV, or rent/buy on YouTube, Vudu, or Google Play and iTunes.

7. The Princess Diaries 1 and 2 (2001, 2004)

While these movies might not be the obvious choice for Valentine’s Day, amidst the trials and tribulations of being thrust into a royal lifestyle after years of living an ordinary one, the main character, Mia Thermopolis, also navigates her love life as well. While the first movie has far less to do with Mia’s romantic life than the second, both are still highly worth the watch. Both are free with a Disney+ subscription, or rent/buy on YouTube, Vudu, Amazon Prime, or Google Play and iTunes.

6. Enchanted (2007)

This movie starts off animated, and shows the life of Giselle, a young woman who finds herself engaged to a prince. On her wedding day, however, she is thrust into a real-live New York City, due to a jealous witch. Giselle is clueless about the modern, busy world, and relies on a father and daughter during her stay. However, when she gets the opportunity to go back to her animated fairy-tale world, Giselle finds that she isn’t so sure she wants to leave real life. 

5. Dirty Dancing (1987)

This classic movie follows a wealthy young woman who falls for the dance instructor at the mountain resort her family is staying at. Her father, however, disapproves of the relationship. Dirty Dancing is filled with drama, a distinctly 80s sounding soundtrack, and of course, that famous lift scene. Free with subscription on Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime, or rent/buy on YouTube, Vudu, or Google Play and iTunes.

4. Pride and Prejudice (2005)

The Jane Austen literary classic has had it’s fair share of adaptations, but the 2004 film is one of the most popular. Set between the late 1700s, this movie explores class differences and it’s ties to romance, as well as family relationships. The movie is free on Peacock, free with subscription on Hulu, Sling TV, fuboTV, Amazon Prime, and Showtime, or rent/buy on YouTube, Vudu, or Google Play and iTunes.

3. Casablanca (1942)

Casablanca is a classic war and romance film. Set during World War II, the characters must navigate the troubles that come their way due to the war, along with everyday trials, such as heartbreak. Watch on HBO Max for free with subscription, or rent/buy on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu, or iTunes.

2. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

This movie follows a woman who discovers her boyfriend's family is extremely wealthy while traveling with him for his best friend’s wedding. She spends her time dealing with troubles such as her boyfriend’s disapproving mother, and of course, the fact that her boyfriend is the most eligible bachelor and everyone wants her spot next to him. Watch for free with subscription on HBO Max, Hulu, and Sling TV, or rent/buy on YouTube, Vudu, or Google Play and iTunes.

1. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

10 Things I Hate About You is a modern day adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of

the Shrew,” set in a high school. A young couple wants to start dating, but the girl’s father decides that she can only date if she can get her rebellious older sister to date, as well. Enter a stereotypical bad boy, who is tasked with winning the rebellious sister’s heart so that the young couple can be together. However, the catch is, the rebellious sister is the only one out of the four who doesn’t know this plan, so the other three are constantly trying to make sure everything doesn’t hit the fan. (Spoiler Alert: It does). Watch for free with a subscription to Disney+, or rent/buy on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu, or Google Play and iTunes.

Valentine’s Day is our National Holiday of Love. A lot of people see it as nothing more than a commercial holiday; a day for some companies to make more profit. Others may see it as a day dedicated to showing the love we share for those in our lives. Growing up, some people have very fond memories of the holiday. Others grew up just recognizing it as a normal day. Let’s hear how the students of Seneca High School spend their Valentine’s Day, and some of their best memories of this holiday.

Keegan Sokorai says that he doesn’t do much, with the exception of buying some chocolate for himself. He’s been doing this for a few years now, though he’s never made a huge deal of the holiday. 

Carly Carter usually spends her Valentine’s Day with her loved ones. One year, she recalls going to her grandparents’ cabin located in upstate New York. She spent the day there with her family.

After asking a multitude of other students, including Jajandra Cruz and Zack Dahms, it seems that many students don’t go overboard for their Valentine’s Days. In fact, most of them just take the day to relax. “It’s treated as a normal day for the most part,” Nick Muscella says.

My Valentine’s Days have always been special. Normally, since it was on a weekday, my parents would have work, and my sister and I would have school. My mom normally got home first, followed by my dad, who was always home 45 minutes late on February 14th. He would bring my sister and I something different each year. Normally, it was varieties of chocolate, but I remember one year in particular that stood out from the rest. When I was around 9 years old, my Dad came home and gave my sister and me each a pegasus stuffed animal. It had embroidered candy hearts on the sides and it was a pretty pink color, my favorite at the time. It meant so much to me, and I’ve kept it to this day. 

Everyone may spend February 14th differently and that’s okay! Some spend it with festivities, the one they love, or even themselves! It’s important to have some self-love as well. Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be spent with your significant other, but it can also be with everyone else you love. Friends..family..your pets..or even yourself!

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, leaving an abundance of individuals worried about what they are going to get for those special people in their lives. Whether it be for a friend, family member, or significant other, finding that perfect gift can be quite the struggle. You want the gift to feel personal to the recipient, but you also want something that is functional and used often. For this reason, I’ve compiled a list of the top ten gifts that you can give for Valentine’s Day. 

If your significant other loves a classic version of the special day, you could never go wrong with something such as a bouquet of flowers, a teddy bear, or a box of chocolates. Although traditional, receiving any one of these gifts would put a huge smile on someone's face. 

If you want to go for a more functional present, you could buy them a long-lasting reusable bottle such as a Hydroflask or Yeti cup. These are a bit pricey, but are of great quality and can stand intense conditions. If you want to make this cup even more special, you can get it customized using a website such as ww.etsy.com. 

Another idea is a customized blanket; these blankets can be personalized to have a picture or quote on them, to remind your significant other about you while keeping them warm. 

A gift that anyone would cherish is a new pair of slippers. It has been getting extremely cold the past few months, and slippers could be the cure to keeping warm. They are a very versatile clothing piece, so anyone, no matter their style, could get function out of them. The same thing goes for a new sweater: they are a stylish clothing piece that also can be used often in these chilly months. Yet again, both of these things can be customized to make it even more special to the receiver. 

If buying a ready-to-go gift from a store isn’t your style, you could always DIY (do it yourself) one to make it as personal as it could possibly be to the individual receiving it. One idea is a bouquet filled with your significant other’s favorite candy, games, and gift cards to the stores that they like to shop at. All that you have to do is get a vase and put a piece of styrofoam at the bottom of it. Then, tape the candy/games/gift cards/etc. to a skewer and place them in the vase sticking out from the styrofoam. You could also get a chocolate box, and fill the slots with items of your choosing. They can be filled with things such as crystals, money, or other small gifts. 

Finally, the last gift idea that you could never go wrong with is a special date night that you planned out. You could take your significant other to their favorite restaurant, the movies, the mall, etc. Basically, whatever they would like to do! Or, if they don’t want to leave the house, you could plan a special night in. Order a pizza, play video games, or watch a movie, anything you would enjoy doing, to create your perfect night. Most importantly, remember that Valentine’s Day isn’t about what you give or receive, it is about spending time with and appreciating who you love.

*As a disclaimer, I do not celebrate Chinese New Year. This article has been written purely on research.*

Every year around the world, we celebrate a time full of fresh starts and new beginnings. One of the many celebrations is the Times Square Ball, continuously observed since 1907. However, this tradition is only around North America. Another well-known festivity is the Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year and the Spring-Festival. Usually, you will hear snippets of conversations involving the Chinese Zodiac Wheel, but that seems to be the extent of the discussion. The question is, how much do you actually know about Chinese New Year?

In 2021, Chinese New Year will be on February 12th. Starting on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, workers receive a week-long break to recognize the public holiday (this is the Spring-Festival specifically). This time is used to relax and prepare for the new year with family. 

Chinese New Year actually takes place over the course of fifteen days, and during this time, people are usually putting up decorations. These are an essential part of Chinese New Year, following the legend behind the whole event. 

The legend behind Chinese New Year is that around a thousand years ago, a dastardly beast called Nian 年 (translates to “Year”) would attack people around the new year. Supposedly the monster was afraid of intense colors, bright lights and loud noises, which is why the decorations revolve around the vivid color red. Everywhere is adorned with red lanterns in the streets, red couplets on doors, and red New Year pictures depicting prosperity on bank/official buildings.

Another part of Chinese New Year is fireworks and firecrackers, as well as loud festivals -- all revolving around the fact that the monster Nian despises these types of displays. 

Going along with Nian’s aversion to loud noises and bright lights, a festival usually is in place. This is called the Chinese Dragon Dance. The Dragon Dance was originally used to worship ancestors and pray for rain, starting back in the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). After the Tang Dynasty (618–907) and the Song Dynasty (960–1279), the Dragon Dance became a ceremonial practice mainly done on Chinese New year.

The Dragon Dance is performed with a Dragon Dance Costume, a segmented puppet-like costume that is controlled by people. The “Dragon” is able to be moved and danced around, bobbing its head and a particular segment of the body. The amount of segments in the body is usually an odd number, as odd numbers are seen as auspicious. Dragons that contain more than fifteen joints are very heavy however, and are usually used for display only.

There are two types of dances that can be performed during the Dragon Dance: the Southern Dragon Dance (南龙) and the Northern Dragon Dance (北龙).

The Southern Dragon Dance originates from south of the Yangtze River, and focuses more on the grand appearance of a dragon. The costume is larger and heavier, leading it to be less agile. Commons moves are circling, making 'S' shapes, and lifting the dragon's head above the dragon's body.

The Northern Dragon Dance originates from the north of the Yangtze River. Contrary to the Southern Dragon Dance, the costume is much lighter and makes it easier to move and dance around. The north dragon is more popular for its versatility and ability to dance -- because of this, there are even competitions revolving around the dance.

The noise is also said to scare away bad luck.

Speaking of bad luck, there are several more traditions that are believed to sweep away bad luck and make room for good luck; one of these traditions is cleaning the house.  However, it’s important to be sure not to clean too much -- leaving things barren will rid both bad and good luck. Another bad omen is to sweep on New Year’s day. It is thought that to sweep on this day will mean  leaving bad things behind from the old year and welcome the good things the new year will bring.

One of the sayings during this time is the Cantonese kung hei fat choi, translating to “Greetings, become rich.” In Mandarin it is gongxi facai/gong-sshee faa-tseye. This saying goes along with the tradition of giving younger people and children money in red envelopes, as well as just the tradition of giving each other gifts.

Other decorations include reflections of animals in the Chinese Zodiac, one of the things Americans often recognize. This year, 2021, is the year of the Ox (2020 was the year of the Rat). The Chinese Zodiac is also steeped in legend and many believe that depending on the year you were born, those are the traits you will possess. People born this year are believed to be diligent and hardworking, having an honest nature while being stubborn -- just like an ox. There are other factors that play into it, such as fixed elements to each animal and multiple types of animal, but the base of it is essentially the same (such as those being born in the Ox still having all of the traits mentioned, yet, an “element” Ox is more specific to the person). 

The legend behind the Chinese Zodiac is called The Heavenly Gate Story, or just the Great Race. It determined the order of the Chinese Zodiac (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig) and the supposed personality a person would have.  

The story begins with a man called the Jade Emperor, who wanted twelve animals to guard him. He sent an immortal being to the man’s world to tell everyone, as well as inform them that the earlier you entered the Heavenly gates, the better the rank you would have.

The first two animals to make it were the Rat and the Ox. The Rat has woken up early along with the Ox, and sneaked a ride in the Ox’s ear, only to scamper out of it and run in front of him to be the first one at the gate. The Emperor granted the Rat first place and the Ox second, followed by the Tiger and the Rabbit (respectively third and fourth). The Dragon and the Snake then came, the dragon being fifth. The Jade Emperor noted the Dragon’s beauty and declared his son would be sixth. The Dragon’s son did not show up however, and the Snake told the Emperor that he was the Dragon’s son, earning him sixth place. The Horse and Goat came next, noted for their kindness and politeness towards each other, being ranked seventh and eighth. Afterwards the Monkey became ninth, the Rooster became tenth, the Dog became eleventh, and lastly, the Pig became the twelfth. Depending on the animal acted in the story, the person’s traits would reflect that animal (such as the Rat being quick-witted or the Horse and Goat being kind).

The Chinese Zodiac is an important symbol of Chinese New Year, just like the monster Nian.

Thank you for reading this article on Chinese New Year, and feel free to check out the websites below for more information I didn’t cover. There is so much more to this beautiful, thoughtful tradition, and I hope you learned something reading about it!

Citations:

https://www.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-new-years-eve/nye-history-times-square-ball 

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chinese-New-Year 

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/china/spring-festival 

https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/special-report/chinese-new-year/

https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/ox.htm

https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/story.htm 

https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/special-report/chinese-new-year/new-year-dragon-dance.htm https://horoscopes.lovetoknow.com/Chinese_New_Year_Zodiac_Chart 

Despite the fact that this holiday season will bring many unusual changes, we can all still look forward to the overwhelming joy of the holidays. The holiday season is one filled with happiness and excitement, as many look forward to decorating, giving and receiving, and spending time with family. To truly understand the perspective of the student body here at Seneca High School, the Bird’s Eye View staff sent out a survey for fellow students to fill out.

The student survey started off by asking seven fun questions about student’s personal opinions and Christmas favorites. The first question asked about student’s favorite Christmas movies. The options included Elf, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone (any one of them), A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The favorite movie with 50% of the votes was Home Alone. Unsurprisingly, Elf came in a close second with 33.3% of the votes. 

Next, the teens were asked to choose their favorite Christmas song. The choices were “All I Want for Christmas is You”, “Last Christmas”, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”, “Mistletoe”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. Foreseeably, the famous “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey won with a whopping 50%, with four of the other songs all tied for second. 

The third question asked students about their favorite decoration: a Christmas tree, stockings, floats, or lights. Interestingly enough, only two out of the four decorations were selected (Christmas tree and lights), with both of them tying for first.

For the fourth question, students were asked to select their wake-up times on December 25th: wake up early or sleep in. Although the results were close, waking up early won overall. The results showed that it was very close, but waking up early won with 55.6%, and sleeping in was left with 44.4%.

Up next on the list of questions was the topic of desserts/treats. Students got to choose from peppermint bark, eggnog, gingerbread men cookies, candy canes, hot chocolate, and yule log. The winner ended up being hot chocolate with 55.6% and candy canes and peppermint bark were tied for second place, both having 16.7% of the votes.

The interviewees were then asked what they enjoy most: giving presents, receiving presents, or half and half. The votes showed that the majority chose half and half with 72.2%. However, giving gifts came in second place.

Finally, the last quick and fun question was actually one where they were told to rate their love for Christmas on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being they don’t like Christmas at all, 10 being that they absolutely LOVED the holiday). The total votes showed that two numbers, 9 and 10, were tied for first place with each having 38.9%.

Students also had the option to briefly describe their holiday plans for this year, given our current circumstances. Many responses were similar and ranged from relaxing and opening gifts with family, baking breakfast, reading the story of Jesus, etc. After explaining their plans for the holiday, many commented on how they still had joy and excitement in their hearts for this wonderful time of year. For instance, may described their love for the weather, the decorations, the time they get to spend with family, etc.

Overall, despite what craziness this year has brought to each and every single one of us, it has probably been one of the most important years of our lives. This year, we’ve learned so much about ourselves, our family and friends, and even our country as a whole. It has been quite the wild ride, and it wasn’t necessarily fun, but it brought along very important and valuable lessons such as the importance of relationships, love, and hope. 

After a long year with all of the craziness that was brought upon us, it's finally the holiday season! One of the best parts of this time of year is the holiday traditions people share with their families. Check out some of the traditions celebrated by members of our Seneca family. 

Michalah Dillard, a sophomore here at Seneca, and her family, get matching pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve. They also get a new ornament each year to put on the tree! On Christmas Morning, her mom makes french toast. Later in the day, her grandparents come to her house to spend time together as well. Michalah doesn't know how long exactly this tradition has gone on for, but she hopes to keep it going for a long time.

Lydia Van Walsen, also a sophomore, will go with her dad and brother to visit her aunt's family on Christmas Eve! They will then all go to a church service and following this, return to her aunt’s house for dinner and presents!

Olivia Jackson, a junior, goes to La Campagnola for a Christmas Eve dinner. Her family has done Christmas Eve dinners for a long time, but they’ve only been going to La Campagnola for a few years now. 

Jorja Cooper, a senior, also does a special dinner with her family on Christmas Eve! Her family, and cousins, all gather at her Grandma’s house and they spend time together there!

Mr. Knecht, an Assistant Principal, will make a seafood dinner on Christmas Eve! He and his family make seafood to honor the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian-American tradition. While his family doesn’t eat seven fish, they make seafood dishes, such as Linguini and clams, along with some shrimp!

For my family, we wear matching pajamas on Christmas Eve, and bake cookies for Santa. We also take the trunk of our Christmas Tree from the year prior, and we use it to start the fire. It's similar to a “Yule Log”! On Christmas morning, we all eat Cinnabon, which we got the day before, and we open gifts together!

Holiday traditions are always so interesting to hear about. Some of them are common and relatable, which is fun! However, others are intriguing and cool to hear about too! Everybody celebrates in different ways, which creates a beautiful and unique holiday! All of us here at the Bird’s Eye View hope that you have a safe, and happy holiday season!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

With the holiday season quickly approaching, many students at Seneca are getting excited just thinking about all this time of year has to offer--food, traditions, movies, and more. However, they aren’t the only ones that are enthusiastic; Seneca’s teaching faculty is, as well.

Mr. Styers, from the music department, says the best part of the holiday season is “celebrating the purpose of Christmas,” and that there is no bad part. A tradition his family participates in every year is opening one present each on Christmas Eve, and his favorite holiday food is Honeyglazed Ham. When asked about his favorite holiday song, he responded with “Joy to the World”, and when asked about his favorite holiday movie, he answered A Christmas Story. Not much has changed with his usual holiday routine, though. He said, “Since we see our family all year long, things are about the same.”

Another teacher says that their holiday experience will be different this year because they won’t be able to see their family. They believe that the best thing about this time of year is being able to do so. “The worst is that you work up to the start of the holiday, then it’s over.” Their favorite holiday song is “Oh, Holy Night,” and their favorite holiday movies are the old stop motion specials- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming To Town, etc. “A Portuguese pudding we make every year,” is their answer on their favorite holiday dish.

For Mrs. Smith, an English teacher, her holiday season will be very much like her Thanksgiving was. “I have a massive family that is spread throughout the country and world,” she explained. “Normally, we always find ways to get together for the holidays. This year, it was just my immediate family gathered for Thanksgiving, as we wanted to be sure we maintained our bubble and kept everyone safe. I still heard about life in Zimbabwe from my sister, but instead of sitting at the table, she was sitting on the computer (in a computer via a Zoom call). Christmas will be the same.” Growing up on a farm, a tradition that is unique to her family is having dinner at one in the afternoon, celebrating between milking the cows twice a day. Also, another one is oyster stew on Christmas Eve. Her favorite holiday treats are gingerbread cookies, and her grandmother’s german chocolate layered ladyfingers. Her favorite part about the holidays is putting the Christmas tree up, and she gets sad when it’s time for it to come down. Mrs. Smith says her favorite holiday song is “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, by Bing Crosby, and feels that the lyrics are very fitting given the current situations. Her favorite holiday movie is It’s A Wonderful Life… followed by Elf… and then National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation… and still White Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. “Okay! Okay! I love them all!” she exclaimed.

Teachers are just as excited about the holidays as much as students are, and are going through the same sort of situations due to the still-new climate COVID-19 has put us all in. It’s important more than ever to remember what makes this time of year so special and to see the silver linings.

Through the decades, the winter holidays have been the motivation for countless festive parties with family and friends. However, the months of 2020 leading up to December have been anything but traditional, and that fact is not subject to change now. In fact, the CDC has recommended that all U.S. citizens stay home with their immediate family during the time of year dedicated to visiting those we usually don’t have the opportunity to see.Though the restrictions might be putting a whupping on your holiday spirit, below are a few activities that will still allow you to stay safe, while still enjoying the customary festivities.

Ride Through A Holiday Light Drive-Through

These exciting events are popping up everywhere, and are sure to brighten up your mood. In addition, they are relatively cheap activities to attend, as many businesses are charging by the car. What better reason to squish your housemates into a car than enjoying these cheery displays?  

If you are interested in seeing one of these magnificent, drive-through displays, consider Six Flags: Holiday in the Park, Shady Brook Farm: Holiday Light Show, or the South Jersey Holiday Light Show. Each is guaranteed to put a twinkle in your eye this winter. 

Watch the Classics at a Drive in Theater

In nearly every household, one holiday movie is favored above the rest. Even if up-and-coming movies are more of your family’s preference, this is equally an option for you! As the pandemic rages on, drive-in movie theaters are making a comeback as a safe option to get out of the house.  If this activity isn’t for you, don’t worry: there’s always the Hallmark Channel to make you happy with their cheesy, seasonal rom-coms.

If you are interested in attending a movie at a drive-in theater, consider the Delsea Drive-In Theatre, or Bengies Drive-In Theatre.  

Enjoy a Family Fun Night at Home

Although the holidays are notoriously known for escalating stress levels between family members, planned activities can help to make the season more relaxing. A game night with your household members could involve exciting activities including building gingerbread houses, making hot cocoa, having a white elephant gift exchange, listening to festive music, reminiscing on memories from past years, or making new traditions. Evenings like this are sure to keep everyone in the jolly, holiday spirit.

All in all, COVID-19 has put a damper on a few customary, holiday activities, but definitely not all. If you’re willing to give it a chance, this holiday season can be just as memorable as all those that have come before. Besides, what’s the harm in giving a boost to your holiday cheer?

Many would agree that Christmas brings about thoughts of cookies, treats, decorations, gingerbread houses, and more! What’s nice about these activities is that you can enjoy them safely at home and holiday memories and traditions can be created. Who doesn’t love handmade Christmas presents made by those whom they love? In fact, these are often the most cherished gifts. Do it yourself (DIY) projects can be a holiday memory for sure for many years to come!

One idea for a DIY Christmas present is a hot cocoa jar. You simply fill up a mason jar with hot cocoa mix of your choice, marshmallows, candy canes, and any other candies to put in hot chocolate. You can decorate the jar with ribbon, stickers, or a label to make a truly personal present. 

Another idea is to make a homemade snow globe. Simply glue a figurine like a snowman, Christmas tree, or even a laminated photo to the lid of a mason jar. You can fill up the mason jar with water and glitter and screw on the lid, turn it upside down, and you’ve made a personalized snow globe. 

One last idea is a DIY candy cane bath bomb. You can make this with ½ cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of Epsom salt, ¼ cup of citric acid, ¼ cup of cornstarch, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, 1 tablespoon water, and 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil. First, combine the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients into separate bowls. Then, slowly add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until you get the consistency of damp sand. Lastly, grab a handful of the mixture and tightly pack it into a mold of your choice before putting it in the freezer overnight. 

DIY projects are perfect for the holidays!  Some fun ideas to celebrate Christmas at home can include decorating (or for the truly ambitious, making) a gingerbread house, baking Christmas cookies, and creating holiday decorations. 

A gingerbread house is a festive way to celebrate the holidays. There are many online recipes for the gingerbread components, or you can always get one made from a store. If doing this with kids (and of course, only if you do not plan on eating it), one trick is to use hot glue instead of icing to stick the walls together. The best part is undeniably decorating the house with favorite candies using frosting (eating some along the way of course) to decorate. Pick a theme to up the fun factor!  

Another holiday tradition for many is baking Christmas cookies. There are many recipes online but you likely have a favorite family recipe that you make every year. A  personal favorite is graham cracker cookies that are surprisingly simple to make. To start, combine one can of condensed milk, 1 ¾ cup of graham cracker crumbs, and 6 oz of chocolate chips (or as much as you like) into a bowl. Once everything is combined spread this mixture evenly onto an 8x8 baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Once those are done, cut into squares and cover all sides in powdered sugar and enjoy! 

Making Christmas decorations is another easy and fun DIY project and can add instant festivity to a house or room!  Try making a 3D paper snowflake. All you need is scissors, tape, and 6 pieces of paper. This can be a little tricky without a visual so watch this video here to learn how to make your own 3D snowflakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT2oeNkTOAk. 

One last idea for a DIY Christmas decoration is to make an ornament. One way is to make a cinnamon ornament that is guaranteed to have your house smelling like the holidays. First, combine about ¾ applesauce, 1 cup of cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of glue into a smooth dough. Next, roll out this dough and cut it into fun shapes using cookie cutters (making sure to leave a hole at the top so you can hang it on your tree). After that, dry them out in a 200-degree oven for about an hour and a half or until it's dry. Once fully dried, you can decorate with glitter, icing, glue, or anything you choose and you can thread a piece of ribbon through the hole and hang it on your tree. 

Whichever DIY project you decide to try this holiday season, here's hoping these ideas add some merriment and brightness to your days ahead!

With the order to stay home for the holidays, this wonderful time is unquestionably going to have to be altered this year. These next few weeks are usually around the time that families start to travel and gather to see each other, but it is extremely frowned upon to do so at the moment. Outdoor gatherings have been limited to twenty five people maximum, and indoor gatherings are only allowed ten. This news has put a frown on many faces, but the holidays do not have to be ruined. You can still participate in an abundance of traditional holiday activities such as decorating a Christmas tree, baking holiday cookies, watching festive movies, making gingerbread houses, and much more. 

There are not many opportunities to take a picture with Santa this year, but you can still easily download apps on your phone to keep the spirit alive. The app Video Santa Call is in the app store for free, and lets you talk to him in the safety of your own home. All that you have to do is get a parent or guardian to set the app up, and you are good to go! Also, there are a countless number of websites and apps that allow you to track Santa Claus, including NORAD. Although the options to go out and celebrate are limited, they are not nonexistent. To spend time with your family, you could drive (or safely take a walk) around your neighborhood, or even somewhere you have never been before, to view all of the holiday lights that people have set up. 

The thing that bums many people out the most is the fact that they can not see their family. Although nothing can replace sitting around the dinner table with your loved ones, there are alternative options that can keep all of you connected, while still being safe. You can host an event on a platform such as Zoom or Google Meet, which allows you to all see and talk to each other. There is even an option that lets you share your screen, so that you can all watch a movie with one another. If you want to do something more hands on, you could have a cookie/gingerbread decorating contest instead. Each family member decorates their item, and then you all send them to each other; whoever gets the most votes wins. 

Overall, the holidays this year are going to be a new experience for all of us, but it can still be joyful and heartfelt. Remember, you do not have to see the people you care about to show them that you love them.

As December comes around, so does the chilly winter breeze and powdery snow. Walking around, you see ribbons adorn shop entrances and hear small bells ring. Children laughing and adults embracing family members are common events throughout the season.

You have probably heard about the three main holidays around this time: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

However, how much do you know about each holiday? Depending on your religious beliefs or culture, this can be different from someone else, but knowing about other peoples' holidays and showing interest is a great way to unite during the holidays. Another benefit to learning about our diversity is that it is a great way to be sensitive and kind to others — which is what the holidays are all about.

(As a disclaimer, I personally do not celebrate Hanukkah. This article is completely based on research.)

Origin

The holiday Hanukkah is also called the Festival of Lights, as well as alternately spelled as "Chanukah."

Hanukkah lasts eight days and starts on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. This sequence of days can happen anytime from late November to late December. In 2020, it started on Thursday, December 10th and ends on Thursday, December 18th.

The origin of Hanukkah starts with a Jewish man named Judah Maccabee and his brothers. Together they lead a group of faithful Jews who fought against Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) who led Israel at the time (around the second century BCE). The Seleucids were forcing Greek culture/beliefs upon the Jewish people, who believed in God and mitzvah observance (a mitzvah is a Jewish commandment, there are 613 mitzvot total). They managed to drive the Greeks out of Israel and reclaim the Holy Temple.

When they sought to light the menorah, however,  they found they did not have enough oil -- there was one crude that could last for one day. By some miracle, the crude oil lasted for eight days instead which was just enough time to make a new crude of oil.

The eight days in Hanukkah are celebrated in memory of the miraculous eight days the oil had lasted.

Traditions

Depictions of the holiday are usually of a candlestick with seven or nine candles called a Menorah. There are two types of Menorah with different origins: the Temple Menorah and the Chanukah (or Hanukkah) Menorah. 

The Temple (referring to the Holy Temple of Jerusalem) Menorah is what the Jewish people believe God told Moses to make. It is made out of pure gold with one main candle and three branching out from each side, resulting in seven candles. When Solomon built the first Holy Temple, the menorah was lit there until it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The second Holy Temple was built by Ezra and a new menora was fashioned.

The Chanukah menorah (the new menora in the second Holy Temple) is the main subject of the origin of Hanukkah, as said before. There are eight candles, four branching off the center one, which is used to light the other candles. Originally, the Chanukah menorah would be lit outside and towards the street, but nowadays people put it in front of a window facing the street in their home if they’re able to. Every day of Hanukkah, each candle is lit on the corresponding day (one for the first day, two for the second day, and so on) with the candle in the middle. This candle is affectionately named shamash, which means “helper” or “servant” in Hewbrew.

The lighting of the menorah is one of the main traditions in Hanukkah, along with the dreidel. 

The dreidel (“spinning top” in Yiddish) was originally used for gambling, as the wintery seasons were the only times rabbis were allowed to take part in games of chance. You might have heard the song that talks about this particular item, saying “dreidel, dreidel, dreidel.” It is a four sided spinning top usually made from wood, clay, or plastic.

Each of the sides has a letter. In the beginning, people put coins, gelts (foil-wrapped chocolate coins), buttons, nuts, or other small objects in a central pot or “kitty.” Each person would spin the dreidel and depending on the letter they landed on, they would do the action corresponding to the letter.

נ‬ nun – take nothing

ג‬ gimel – take everything

ה‬ hei – take half

ש ​shin – put one in

Food

Food served during Hanukkah is usually fried in oil to commemorate the crude oil that lit the menorah during the eight days. Many shops in Israel specialize in making the special treat “sufganiyot.”

Some popular traditional foods are:

Latkes - a fried potato-pancake

Sufganiyot - a jelly donut

Bimuelos - a fried dough puffs

Sfenj - North African yeast doughnuts

Keftes de Prasa - fried leek patties

Songs

As mentioned before, one of the common songs sung during Hanukkah is the song “I Have a Little Dreidel,” depicting a clay dreidel being made (“I made it out of clay”), and then, once it’s “dry and ready” then “dreidel I will play.” The song is usually sung by children.

Another song is the meaningful “Maoz Tzur” (“Rock of Ages”). This song is usually sung as they light the candles for Hanukkah for that night, but it can be heard during other events during the holiday.

Dress

There is no specific “dress code” for Hanukkah, unlike other religious holidays. However, many Jewish people adorn themselves in the Hanukkah colors blue and white. Women sometimes wear a pendant with the Star of David and men will wear Kippahs, a headcovering for Jews. Depending on the community, some women will wear the Kippah, or some men may wear their Kippah at all times unless sleeping or bathing.

Overall, the holiday Hanukkah is a very important holiday for the Jewish, just like Christmas is to Catholics and Christians. Thank you for reading, and I hoped you learned a little bit more about Hanukkah!

Citations

https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/hanukkah 

https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/hanukkah/hanukkah-customs-and-rituals 

https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/1358679/jewish/What-is-a-Menorah-Chanukiah.htm 

https://www.britannica.com/topic/menorah 

https://pjlibrary.org/mitzvah

https://www.familyholiday.net/hanukkah-clothing-and-accessories-ideas/ 

https://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8683447_alternative-mother-bride-outfits.html https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/kippah/ 

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches this year, there is an abundance of emotion arising. Many are excited, yet apprehensive for the coming family-oriented occasion, while others are simply concerned with staying safe and healthy. To understand the perspectives of a few Seneca Family members, the Bird’s Eye View team conducted a student-based survey, along with multiple, in-depth interviews with teachers. The results of the polls were both anticipated and surprising.  

The student survey began by questioning Seneca’s students about what their favorite Thanksgiving-day traditions were. Many of the interviewed teens answered that they enjoyed preparing and eating the Thanksgiving meal in the company of their family, while others explained that they looked forward to reminiscing about memorable experiences of the past year. Some participants even highlighted Thanksgiving traditions unique to their families, from watching a Christmas movie while eating dinner and making homemade pastries, to having annual arguments over the dinner table! Next, the interviewees were asked what they were most thankful for during this stressful year.  The popular response revolved around having good health in their families and friend groups, which is no surprise as COVID-19 continues to sweep through the nation, rising into the dreaded second wave. Foreseeably, a few students directly mentioned the Coronavirus, and how the pandemic has caused them to find gratitude for even the simplest things in life. One participant stated, “...[I’m] thankful that I got a season [of] playing the sport I love, without it being shut down [by] COVID[19],”, while another explained that they, “...learned to never take anything for granted.”  It is no surprise that the pandemic has dramatically influenced the students of Seneca High School during 2020, but it is important to recognize appreciation for even life’s smallest blessings during this season of thankfulness.  

The next parts of the 2020 Thanksgiving Survey were more lighthearted and fun for participants to answer. First, the interviewees were asked to select their favorite of the customary Thanksgiving dishes: turkey/ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing/dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, green beans, or sweet rolls/bread. The results clearly displayed that mashed potatoes with gravy was the most preferred food of the surveyed teens, supported by 41.2% of the votes. Sweet rolls/bread came in second place, with 23.5% of the teens’ votes. Next, the students chose the favored meat, between ham and turkey. Predictably, the classic turkey won by a landslide of 58.8% of votes, while 23.5% of the students elected to eat neither of the choices. When asked, “Who do you celebrate Thanksgiving with?”, 64.7% of the participants claimed to celebrate with only their family, while the remaining students celebrated the holiday with both their family and friends. The most controversial question came next, pondering if watching or playing football on Thanksgiving Day was a must for teens. In the end, the football fanatics lost out in the selection of surveyed students with 52.9% of interviewees responding that they didn’t really care about the game. This question was followed by a query with a much more one-sided response set:” Do you celebrate with a Thanksgiving lunch or dinner?” Nearly 95% of the students surveyed replied that they ate a holiday dinner to celebrate rather than a holiday lunch.  Nearing the end of the questionnaire, interviewees were asked “Is Black Friday shopping a must for you, the day after Thanksgiving?” Unexpectedly, an estimated 65% of the teens reported that they would rather not go shopping on Black Friday,  when approximately 35% stated that they loved to shop the sales! Finally, the students were asked if they began to decorate for the upcoming winter holidays on the day after Thanksgiving, to which 82.4% replied that they did and the holidays couldn’t come soon enough!

Meanwhile, a few interviews held with teachers show that they are adjusting to this new way of life that has been put upon them, while still trying to see the good. A form was sent out, asking what they are thankful for and how this holiday season will be different for them. 

“I’m thankful for my family and how close we are. I’m thankful for good people who reach out and say they care. I’m thankful for the amazing technology that allows us to connect with people we can’t see in person,” Mrs. Plotts, from the English department, wrote. She continued, “My kids are grown and have places and careers of their own. I talk to them every day, but we don't get to see each other as much because of Covid. Just today, as part of a routine screening for his work, my son tested positive for Coronavirus. As of now, he's asymptomatic, and we are praying he stays that way. He needs to test negative before he can come out of quarantine, of course, so we are also praying that he will test negative in time to come home to be with us for Thanksgiving. I can't even begin to imagine Thanksgiving without him. I don't even know if I can make that meal knowing he won't be there, so I was thinking of postponing it - even just one or two days if necessary. My family had already been planning to get tested before everyone came together for the holiday and to keep to certain restrictions in the house, but this nevertheless comes as very difficult and upsetting news. It's been a pretty emotional day for our family.”

And it is good to stay optimistic, to see the best in the situation and remember what we have. Mrs. Wolfson, English teacher, writes, “I am most thankful for the health and safety of my family. Of course, I am also thankful for my family, friends and career at Seneca!” She continued, “Obviously the way we will celebrate this holiday season is much different than any other year. Typically, we spend the holidays with our large extended family, but this year we will stay at home with our family and Zoom with everyone else - thank goodness for technology!”.

KB, Science Teacher, knows all too well about the dangers of COVID. He reflects that he is “Thankful that our family is safe. Had a scare with [my] niece testing positive for COVID only after being with my 90+ mom.  [We are] all doing fine. Whew,” KB tells us that for this year there will be  “No family gatherings.” [We plan to] Zoom to see each other.”

With everything so different this year, it is important to remember the things that are constant, whatever they may be, and to appreciate small things that make our new routine more bearable.

Ashley Smith

A “traditional” Thanksgiving can vary depending on who you're speaking to. The majority of Americans cook a turkey and then have an arrangement of appetizers and side dishes. However, some families also have some unusual foods/traditions that they bring to the table- literally. 

Below are a few of our peers, and some of their interesting traditions!

Joanna Mackey makes an orange jello pie for her family. Her Mom taught her how to make it, and since then, she's made it for the holidays!

Her dish is made by adding the Jello powder to boiling water, and then adding ice to cool it down. She then mixes a tub of Cool Whip into it and lets it sit for 20 minutes. Following this, she pours it into a graham cracker crust and lets it set until it's time to eat it! This sounds delicious, so if you have these ingredients around the house, I suggest giving it a shot!

Keegan Sokorai’s family has a “cake/pie baking contest” each year. Every family will bring a cake, or pie, and whichever is the best, wins! Keegan said that, “it’s not really competitive, it’s just funny”. This seems like a great way to bring the family together and laugh. It never hurts to have stomachs filled with delectable desserts, either! If your family is up to it, maybe give this a try! With the coronavirus, it may be a smaller ‘competition’ than normal, but who knows what memorable moments this could create!

Kaitlyn Durkee’s family has the tradition of putting Nacho Cheese Doritos on their mashed potatoes. Her Mom introduced her family to this ‘method’ one year, and Kaitlyn loved it! She said it’s “really good” and it seems like something interesting to try! Who knows? This could be a yummy new way to eat potatoes!

Courtney Moore’s Mommom makes “Jello Slop.” This dish is created with jello, fruit, and cream cheese. They eat it every single year at Thanksgiving, and while Courtney isn’t the biggest fan of it herself, everyone else in her family likes it! There must be a reason as to why it's a popular dish at her house, so maybe try this dessert out! You may just be surprised!

Surely, there are tons more interesting and unusual traditions/food within the halls of Seneca. In my family, we make a pistachio pudding pie, the recipe of which is very similar to Joanna’s! We’ve made it every year for every major holiday- it's a family favorite! What are some of your Thanksgiving Traditions?

With Thanksgiving around the corner, and COVID-19 cases rising yet again, everyone has been advised to stay at home for the holiday. Typically, this day is spent with family and friends, whether it be watching football, telling each other what you're thankful for, or enjoying a dinner feast. It is a time to channel everything else out, and appreciate the simple things in life. This year is going to look inevitably different, but there are still countless ways to have a good time. 

The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will still be happening this year from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. It will be the 94th year of this parade filled with balloons, dancers, small shows, and much more. To stay as safe as possible, there will be no real-life audience there, but you can easily turn on the NBC channel to watch, because it is something that you definitely don’t want to miss. Another tradition that you won’t be missing out on this year is football. For instance, there are three football games, streamed live on television, that will be played on Thanksgiving Day. These games are between the Texans and Lions at 12:30 pm, the Cowboys and Washington at 4:30 pm, and the Ravens and Steelers at 8:20 pm. These options allow you to stay nice and warm on the couch, while also staying safe. 

The main part of Thanksgiving, and what people are usually most excited about, is Thanksgiving dinner spent gathered around the table with family. Although it’s going to be altered, there are still ways to spend this time together. You can create a Zoom or Google Meet call so that your whole family can be with each other, while in the comfort of their own home. Or if you don’t want to spend the entire time on a screen, you could also Facetime your loved ones either before or after. Another idea that you could do later on in the evening is go to a website such as Netflix Party, which allows you to watch a movie together, no matter where any of you are. The holidays this year are definitely going to be something that none of us have experienced before, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a good time filled with family, friends, and laughter.

Fall is a favorite season for people of all ages; whether it’s the leaves changing colors, the weather cooling down, or all of the fun activities to do, autumn brings joy to many. This year, many traditional ways to celebrate fall and Halloween are not an option. Although untraditional, there are still ways to do all of your fall favorites while staying safe. Getting pumpkins is easy, you can go to the grocery store and pick one out there, or go to your local farmers stand where there is a vast variety of gourds from which to choose. The option of a hayride to a pumpkin patch is not as easy as it usually is, but it is not impossible; places like Johnson’s Farm require you to buy a ticket before you get there and to follow social distancing guidelines. Haunted houses have been altered as well this year, with most of them requiring you to stay in your car and drive through on a designated path. Shamong’s own V & V Adventure Farm has seen a boom in business this year as Indian Acres is closed for the fall season and Johnson’s has been selling out on weekends. Many have discovered V & V to be a hidden local gem with tons of activities for all ages and an epic 10-acre corn maze with an impressive aerial view. 

One of the most popular activities to do during fall is Fright Fest at Six Flags. Luckily, the amusement park is still open, but you must make a reservation, typically a week in advance. There are also fun fall activities that you can do from the comfort of your own home: watch a movie, bake treats, have a bonfire, and much more. Even though autumn looks much different this year, there are still endless ways to have fun.