Writer: Akshara
Photographer: Anjali
Happy New Year!
Are you wondering why there is a ball drop in New York City or someplace else? Or, why do some people do a countdown? 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Happy New Year! Say goodbye to your old moments and welcome the new year 2022. It’s the New Year! You might be asking, “what is a new year?” Well, you asked the right question
A New Year celebration involves:
people doing countdowns,
eating 12 grapes,
etc.
Happy New Year! 🥳
People doing countdowns
Why do people do countdowns? People do countdowns because they think it’s just fun to do so. The first countdown was started sometime in the 1950s. The first ball dropped at Times Square.
Eating 12 grapes
Why do people eat 12 grapes? People eat 12 grapes because eating 12 grapes represents the 12 months of the year. The country that eats grapes at midnight is Spain. They eat grapes to bring good luck.
In conclusion, the New Year is all about having good resolutions or goals and sticking to them. The New Year is very important to some people and to others, it’s just a time to celebrate with families and friends. Especially when Covid-19 is spreading we aren’t allowed to go to many places. Stay safe!
Writers: Manav, Om
Photographers: Sohan, Jay
National Spaghetti Day🍝
National Spaghetti Day is an unofficial holiday on January 4. Spaghetti was made in Italy in the 100 before Christ (BC) by Nicola de Cecco. Spaghetti is made of milled wheat and water. It is sometimes enriched with vitamins and minerals.
How is Spaghetti Day celebrated? Spaghetti is made from semolina flour, this pasta is a worldwide favorite for every age, and loved by tons of people. People celebrate by eating their favorite version of spaghetti. In the 1890s it was daring just to go to an Italian restaurant and eat spaghetti. Some women felt like it was not like women to go eat spaghetti in public. Spaghetti is another type of pasta from Italy. It is thin and long in size, in comparison to macaroni that is thick and short. American restaurants put spaghetti on their menu around the end of the 19th century. There is a debate on spaghetti. There are records in the Jerusalem Talmud of Itrium. It is a kind of boiled dough commonly available in Palestine from the 3rd to 5th centuries. In March of 2009, the world record for the largest bowl of spaghetti was set. The record reset in March of 2010 when a Garden Grove California Buca di Beppo restaurant filled a swimming pool with more than 6 tons of spaghetti! The fun children's song,” On Top of Spaghetti,” was written and originally sung by folk singer Tom Glazer and the Do-Re-Mi Children’s Chorus in 1963. If you haven’t tried spaghetti, go to a restaurant and try it!
“On top of spaghetti,
All covered in cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.
It rolled off the table,
And on to the floor,
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out the door.”
Steps to Make Spaghetti:
Use a large pot and put water into it.
Salt the water and bring it to full, rolling boil.
Stir to keep the spaghetti from sticking together.
Test the pasta 2 minutes before it is “ ready.”
Save a scoop of the water.
Drain, toss with sauce, and serve.
Interesting Facts About Spaghetti
Spaghetti was invented a thousand years ago.
The largest serving of spaghetti was the size of a swimming pool.
Spaghetti is named by its shape. It is from the Italian word spago, which means string.
Spaghetti is the simplest pasta shape to make on an industrial scale.
On April Fools Day in 1957, Panorama featured a trick broadcast about the harvest of spaghetti. They convinced a lot of people that spaghetti is made on trees.
Spaghetti used to be much longer back then than now. It used to be 50 cm long, but now spaghetti is 25 to 30 cm long.
Writer: Ananya
Photographer: Sashwin
Opposite Day 📰
The Opposite day is mostly believed to be celebrated on the 25th of January. Though some people believe it’s celebrated on the 7th of January. While other people believe it's celebrated every month of the year on the 25th. It’s often celebrated by children or big kids. Usually, they’ll use their normal words then make them opposite, most likely being an insult. It usually begins off as a normal day.
Writer: Emaan
Photographer: Jia
National Puzzle Day🧩
It’s January- the beginning of the new year! January is also National Puzzle Month. Following with its own day too- January 29. This day is also the perfect time of the year to do a little brain exercise to set your mind for the rest of the year. Whether it’s a crossword, jigsaw, or Sudoku, puzzles engage our brain in more ways than one.
Scientists have discovered that when we work on a jigsaw puzzle, we utilize both sides of the brain, improving memory, function, and problem-solving skills in the process. By utilizing puzzles, people can stimulate the brain and improve a number of skills! WOW!
Puzzles date back all the way from 2300 BC. Before modern puzzles, labyrinth drawing puzzles were popular in Ancient Egypt. Then in 1767, mapmaker John Spilsbury created the first jigsaw puzzle from what we see today. Puzzles weren’t that popular but in 1908 puzzles became a full-blown craze in the United States. In 1933, during the Great Depression, puzzles sales soared at 10 million per week.
NATIONAL PUZZLE DAY ACTIVITIES Spend time by putting a puzzle together with friends and family. Have an old uncompleted puzzle laid around? Call up a friend and spend time piecing together a puzzle. Extra points for completing your puzzle! Complete a Sudoku or crossword puzzle. Taking a break? Bust out that handy crossword puzzle or Sudoku booklet. Use National Puzzle Day on the internet. Feeling accomplished after completing your jigsaw, Sudoku, or crossword puzzle? Share it with your online community using #NationalPuzzleDay to encourage people to join in the fun! LOVE NATIONAL PUZZLE DAY!! WHY? Because… It brings happiness. Recent studies have shown that people who participate in collaborative games, such as puzzles have higher levels of happiness and in some cases relaxation, as a result of their fashion fun. A challenging jigsaw puzzle undoubtedly brings out that sense of joy. Puzzles serve as a sense of accomplishment. Not just in a personal space, but in a group sense. That feeling of completing the final few pieces of a puzzle with your best friends and family! It’s a way of stimulating your mind. Puzzles stimulate the brain, improving numbers and problem-solving skills while keeping it active. I hope you will enjoy this month doing some puzzles! Have fun! HAPPY NATIONAL PUZZLE DAY!
Writer: Bhumika
Photographer: Nakasha
National Lego Day and Its History
Do you build legos? Did you know there's something called National Lego Day? Read this article to learn more about legos and their history.
National Lego day is on January 28 but how did Lego start in the first place to go into National Lego day. So let's learn the history of Lego. When and how did Lego start? Lego started in 1932 in a carpenter shop. The owner of the carpenter shop was Ole Kirk Christiansen. This carpenter shop was located in Billund, Denmark. In 1916, Christiansen purchased a woodworking shop. The woodworking shop was in business since 1895. Then the shop burned down in 1924 because a fire ignited on some wood shavings. Christiansen constructed a larger workshop and worked hard towards establishing his business to further heights. Then Great Desperation came, Christiansen had fewer customers so he had to focus on smaller projects. He began manufacturing miniature versions of his products as design aids. These were the miniature models of stepladders and ironing boards that inspired Christiansen to begin producing toys.
Then on August 10 of 1932, Christiansen’s shop then started making toys out of wood or wooden toys for instance piggy banks, pull toys, houses, cars, and trucks. Christiansen's business had no profit. This is because of the Great Depression. Since he had no profit the farmers would sometimes exchange food for toys. Christiansen did not stop with his business because of his loss but was still manufacturing practical furniture accompanied by toys to stay in business. Then in the mid-1930s, the yo-yo toy fad Christiansen, a temporary chapter of time of increased activity, suddenly collapsed. Christiansen wanted to reduce waste and used the leftover yo-yo parts as toy truck wheels. Then his son or Godtfred started working for his father, Godtfred took an active role in the company.
How was Lego called Lego? It was in 1934 when Christiansen organized a competition between the staff to name their company, for the prize he offered a homemade wine. Christiansen got two names himself, “Legio” and “Lego”. The word LEGO came from the two Danish words ‘leg godt” and LEGIO meant “ Legion of toys" Christiansen chose LEGO as his company's name. The Lego Group then discovered ‘Lego' could be interpreted loosely as “As put together” and “ To establish” for Latin. Christiansen chose Lego. His company began using it as his product.
How did Lego mini-figures start? It started in 1974 with the first Lego mini-figures. The mini-figures were very big from the mini figures we know now. Then in 1975 small Lego mini-figures were introduced but they had no moving legs and they had no hands and no faces. They were called stiffies. In 1978 Lego mini-figures with moving bodies were made and faces were made. After one year (1979) of that Lego men got hair was established. With a ten-year gap (1989) pirates were introduced to the world and then in another one year gap (1990) from there a specialist glow-in-the-dark mini-figure ghost was built. In the same year, the first Lego mini-figure with the dress was put together. Three years later the first Lego mini-figure with a beard was assembled. In 1997 the first Lego set was constructed. 1999 was the year when the first licensed Lego mini-figure was launched. Then in 2001 double-headed Lego mini-figures were produced, in 2002 Yoda was created, in 2004 heads were not yellow anymore and in 2009 Lego mini-figures with only 2 bricks were shaped. 2010 was when the LEGO group rewarded their fans by forming a Lego mini-figure collection and modeling personal trophies. After 6 years the first Lego baby mini-figure was forged and in the same year, the Lego mini-figure wheelchair was forged too. In 2018 about 650 Lego mini figureheads were made.
With the improvement of Lego throughout history, the LEGO Association will continue to enhance its products throughout the 21 century and beyond.
Writer: Sirithika
Photographer: Manraj
National Fourth Graders Day
Hi everyone today we are going to be talking about National fourth Graders Day, which is really exciting for me since I am in fourth grade. National fourth Graders Day started when 2 teachers from New Jersey were talking about holidays and the 4th graders saw that one holiday was missing, National 4th Graders day!
Here are some interesting facts about the holiday. It is celebrated on the second Monday of January. The common age for a 4th grader is 9-10. In 4th grade you learn more about fractions and decimals, You learn about different styles of writing. 4th grade is a big adventure.
Writers: Kadyn, Mudit
Photographers: Kena, Martin
National Blood Donor Month
Blood donations are more critical now than it ever was. National Blood Donor Month was created on December 31, 1969.
President Richard Nixon proclaimed January as National Blood Donor Month for the first time on December 31, 1969, as requested by Senate Joint Resolution 154.
Did you know that men can donate safely once every 3 months while women can donate every 4 months? Interesting right? The most needed type of blood is type A+ because A+ is a common blood type and that makes it the most needed blood for transfusions.
Ages 18 to 65, can give blood to donate. Whole blood donors can donate blood up to 6 times a year.
After donating blood, you can have side effects of nausea, dizziness, and fainting but that is only in some cases. You can also develop a raised bump or have continued bleeding or bruising at where you got the shot. You can also get an iron deficiency or fatigue (for days). However, that is rare because most donors do not experience side effects.
If you lose iron fast, after a blood donation you can become anemic. Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells. It is also called “lack of blood”. That results in reduced oxygen flow to the body’s organs. Symptoms of anemia are fatigue, skin pallor, shortness of breath, being light-headed, dizziness, or a fast heartbeat. AGAIN, it is not very likely!!!
Writer: Janvi
Photographer: Alveena
National Handwriting Day
National Handwriting Day is celebrated on January 23rd. This day goes back all the way to 1977. The reason some people celebrate this day is so that we can promote the usage of pencils, pens, writing paper, etc. It is also celebrated so we can appreciate the importance of our daily lives with handwriting. Handwriting is important because it helps activate the brain more than a computer! Having good handwriting contributes to reading fluency because it activates the visual perception of letters.
Have you ever heard of calligraphy? Many people do calligraphy as a hobby. It helps with relaxation. If you think about it, calligraphy is just some letters turned into beautiful art.
There are many ways you can celebrate National Handwriting Day, these are a few of them.
Write a letter
Learn what your handwriting says about you
Analyze Handwriting styles from the past
Practice your signature
Doodle
etc.
All these things can help boost your handwriting. Wherever you are, you can always start writing or doodling some words. Have fun!
Writer: Charvi
Photographer: Sahasra
National Buffet Day
When you read about this article, get ready cause you're about to get hungry. Buffet Day started in the 1939 New York World's Fair exhibition. Buffet Day is Sunday, January 2. Buffet Day is celebrated because of Swedish people displaying their best Swedish food at the New York World’s Fair exhibition where lots of people came to eat. The word buffet came to be known from all of the free food that was presented there. The hot food at a buffet needs to stay above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The cold food at the buffet needs to be maintained below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid bacterial attacks! Statistics show that nearly 128,000 people get hospitalized and 3,000 die due to food poisoning cases. Many different types of buffets and foods are presented in different parts of the world such as the American Buffet, the Buckaroo Buffet, and many different types of buffets.
Writer: Isaac
Photographer: Yagna
Dr. Martin Luther King Day
Did you know who was Martin Luther King? He was a major civil rights activist who fought to end segregation peacefully. Read this article to learn more.
Today I will be talking about Martin Luther King Jr. Day about how people celebrate, honor, and what he did for rights.
These are some ways people may celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at home, outside, or even in school. Some schools hold an assembly for workshops about social justice for black students of all grades and ages. Some people inside their house celebrate by reading books where he did his speech. For the people who celebrate outside enjoy the parade. Those are some ways people celebrate Martin Luther King Day
These are some ways people may honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day at home, outside, or even the schools. Some schools have videos or projects to do about MLK. Some honor that is at home by having a little play. Some outside go to a museum where there are priceless artifacts and pictures. Those are some ways people honor Martin Luther King Day.
These are some things that Martin Luther King did in his life for rights. After Rosa Parks got arrested for not letting a white person sit in her seat Martin held a protest and all black people stopped using buses instead they walked because they wanted to be seated in buses without getting kicked out of the bus for a white person, and they all went to prison for it. He gave the I Have a Dream Speech in 1963. He said, “ I have a dream!“ For his first words in his speech. He was assassinated not long after but he died a legend.
Writer:
Photographer:
National Thesaurus Day 📚
When you’re looking for that perfect word to convey your thoughts, or don’t want to repeat the same word over and over again, where do you go? The thesaurus, of course! You’ve got Peter Mark Roget to thank for that wonderful book, and we celebrate his creation on National Thesaurus Day on January 18! Roget started the book in 1848 and finished in 1852 with 15,000 words. The book’s full original title was “Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases Classified and Arranged so as to Facilitate the Expression of Ideas and Assist in Literary Composition.” Thanks to the thesaurus, we can do more than just tell friends we are happy but merry, delighted, and overjoyed! We can do more than have a conversation, but a discussion, a talk, or an exchange! Writers and non-writers alike can be thankful for all the word options available in a thesaurus, and celebrate the work of Peter Mark Roget on National Thesaurus Day!
Writer: Sharvi
Photographer: Ashwanth, Miles
Learn Your Name In Morse Code Day
Morse Code was a language that used specific signals that included dots and dashes. Before we learn furthermore about Learn Your Name In Morse Code Day, let's talk about the invention of the Morse Code and how it came to be. Morse Code was invented on January 11, 1838, by Samuel F.B. Morse. He was an inventor and painter and also invented the telegraph for electrical telegraphy. A variant called the International Morse Code was devised by a conference of European nations in 1851 to account for letters with diacritic marks. In the 1890s, Morse code began to be used extensively for early radio communication before it was possible to transmit voice. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most high-speed international communication used Morse code on telegraph lines, undersea cables, and radio circuits. Telegraph messages were sent by tapping out the code for each letter in the form of long and short signals. Short signals are referred to as dits (represented as dots). On May 24, 1844, Samuel F. B. Morse dispatched the first telegraphic message over an experimental line from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore. The message, taken from the Bible, Numbers 23:23 and recorded on a paper tape, had been suggested to Morse by Annie Ellsworth, the young daughter of a friend. The requirement that ships monitor for distress signals was removed in 1999, though the U.S. Navy still teaches at least some sailors to read, send and receive Morse code. Aviators also use Morse code to identify automated navigational aids.
Now that we know the history of Morse Code, let's look furthermore into learning about Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day. Learn Your Name In Morse Code Day is generally celebrated on January 11. Morse code is a method of telecommunication used to encode messages in a sequence called dashes and dots — or dits and dahs — which sound like clicks. There is an International Morse Code, based on the basic Latin alphabet with extra Latin letters, Arabic numerals, and punctuation. Each character in International Morse Code is represented by a unique sequence of dots and dashes. Morse code can, to the trained person, be heard or seen. There is no record of how this day originated, or by whom. Telegraphese isn't used that much today so you can show your friends and family that you learned your name in Morse Code by blinking. An example of this is when a captured U.S. soldier blinked 'torture' in Morse Code when he was being recorded. If you want to learn your name in a different language like Morse Code, then you're in luck! Koreans and Japanese have their own codes. Their variation is called SKATS — Standard Korean Alphabet Trans literacy System. Writing this article makes me want to learn my name in Morse Code! I hope that reading this article makes you want to learn your name in Morse Code.
Writer: Isaac
Photographer: Dharshan
National Hobby Month
This Is about National Hobby Month and what might happen during it. National Hobby Month is a month dedicated to hobbies. You can get, make, and stick with hobbies. This part of the newspaper will talk about hobbies. National Hobby month is dedicated to hobbies. National Hobby Month is in January.