WRITTEN BY MELINA DE LA CRUZ AND ANGELINA HERNANDEZ
Christmas is described by some as the most wonderful time of the year. With gift exchanges, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends, and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. The celebration of Christ’s birth was brought to the United States in the 19th century but has a history that came long before there was a biblical meaning to the day. In most of Europe, the end of December was a perfect time for celebration. In Rome they celebrated Saturnalia. This was a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. Saturnalia celebrated the practice of offering gifts or sacrifices to the gods during the winter farming season. The Romans originally celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. For many Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year. It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. It became more of a popular holiday when Americans re-invented it from a carnival-like holiday into a day of familial celebration. “It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.”- History.com American families in the early 1800s began to adapt to Christmas and take customs from other holidays around the world, like Saturnalia’s tradition of decorating trees, sending holiday cards and gift-giving. Charles Dickens 1843 masterpiece, A Christmas Carol, was said to have been what reinvented Christmas as we know it today. The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back to a monk named St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey around A. D. 280. He was known to give away all of his inheritance to helping the poor and sick leading him to be known as the protector of children and sailors. As for modern day Christmas, it is now one of the most top ranking national holidays in America. It is celebrated by about 2 billion people around the world and generates over 942 Billion US dollars in 2022. WRITTEN BY ANGELINA BESHARA AND BREANNA RAMIREZ
We all know the holidays Christmas and Hanukkah, but did you know there's a third one? It’s called Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is a holiday dedicated to celebrating African-American culture with family and communities from December 26 to January 1. The holiday concludes with a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. The 7 days of Kwanzaa represents Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith). The week-long celebration may include songs, dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large feast on December 31, called a Karamu. Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga in the 1960’s. The holiday was created for African Americans to have the opportunity to connect with their African roots and strengthen their bonds in a time of racial unrest. Maulana Karenga created a way of uniting and empowering the African American community in the aftermath of the deadly Watts Rebellion. Part of the celebration is the lighting of candles on the Kinara. The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle. Therefore, there is one black candle. The candle represents the people or unity, and gets placed in the center of the Kinara. Three red and three green candles. These are the mishumaa saba (the seven k) and they represent the Seven Principles that are also represented by the seven days of the holiday. Kwanzaa is a day of having loved ones around. We all have differences , but one thing we all can agree on is celebrating special days with special people. WRITTEN BY ZACHARY BUENAVENTURA, RIELLE CHLOE CANLAS, AND JILL LUNA
While some people see graffiti as a form of art and a way to express oneself, others see it as vandalism within a community. Graffiti is frequently associated with gangs and crime, and many cities have enacted laws and ordinances to combat it. Graffiti is considered a criminal offense in some cases and can result in fines or even imprisonment. Graffiti is considered a form of property damage and can lower property values, which is one of the main arguments against it. Graffiti can also be considered an eyesore and a sign of urban decay. Graffiti supporters, on the other hand, argue that it can be used to bring color and life to weak and run-down areas, as well as be used as a form of political or social commentary. There is a theory that poses the idea of graffiti linking to the idea that the public's perception of safety and neighborhood values are adversely affected by vandalism such as graffiti. This idea is known as The Broken Window Theory. The Broken Window Theory is a criminological concept that claims visible signs of crime, disorder, and neglect in a community can lead to an increase in more serious crime. In 1982, social scientists James Q. Wilson and George Kelling proposed the theory, which has been used to explain the problem of graffiti and its relationship to crime. The basic idea behind the Broken Window Theory is that visible signs of the disorder, such as broken windows, graffiti, and litter, send a message to criminals and potential offenders that the area is not being closely monitored and that criminal activity will go unpunished. As a result, crime and disorder may increase as residents become more fearful and less likely to report crimes. In response to the graffiti problem, many cities have implemented policies and programs aimed at reducing graffiti and improving the overall appearance of the community. Such as Graffiti hotlines and public education and awareness campaigns. However, these policies and programs can have negative consequences, particularly for graffiti artists. Some argue, for example, that criminalizing graffiti is censorship that stifles free expression and creativity. Furthermore, some argue that graffiti abatement programs and ordinances are costly and that these resources would be better spent on more serious crimes. The controversial background of graffiti stems from its association with vandalism and crime, and the debate over its value as art. While some people view graffiti as a destructive force, others see it as a form of self-expression and an important cultural phenomenon. As the world continues to evolve, the perception of graffiti will continue to shift and evolve. Click "Read More" to view the research sources referenced. WRITTEN BY DANA BARBEE
Hanukkah, sometimes spelled Chanukah, is a Jewish holiday. It always falls on the 25th day of the month Kislev, on the Hebrew calendar. The Hebrew calendar is based on the Lunar year, so the days that Hanukkah is celebrated vary each year on the Gregorian calendar. This past year, Hanukkah started on the evening of December 18th and ended on the 26th, overlapping with Christmas and the beginning of Kwanzaa. Though Hanukkah is celebrated as a modern holiday, it actually dates all the way back to the years 175 - 164 B.C. At the time, the Greek Hellenistic (“meaning to speak Greek or identify with the Greeks” -The History Channel) King, Antiochus IV Epiphanes had power over the Syrian Empire. With his leadership, he forced the ideals of Greek religion onto his citizens as he believed those to be superior. He forced these beliefs on the Jews, especially those in the Jewish capital of Jerusalem. In 167 B.C., King Antiochus IV captured Jerusalem and destroyed its most sacred temple. They tore down its structures, sacrificed a pig on the altar of Zeus (which goes against Kosher and Jewish ideals), and burned Jewish texts. The historical “miracle” that established the Hanukkah tradition follows the story of what happened when the Maccabees discovered the temple in ruins. The menorah in the center of the temple had almost entirely run out of oil used to light it. Without the oil, they could not light the menorah and would be left in darkness for multiple days. The amount of oil left would supposedly only last about a day. The miracle that Jews celebrate on the week of Hanukkah is that this oil supposedly lasted eight days, long enough for more oil to be made which prevented them from ever running out of oil. This miracle is traditionally celebrated with sufganiyot (jelly donuts), latkes (potato pancakes), and the lighting of the Hanukkah candles on the Hanukkiah (a candle holder much like a menorah). These traditions are to symbolize the miracle of the oil. Lighting the candles on the hanukkiah symbolizes that the Jews were still able to light their menorah with the small amount of oil they had left. Often, menorahs and hanukkiahs are mistaken to be the same thing. Hanukkiahs have nine candle holders, one of which is the shamash, or helper candle which is used to light the other eight only on the nights of Hanukkah. Menorahs, on the other hand, are candelabras used to count the days of the week. All Hanukkiahs are Menorahs, but not all Menorahs are Hanukkiahs. Eating foods that are cooked with oil and lighting the Hanukkah candles are the primary, most well-known traditions of the holiday. That being said, families have integrated gift exchanging into these Hanukkah traditions. This tradition does not relate to the history of Hanukkah, it is solely based on the decision of the family as to how they want to celebrate the miracle. Lastly, one of the most popular games played during Hanukkah is dreidel. A dreidel is a spinning top that has four sides on it, each with a different Hebrew letter (nun, gimmel, hay, shin). These letters stand for the phrase, “A Great Miracle Happened There.” However, in Israel, their dreidels have the letter “pay” instead of “shin” translating to the complete phrase, “A Great Miracle Happened Here.” There is a game associated with dreidel that many people participate in, in which each letter has a different meaning in relation to the game. To take a turn, you spin your dreidel and whichever letter it lands on, dictates how much gelt (chocolate coins) you take out of the pile. If you land on gimmel, you get the whole bag. Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the Jews defeating the Greeks and having enough oil after the war to light the menorah. In essence, Hanukkah is a holiday to celebrate miracles and light. |
AuthorDana Barbee Archives
May 2023
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