Its the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniver- sary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Popular customs including exchanging gifts, decorating your Christmas tree, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, waiting for Santa Claus arrival. December 25 has been a federal holiday in the US since 1870. In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was cele- brated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. Popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday. The pil- grims were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. By contrast, in Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith report- ed that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident. After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact it wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870. Have a Merry Christmas! http://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas Kristie Clayton History of Christmas Christmas Christmas is celebrated many ways throughout the world. Even though Christmas is a celebration for Jesus Christ’s birth, many non-Christians celebrate it also. A lot of people who celebrate Christmas think it’s just about pre- sents and quality family time. I interviewed a couple of students from the high school to see what they think. Ryan Thompson, a sophomore at WHS, believes we celebrate Christmas to be around family and friends. To Ryan Christmas means family, fun, and friends. Ryan celebrates Christmas with his loved ones; they celebrate with food and presents. Linsey Alred, a senior at WHS, believes we celebrate Christmas because Jesus’ birthday, and to spend time with our family. To Linsey Christmas means spending time with loved ones and giving. She celebrates Christ- mas with her family. They celebrate by putting up the tree, giving presents, and going to her grandmas. Kymmy Jackson, a freshman at WHS, believes we celebrate Christmas because it’s time for joy and a lot of family time. Kymmy Christmas means “this is the time for god and when he was born.” She celebrates Christ- mas with her family. Every Christmas they go look at the Christmas lights and on Christmas Eve they open presents. —Brooke Bartmann Inside this issue: Santa 2 Lincoln Museum 2 Cheerleading Competition 2 Food Drive 3 Holiday Play 3 Early Graduates 4 Hanukkah 4 Volume 1, issue December 2014 COUGAR TIMES Winchester Community Unit School District #1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg7_uQJI7J8
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COUGAR TIMES Volume 1, issue - Winchester High School · 2014-12-17 · When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence
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Its the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a
worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniver-
sary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Popular customs including exchanging gifts, decorating your
Christmas tree, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, waiting for Santa Claus
arrival. December 25 has been a federal holiday in the US since 1870.
In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was cele-
brated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they
vowed to rid England of decadence and as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. Popular demand,
Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday. The pil-
grims were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not
a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in
Boston. By contrast, in Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith report-
ed that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident. After
the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including
Christmas. In fact it wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26,
To graduate early you must meet certain qualifications. Those qualifications are; you have to have all twenty-six credits. You must fill out an early graduation application. Go to the September School Board meeting and ask permission to graduate early, and write a statement of why you want to graduate early and what your plans are after you graduate. This year there are seven people who are going to graduate early, six seniors and one junior. Those students are Spencer Newman, Derek Haverfield, Joey Baird, Joseph Hamilton, Danielle Suhre, Colton Fearneyhough, and Haylee Zachary.
I asked Junior Danielle Suhre some questions about her graduating early. I asked her ‘What made you want to grad-uate early?’ and her reply was, “I knew I had enough credits and I’m just ready to go straight to college.” Another question was ‘What do you think are some cons of graduating early?’ and she said, “You miss certain things. Like for me, I miss senior year, for others, they may miss prom or sports.” In ten years Danielle sees herself working as a physical therapist and starting a family. “If I could redo any year it would be freshman year, I would worry about school more than friends and relationships,” Said Danielle. She said her dream college is St. Ambrose University because she got a large scholarship. And she will most like-
ly attend it. When I asked her if she thought high school prepares you for collage, she said, “Sort of, certain things will most likely be to-tally different.” The most creative excuse that she has used to get out of homework was “I have to work late.” I also asked her what the strangest advice her parents have told her was and she said, “It doesn’t matter who your friends are, it’ll change in the future.” The last thing I asked her was ‘do you think you will keep in touch with all of your friends’ and she said, “I don’t know for sure. I might cross some people’s path from time to time.” “The one memory I am going to remember from my time I had here at WHS is all my experience as an FFA member!”
I also asked Senior Joseph Hamilton some questions about him graduating early. When I asked him why he want-
ed to graduate early and he said, “To get out of here.” I asked him what he thought where some pros and cons of graduating
early and his reply was, “There are no cons and the pros are that I’m getting out of here.” “There is no bad thing about being
a senior and be best thing is being on top for a year.” Joseph said when I asked him what he though was the worst and best
thing about being a senior. In ten years he seems himself as a farming. “If I could redo any year it would be my freshman
year” Said Joseph. He doesn’t have a dream college and he won’t be attending one. When I asked him if he though high
school prepares you for collage he said, “No.” I asked him if he though seniors should go to college right after high school and his reply
was “NO, everyone needs a break.” Two things he would tell the underclassmen to do are “don’t be a baby, and party and have fun!” “One
memory that I will remember from going to school at WHS is water ballooning Ms. Fairfield!” Kaylie Horrer