The Badger Pause
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The Badger Pause Volume 10, Issue 2 14510 N.Cheshire Street Burton, Ohio October 29, 2014 Unveiling the Halloween of yesteryear by Melissa Braun, BP Staff Writer Halloween: the day of spooks, any of the other days because it was decided to keep the coin for himself to the United States when Irish im- scares, and candy. October 31st is the day the most similar to Samhain. and made the Devil promise if he migrants immigrated to the U.S. but known for dressing up in costumes, However the connections to Samhain were to die in the next year, the Devil instead, since pumpkins were more going to haunted houses, carving jack remained immensely prominent within wouldn’t take his soul to hell. A year affordable, they would carve jack o’ o’ lanterns and spending the night the celebrated day. All Hallows Eve passed and once again Jack met up lanterns out of pumpkins rather than trick-or-treating. It’s filled with ghosts, was the time where spirits would with the Devil and tricked him this turnips. This then became widely ac- witches, and ghouls but Halloween wander the land and the superstitions time into promising Jack he wouldn’t cepted across the U.S. to carve jack wasn’t always this way. became extremely high. All Hallows bother Jack for another ten years. Dur- o’ lanterns out of pumpkins on Hal- Halloween can be traced all the loween. way back to the ancient Celtic holiday, Trick-or-treating as well origi- Samhain, celebrated across Europe. nated from the ancient Celtic festival, The festival was originally a celebra- Samhain, then became a part of All tion at the end of the harvest season Hallows Eve. On Samhain the people and the beginning of a new winter. would leave plates for the spirits October 31st through November 2nd wandering the Earth that night. In was believed to be the days where Ireland and Scotland the tradition is the barrier between the living and called guising. On the day, young the dead is the weakest allowing the people, dressed up in costumes, would spirits to travel back into the living’s go door to door or people would go world. The Celts would sacrifice ani- to neighbors’ houses offering prayers mals and fruits to the spirits and light for dead relatives in exchange for a bit bonfires to keep the spirits away from of food. These both eventually turned the living. To ward off spirits so they into people dressing up in costumes didn’t cause havoc on their crops and going to houses saying, “trick or lives, people would dress up and wear treat!” and receiving a piece of candy, costumes on the day of Samhain. This day is celebrated in a wide Samhain started to alter when variety of ways across various coun- Christian missionaries attempted tries. In other countries the day or to change the religious practices of days of celebration are more about the Celtic people. The missionaries honoring the dead than just the Hal- photo courtesy of yaoi-wiccan.devianant.com thought the holiday and its practices loween we know of. El Dia de los were evil; they tried to convert the Muertos, (the Day of the Dead), is Celts and diminish any trace of the Eve eventually evolved and trans- ing the ten years Jack died, only, God celebrated in Mexico, Latin America, holiday. The missionaries then con- formed into the Halloween we cel- wouldn’t permit him to enter heaven and Spain. The days, October 31st verted the three day Celtic festival into ebrate today. because of his behavior and of course through November 2nd, are held for three more christianized days; All Hal- Carving jack o’ lanterns on Hal- he made the promise with the Devil so families to remember and honor their lows Eve (October 31st), All Saints loween emerged from the Irish myth wasn’t permitted in hell either. Stingy deceased loved ones. The families put Day (November 1st), and All Souls of Stingy Jack. Jack was a very stingy Jack was then condemned to wander together altars full of flowers, candies, Day(November 2nd). But the Celtic man, hence his name being Stingy the Earth for eternity with only a burn- food, photographs, and candles to help people still wanted to remain true to Jack. Anyway Jack, when having a ing piece of coal lit within a turnip to the spirits find their ways back home their roots and would not completely drink with the Devil, refused to pay guide his way. Children would then continued on pg. 6 disregard their holiday, so the Celts so he tricked the Devil into becom- carve Jack into turnips calling them celebrated All Hallows Eve more than ing a coin to settle the debt. But Jack jack o’ lanterns. The tradition came History is written by the victors: How will they choose to write it? by Zak Martinjako, BP Staff Writer Jefferson County in Colorado is order to promote critical thinking in well miss out on the potential to unbiased education in American currently the front line of a censor- students. The subject matter that the gain college credit. Additionally the history. The BOE, however, remains ship battle. The subject, however, revised AP American History curricu- College Board has commented that steadfast, releasing statements de- may raise more than a few eyebrows; lum emphasizes has sparked heated if essential concepts are censored fending their actions and calling the the Jefferson County Board of and intense political debate. Focuses from the course, it may no longer be situation a misunderstanding. Education (BOE) is aiming to censor of the new course include the role considered “Advanced Placement” According to cnn.com, presi- American History. Their goal, as stat- of minorities in political change, the (npr.org). dent of the school board, Ken Witt, ed in a publicly released curriculum evolution of the American national While the BOE might see their commented that “the idea is to make proposal, is to “promote citizenship, identity, analysis of slavery and other actions as necessary to promote certain that we are expanding com- [and] patriotism...”, which might not labor systems, and debates over patriotism in their school district, the munity involvement and commu- seem so damaging at first. However, economic values and government citizens of Jefferson County have nity voice in curriculum. That’s not the BOE has stirred up conflict with roles in the US (information pulled made it clear that they disagree. censorship. That’s the opposite of statements such as “materials should directly from the curriculum released Multiple schools were unable to hold censorship. This is exactly what these not encourage or condone civil by the College Board). These shifts, classes due to organized teacher “sick students would want, I hope.” disorder, social strife or disregard of as well as others, have given birth outs” (teachers call in saying they continued on pg.6 the law” and “instructional materials to a fierce political clash. A number are sick and should present positive aspects of the of groups, including the Jefferson then do not United States and its heritage” being County BOE, have claimed that the show up to included in the proposal. In response, new curriculum does little to promote school) and teachers and students have protested pride in America, and instead pushes student pro- in droves, fighting for their right to the negative aspects of American tests. Unrest unbiased education. history. is shared The origin of this story lies Various schools have made the among within the re-write of the curriculum decision not to follow the College instructor, for Advanced Placement (AP) Ameri- Board’s curriculum, for it is not pupil, and can History. AP classes are elective enforced. However, this is detrimen- parent alike. courses directed by a national curric- tal and leaves students unprepared The major- ulum put out by the College Board. for AP examinations, which are ity of them In recent years, all AP curricula based on the College Board’s course believe in an have been rewritten and reworked in descriptions, meaning they may very uncensored, photo courtiesy of www.huffingtonpost.com 2 Homecoming Court October 2014 by Lexi Sell, BP Staff Writer Queen and King Candidates Megan Arnold Mitchell Freeman 1. To party like Jay Gatsby 1. The homecoming football game 2. Sheldon from The Big Bang 2. Michael Jackson Theory 3. The Bernie 3. Hoe Down Throw Down Megan Arnold and Mitchell Freeman crowned as the 2014 Homecoming Queen and King. The Homecoming Court Was Asked the Following Questions... 1. What are you looking forward to most for homecoming? 2. If you could have a dance off with anybody, who would it be with? 3. What is your favorite dance move? Alex Berman Grace Noce 1. Dressing up in a pretty dress 1. Getting all dressed up 2. Enrique Iglesias 2. Jessi Simon 3. I make up my own moves 3. The shopping cart Homecoming Football The Great Gatsby Game vs. Newbury and a Great Cause October 24th. Sam Jackson Suzanne Koziol Homecoming Dance 1. Getting to see who is crowned queen 1. I can’t go because of my brother’s wedding 2. Beyoncé 2. Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air October 25th VICTORY 3. The Wobble 3. The Worm Luke Byler Tom Fabian RJ Maxwell Vince Noce 1. The food before and after 1. Seeing the fountain that Student 1. The marching bands music at the 1. Seeing my beautiful date, Abby 2. Usher Council set up homecoming football game McDermott 3. The Q tip 2.