The Observer Weekly Cloverleaf Inside and Out December 7, 2011 Christmas Shopping Made Easy By Charlie Rice & Amanda Hammond With Christmas just 20 days away, there is uncertainty about what to buy friends and family for Christmas. With all the new gadg- ets and toys this year, there’s so much to choose from. The Kindle Fire, the iPhone 4s, the iPad 2, and the Dance with Me Babydoll that hooks up to any ipod and dances along to any song are some bigger ideas. The new electronics aren’t lim- ited to teenagers and adults, there are new and emerging electronic toys for children. One of the new- est electronics for kids is the Vtech InnoTab Learning Tablet, which is basically a simpler ver- sion of the iPad for kids. The In- Presents wrapped in various colors and decoration are a favorite pastime of the holi- noTab includes E-books and edu- days. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons cational games that are trying to and games. them. get kids to learn more at a Some people find shopping for Senior Mackenzie Greer has younger age. Leap Frog also has their friends the hardest people to ideas of what she's getting for her a similar product, The LeapPad shop for. friends. Learning Tablet. “I'm sill trying to figure out “I have a few ideas of what to Companies aren’t just aiming what everybody wants and needs get my friends; I'm sill figuring their products towards little kids, for Christmas,” sophomore everything out though,” Greer they’re starting to make things for Karissa Kelling said. said. the older generation. One thing Some ideas that may work for The internet is also a popular you could consider buying for your friends this holiday season choice to do your shopping. Grandma or Grandpa would be range from the simple gift cards “It is easier and you don’t even the new Kindle Fire. The new to something thought out and per- have to drive to the store,” junior Kindles aren’t just limited to E- sonal. Some teens don’t expect Jesse Troike said. books, they now include millions much from their friends for With so many choices, it won’t of movies, TV shows, songs and Christmas and some friends set be hard to do your Christmas magazines. If you compare the price limits so nobody goes over shopping this year. Enjoy the Kindle Fire with the iPad 2, the top. Most teens try and get time and pick out your favorite you’ll see lots of similarities, their friends something that their presents for friends and family. some being the variety of apps family wouldn’t think of getting Volume 5, Issue 25 2 Features History of Christmas Carols Not What You Think By Russell Flanagan People still secretly sang the songs. popular songs today were published When someone says the word The only problem was that they in William’s book, including “The “carol,” anyone would naturally were written in Latin, a language First Noel,” "God Rest Ye Merry, think of Christmas. The origins of that the common people did not Gentlemen,” "I Saw Three Ships,” carols are somewhat contradicting speak. and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." to the present day use. Carols almost completely died out Most people enjoy Christmas car- Carols were, at one time, dances by the Middle Ages. It wasn’t until ols, though some enjoy them more that Anglo-Saxon pagans would do about 1223 that St. Francis of Assisi than others. Senior R.J. Bechtel on the Winter Solstice around stone nearly singlehandedly revived carols has very positive feelings on Christ- circles. When words were sung, for the time being. mas songs. they were used only to add on to the He used songs in his nativity plays “I love Christmas songs,” Bechtel dances. The word carol itself means in Italy. These songs were written said. “I could listen to Christmas a dance or song of praise and joy. in the common language of the peo- music all year.” Greeks and Romans also had car- ple, not Latin. The songs spread to Others, like Cameron Copley, en- ols. They used carols in their plays, various parts of Europe in the joy the songs, but like them as a sea- weddings, festivals, and other cele- 1400s. sonal occurrence. brations. During the 16th and 17th centuries, “I like Christmas carols, but they The Christmas holiday is actually the songs slowly began to die out should not be played until after of pagan origin. Christians took the once again. In the mid 1600s, carols Thanksgiving,” Copley said. Winter Solstice celebrations, gave had, once again, almost completely Christmas songs are a relatively them a Christian theme, and called it died out. new addition to American culture. Christmas. Carols did not make a revival until Whether you like Christmas carols The early Christmas carols were Victorian times. In the early 1800s, or not, they are a big part in our so- used in church services, but as the William Sandys collected a massive ciety, and they seem to be here to Christian church struggled with pa- amount of Christmas songs and pub- stay. gan influences, the church banned lished them in a book. Several hymns and carols from being sung. Winter Break, Right Around the Corner By Tim Romanotto snowball fights, making holiday Corrine Sanchez have their own Winter break is right around the cookies, wrapping and unwrapping plans for the break. corner and everybody is excited. gifts, drinking hot chocolate, carol- “Stay home, and have a New The snow is barely coming down ing, and making igloos. Year’s Eve party,” Sanchez and though, so most people don’t get to “I’m really excited to go caroling, Swain said. do their normal winter activities. I plan to go with Key Club, and I This time of year is good for Without the snow, you can’t go look forward to inspiring every- bringing families together. Siblings snow boarding, skiing, sledding, or body with Christmas joy,” Hayley come home from college; relatives other snowy activities. Demeter, a junior, said. from out of state come in to visit. That doesn’t stop senior Austin Some people enjoy holiday carol- “Yes, I will be visiting family, Vaughn’s winter break. ing because it brightens their spir- making cookies and buying gifts “Getting presents, hanging out its, but there are also the scrooge for family during break,” said Eng- with friends, and making cookies people who have no holiday spirit. lish teacher Tonya Swain. with mommy,” Vaughn said were Junior Lauren Strebel has a few of The holidays are for family, eat- his favorite winter pleasures. her own winter activities in mind. ing, winter activities, giving and Some winter activities that can be “Opening presents, building a getting gifts, and spreading Holi- done consist of snowboarding, ski- snowman, and eating,” Strebel day joy. Everybody have a Happy ing, sledding, going to see Christ- said. Holiday! mas lights, ice skating, building Freshman Hannah Swain and snowmen, making snow angels, Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Advisor The Weekly Observer CJ Martin Shelby Dearth Mr. John Carmigiano Features 3 Quiz & Decorating for the Holidays Quotes By Mackenzie Greer ture window. I just love decorating It’s that time of year again to start everything,” said English teacher What do you to get the Christmas decorations out Mary Lee Wooley. want for and start decorating for the holiday There are many different ways to season. decorate for Christmas inside and Christmas? Christmas decorating has been out. Many people decorate the out- around for many centuries. It all side of their house with lights, in- started in the 7th century when a flatable decorations, and lawn orna- monk traveled to Germany and of- ments. fered a tree to the first village he “I really like inflatable decora-

came across. The first Christmas tions. My favorite one is the rein- tree was decorated with small, deer with Santa; it’s so adorable,” white candles. said senior Marisa Romanchik. It wasn’t until after World War II There are some houses that go all Heather Buckwald that real lighted trees, by candles or out and have many decorations and (12) electricity, turned into a tradition in lights all over. “Justin Beiber!!!” the United States. Christmas lights Some people start decorating now stem from Edward Johnson’s really early, or they have their 1882 Christmas tree. decorations up right after Thanks- “I love decorating the Christmas giving. tree. I like putting the star on top,” “My mom had our decorations up said senior Austin Vaughn. on Thanksgiving night. My mom Christmas ornaments were once had all of the snowmen up around crafted with glass or made from our entire house,” said sophomore edible objects. Now, they are made Karissa Kelling. Lindsey Hansen(11) from many different things like Christmas is the time for many “An iphone.” glass, plastic, wood, and fabric. people to express their holiday “I love decorating my tree; it’s spirit. Once Christmas decorations already up. I like to decorate my are up, you can feel the Christmas dining room because of my big pic- spirit all around.

Jacob Dunbar (10) “A new tennis racket.”

Gavin Berg (9) “A pony!”

December 7, 2011 4 Features Holiday Classics Help Bring Out Spirit By Addy Ferguson and Jake Saffle The time we have all been wait- ing for is finally here! December 25th is approaching quickly. Holi- day movies are starting to play nonstop, and many people are ex- cited to watch them. “I’m so excited to get snuggled up by the fire and watch my fa- vorite Christmas movie, Elf!” jun- ior Noah Berg exclaimed. Not only is ABC family playing the 25 Days of Christmas, they also had a countdown leading up to the 25 Days of Christmas. Now that December has arrived, many channels have gone all Christmas, all the time. “The 25 Days of Christmas al- ways plays my favorite movies to get me in the holiday spirit!” stated senior Sam Harris. The most popular Christmas movies are Elf, A Christmas Story, and How the Grinch Stole The holiday movie favorites always get people in the mood. Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons Christmas. Each one explains a different happening around the time of Christmas. Together they end up saving of Christmas, that it is played for Elf is a movie starring Will Christmas! 24 hours straight on Christmas Ferrell, who as a baby, crawled How the Grinch Stole Christmas Eve day. into Santa’s present bag without is a Christmas classic. The Grinch “I really love watching A Christ- the knowledge of Santa. Once he was originally a cartoon that soon mas Story. It’s a classic Christ- reaches the North Pole, he is became an unanimated movie. mas movie that took place in raised as an elf and taught all the Jim Carey starred in the movie as Cleveland. It even made me stick elf skills. Although he doesn’t fit the Grinch. In the movie, the my tongue to a frozen pole.” sen- in, he still believes he is an elf. Grinch tries to steal Christmas. ior Amanda Greer said. One day, Santa breaks the news “I’ve already watched The Almost every channel is show- to “Buddy the Elf” that he is actu- Grinch about five times! It is my ing Holiday movies now that it is ally a human. Santa explains to favorite movie ever!” junior Brit- December. They are a great way Buddy how his dad lives in a tany Piper explained. to get into the spirit and spend magical place called New York A Christmas Story is a movie time with friends and family. City. Buddy hears this, and he about a boy named Ralphie who Turn on the TV or rent one of decides to travel to New York to wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for the holiday classics, and you will find his dad. Once he reaches Christmas. It is a funny Christmas find yourself instantly in a differ- New York City, Buddy’s father classic that everybody loves. The ent place that only comes once a wants nothing to do with him un- movie is so essential to the theme year. til Buddy is proven to be his son.

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