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Krampusnacht Is Held the As the People of Germany of a Jolly Fat Man Living with Ple’S Houses Blue & White A Weekly Production from the MHS Journalism Class P.O. Box 580-Montezuma, IA 50171- www.montezuma-schools.org/BlueWhite.aspx St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Nikolaus The man that epitomized the true meaning of Christmas. By Chase Talbert Saint Nicholas’ life has immigrants coming to Amer- with gift giving in honor of Though it has already been speculated to have ica, so did their winter tradi- his most important lesson, passed, December 6th was ended on December 6, 343 tions honoring Saint Nicho- giving instead of receiving. Saint Nicholas Day, it is held A.D. leaving behind only las, saint of generosity and Whether you refer to him in celebration of Saint Nich- the legacy of his unimag- kindness, and also their tra- as Sinterklaas, as they do in olas, the saint believed to be inable generosity and his dition meant to contrast him. the Netherlands, Nikolaus, the real Santa Claus. Instead tendency to sneak into peo- Krampusnacht is held the as the people of Germany of a jolly fat man living with ple’s houses. While this may night before Saint Nicholas do, or Santa Claus as we Mrs. Claus, his elves, and sound suspect, there is a refer to him, they are all his reindeer, Saint Nicholas story about him wherein a Day is meant to warn the chil- was a christian church bishop poor father cannot afford dren not to be bad and or else based on a real-life man, born around 280 A.D. near to pay for his daughters. a fate much worse than coal in whose generousness has where Turkey currently is. Saint Nicholas, hearing their stalking awaited them. left a lasting effect on the He became a saint of this man’s plight he would Christmas demons aside, world as we know it for over through his treatment of later that night sneak into the people of Europe and 1000 years after his passing. the poor and sick, and his his house and leave a bag of America who celebrate You may think about willingness to give them money for them, he would do Saint Nicholas Day do so Christmas as a time for gifts despite the risk of him this two more times for them, differently depending on shopping and getting ex- becoming deathly ill himself. until they were eventually which country you’re in, actly what you wanted, As he gave and gave, able to support themselves. AN ARTIST’S rendition of St. Nicholas. Also some cities have parades, but at its heart Christmas word of him spread across This and many other tales known as Sinterklaas or Nikolaus around the town festivals, and feasting is meant to celebrate how Europe and when his life of him would lead to him world, St. Nicholas was legendary for his generosi- much we are able to give ended he forever became me- being known all through- throughout the town. But al- ty to countless needy families across Europe morialized as the holly jolly out the European continent. most all places that celebrate without expectation of com- Santa we all know and love. Then in the 1700s, with Saint Nicholas Day do so pensation for our kind deeds. Photo credit: GP, Creative Commons 3.0 Missed an issue? No problem! This will be the last issue of the Blue and The Blue & White is now online. White before winter break. Merry Christmas Go to www.montezuma-schools.org/BlueWhite.aspx to see our previous issues! from the Blue and White staff! What type of chocolate do Krampusnacht MHS students prefer? By Carrie Jennings tied to Pagan mythology. most who dress up pre- By Brayden Stockman also had multiple students flavor of chocolate, saying, Our Earth, home to Though he originated fer the cheaper option of In the United States, across each grade who pre- “I only like chocolate when so many countries and as a horned evil deity, he faux fur and face paint. chocolate is used in all of ferred the sweeter flavor. it’s with something else, I cultures, is a mixing pot eventually became a sort Krampusnacht, having the top five selling can- Four freshmen were of celebrations and hol- of anti-Santa. While Santa never been all that popular don’t like it on its own.” dies, proving that Amer- asked why they pre- The fact that milk choc- idays. Winter happens Claus gives toys and gifts of a holiday in years past, icans truly love sweet to contain many of these to the children who are has been growing in popu- ferred the chocolate olate is the most popular chocolate desserts. The religious traditions, in- on the nice list, Krampus larity around the world as that they chose as their of the flavors of chocolate cluding, but certainly not goes around on December of late. This can probably same goes for Montezu- preference. Dylan Hol- may be due to the accessi- limited to, Christmas, 5th to terrorize the chil- be blamed on all of the ma High School, where land, who prefers milk bility and commonness of Kwanzaa, and New Year’s. dren on the naughty list. movies about Krampus students enjoy consuming chocolate, said, “Dark the chocolate. Dark choc- Again, there is a huge In the olden days, and his holiday coming out chocolate just as much as chocolate is too rich and olate was often called too list of holidays in the win- Krampusnacht would be around this time of year. the average American. white chocolate doesn’t rich for those who didn’t ter season alone, some celebrated on the eve of The U.S. is not immune Fifty total students, all really taste like chocolate.” like it, though those who which you may or may not December 5th by hav- to this sudden Kram- members of the Spanish Lauren Klos, who stat- have a preference for the know, but have you ever ing people dress up in pus craze, either. Many Club, were interviewed ed that she had a preference flavor enjoy how bitter it heard of Krampusnacht? horned devil costumes cities in the U.S., such from the school about for dark chocolate, being Krampusnacht, cele- that were made from as Clintonville in Ohio is, while white chocolate their chocolate preference, the only student in ninth seems to be enjoyed by brated on December 5th, sheep and goat skin. and Seattle in Washing- choosing from milk choc- is a traditional holiday There would be come- ton, throw parades on grade to have a preference those who eat chocolate olate, dark chocolate or often celebrated in Bavar- dic plays involving Kram- the eve of Krampusnacht for dark chocolate, said, with other foods, enjoy- ia, some parts of Germa- pus, and children (and to signify the beginning white chocolate. 27 stu- “I love the richness, and ing how it tastes com- ny, and quite a few other some adults) would run of the holiday season. dents stated that they pre- it’s better than the rest.” bined with other foods. places in eastern Europe. around and hit each other Who knows; maybe ferred milk chocolate, 12 Ally Gunderson chose The students of the The day is dedicated with sticks just as the tra- Krampusnacht will one said that their preference white chocolate as her Montezuma Spanish Club to the horned creature ditional Krampus would. day become even more was for dark chocolate, preference, and stated, “I enjoy chocolate just as Krampus, a beast that no Today, however, the widely celebrated than 10 students prefer white can eat a lot of white choc- much as other citizens, one is quite sure on the holiday is celebrated quite Christmas or Hanuk- chocolate, and one stu- olate without getting sick.” and they aren’t afraid origins of. Most historians differently. Gone are the kah. Only time will tell. dent stated that they do Kierstyn Price was the to defend their favor- agree that he existed long traditional costumes made not consume chocolate. one student who didn’t before Christianity and is of animal skin; instead, ite type of chocolate. Of the students who have a preference for any chose dark chocolate, 11 of the 12 students were above KRAMPUSNACHT: ninth grade, possibly The Blue and White Staff Pictured left is an artist’s showing a correlation be- rendering of a visit from tween older students and both St. Nicholas and their inclination towards Krampus. Traditional dark chocolate. However, folklore holds that St. the other flavors of choc- Nick comes to reward olate are more widely en- good children, while joyed by all of the student Krampus comes to pun- population, with at least ish naughty children. two people preferring white chocolate in each grade besides eleventh grade, where only one Public Domain Photo student preferred white chocolate. Milk chocolate, being the most popular, Calendar of Events Thursday Friday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday V Wrestling @ No Activities Christmas Break Christmas Break Christmas Break Christmas Break HLV - 5:00 pm No Activities No Activities No Activities No Activities JV/V BB Quad vs English Valleys: Here - 6:00 pm.
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