Tiger Times Volume 53 Issue 4

Tiger Times Volume 53 • Issue 4 • December 2021 • ttonl.org

GRAPHIC BY: Bona Suh

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SCHOOL NEWS

News Briefs Ambassadors kindle Christmas spirit at Hilton On Nov. 16, the Ambassadors arrived at Millennium Hilton Seoul to sing Christmas carols as part of their annual tradition. Their performance was a celebration of the hotel’s launching of the Christmas toy train, a collection of mini handmade railroad cars that are each sponsored by a company. After singing songs including “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” and “Hallelujah,” the Ambassadors received warm applause from the audience.

Members are looking forward to their next caroling performance to be held on Dec. 15 at Grand Hyatt Seoul.

“Caroling at Hilton was an unforgettable and special experience,” Francisco Choi (12), member of the Ambassadors, said. “My favorite part was being able to perform with my senior buddies, having dinner there, and making wonderful memories with them.”

Students competitively decorate English 11 rooms English 11 teachers announced in early November that they are hosting a Christmas decorations competition among students.

Anyone who helped decorate their classroom was to receive an extra point for their most recent assignment, and the winning class was promised a pizza party. Students with the same English 11 teacher actively coordinated with one another to bring decorations before the deadline, Dec. 1, when counselors Carly Santos and Kelcey Edwards visited the rooms to judge. Unlike originally planned, Ms. Santos and Ms. Edwards made everyone a winner by handing the Most Christmas Spirit award to Tessa Alden’s class, the Most Colorful award to James Fischer’s class, and the Most Sparkle award to Jessica Terbrueggen’s class.

“This idea emerged pretty organically as my students and I were chatting,” said Ms. Terbrueggen. “The main goal with this was just to have fun. It’s a fun time of the year with Christmas and holiday celebrations coming up, and students love extra points, so this seemed like a good idea to get us in the holiday spirit. My B3 class has done a really good job so far bringing in decorations like reindeer and lanterns.”

SIS community plans ahead for Christmas

As winter break approaches, the SIS community is busy making plans for how they will spend Christmas. After a seemingly endless, hectic school semester, students and teachers are thrilled to finally have the time to relax and create valuable memories over the holidays. For instance, Allyson Lee, science teacher, cannot wait to celebrate Christmas at home with her family.

“My daughters and I will make Christmas sugar cookies together,” Mrs. Lee said. “ We will also create Christmas arts and crafts, watch Christmas movies, and drink some hot chocolate. Although we do not have specific plans yet, it will be great to go sliding when it snows or travel somew-

Junior, Copy Editor

layout by Ian Park

BY: John Kim Sophomore, Reporter

NHS spreads Christmas spirit with toy drive

Algebra 2 students craft elaborate graphs As the holiday season approaches, Algebra 2 teachers decided to assign an unconventional project to their students: generating images by manipulating graphs on Desmos, an online graphing calculator. Algebra 2 classes had a similar assignment last year, where students made images relating to the year 2020 or COVID-19 on Desmos. By inviting students to express their artistry and creativity in a math class, where such skills are least expected, teachers not only foster holiday spirits in an intellectually stimulating way but also diversify the type of coursework offered.

“I prefer this type of assignment because it is interesting how we can apply the things we learned in such a creative way,” Liz Kim (10), Algebra 2 student, said. “It definitely feels less stressful and more enjoyable than a standard unit test. I am planning on ‘drawing’ Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, and I am excited to see how it turns out.”

BY: Aimee Choi

here in the country, such as Busan.”

Students are also excited to spend time with their friends. Amid the ongoing virus, Eddie Chu (10), Christmas carolholic, will be calling his friends to celebrate Christmas. “ We will be passionately singing carols together through Discord,” Eddie said. “I will also screen-share Christmas movies, such as ‘The Polar Express,’ so that it feels like we are in a theater together.”

While most students will stay at home to celebrate Christmas, James Tyvand, history teacher, will fly back to the US with his family to meet his parents.

“We will first go to Oregon to spend

Christmas with my parents and then to Utah to celebrate New Year’s Day with my wife’s family,” Mr. Tyvand said. “Since Oregon is a mountainous state, it often snows during the winter.

I hope that it will snow on Christmas day so that we can experience a white Christmas.”

Some other students and teachers are also traveling to various locations around the world this winter. Michael Richardson (10), travel enthusiast, will travel to London with his family.

“I am so excited to experience Christmas in London,” Michael said.

“My family will stay in London for about a week, and we will visit famous locations such as Tower Bridge and Madame Tussauds. I am certainly looking forward to seeing how British people celebrate Christmas!”

In addition, Kris Son (10), devout Catholic, feels that it is important to honor Jesus’s birth.

“I am planning to go to church on Christmas Day,” Kris said. “I think it is meaningful that I can celebrate the birth of Jesus with not only my family but also other members in the church. Overall, I like Christmas because of how everyone feels happy about Jesus’s birth and the warm holiday atmosphere.”

With the end of the semester and the holiday spirit prevalent across students and teachers, SIS is delighted to finally greet a well-deserved winter break.

The SIS National Honor Society (NHS) organized its annual toy drive to spread Christmas spirit with children at the Chungwoon orphanage. NHS members hosted various fundraising events in order to raise money, later used to buy the toys, starting in early November to donate Christmas gifts to the children, ranging from ages 1 to 19.

“The children in the orphanages are just like the children at SIS. They want the same gifts, but the differ-

ence is that society does not always afford them the opportunity to ask for them,” Gray Macklin, adviser of NHS, said. “It is definitely a challenge to ask students to make donations and get creative with raising money, compared to the familiar routine fundraisers that simply will not raise the money needed for this event. This fundraising event pushes them to try new things and promote social good.”

As NHS members usually hold oneon-one tutoring sessions for various subjects, the toy drive is a unique event that they are collectively organizing together. Thus, the toy drive was a special experience for NHS members to bond with each other while also learning new skills.

“I think it was initially a bit challenging to come up with ideas for the fundraiser because it was my first time organizing such a big event in a short amount of time,” Fabian Roh, NHS member, said. “Still, I think this was a good learning experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to challenge myself.”

The NHS members ordered the gifts that the children asked for with their own money and are beginning to conduct fundraising activities both individually or in groups to get reimbursed. For instance, Michelle Bok (11), Erin Ryu (11), and Sarah Yim (11) hosted a Christmas Raffle where students had a chance to win prizes such as gift cards, Marshall bluetooth speakers, bath bombs, fuzzy socks, and more.

Many NHS members came up with a variety of fundraising activities to raise

money for the toy drive. Some members stuck with the basics by hosting bake sales or book sales, while others incorporated creative rewards, such as AP Economics correction passes for 10,000 won or study guides for different classes. Others organized hot chocolate sales to add a touch of Christmas spirit to the fundraisers.

“Our group organized a hot chocolate sale with s’mores to raise money for the Chungwoon orphanage,” Jinwook Shin (11), NHS member, said. “We sold one cup of hot chocolate for around 2,000 to 3,000 won. Even though it might have appear a bit overpriced, I think students still bought it because it was for a good cause.”

The NHS members hosted a NHS market during activity period on Nov. 31 in the atrium to provide an opportunity for all groups to organize their individual fundraising activities.

“I hope all students, teachers, and faculty members can come participate in the NHS market and other fundraising activities that other NHS members are hosting for this good cause,” Erin Kim (12), NHS executive, said. “We hope that our efforts will put a smile on the faces of the children at the orphanage.”

BY: Jasmine Jeong Junior, Reporter

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

We wish you a merry birthday, Xavier Kim

With Christmas carols playing in the background and the smell of chestnuts roasting in the oven, we do not have to look at the calendar to know the biggest holiday of the year is approaching. Shining decorations find their places in pine trees, stores crowd with cheerful customers, and children send wish lists to Santa in the North Pole.

There’s one special boy, though, waiting for just a bit more than Santa and his sack of gifts. He gathers with his family around the table, awash in golden light from… birthday candles on top of a birthday cake?!

We have all probably wondered what it feels like to be that boy and have a birthday land right on Christmas Day, or at least even pondered the chances of meeting a Christmas baby. After all, a Christmas birthday seems like a fortuitous coincidence—who else would get to enjoy Santa dropping in through the chimney with presents to bless their own

holiday?

While birthdays celebrate an individual’s growth over time, Christmas places emphasis on making the community feel special. But what happens when the two celebrations land on the same day? Does it double the celebration, and double the happiness?

Here to describe his experiences is one such holiday birthday boy, Xavier Kim (12).

As a child, telling others that his birthday landed on Christmas always stirred up a series of “Whoa! A Christmas baby!” reactions or “Jesus 2.0!” jokes for Xavier. Despite such celebrations, Xavier’s feelings toward the 25th are invariably complicated. Commemorating a momentous day with family and friends is special, but sharing the spotlight with millions around the world can sometimes be bittersweet.

“I find it hard to wish people a merry Christmas because I feel like I am fishing for birthday wishes,” Xavier chuckled. “But it is still a

very happy occasion. For the past 17 years, I have spent December 25th with my family all the time, and as a bonus, it is heartwarming to see them exchange holiday gifts on my birthday.”

For most, that is all Christmas is, alongside those awkward family gatherings and greeting a distant relative whose name you just cannot place. With Xavier’s relatives living in different countries, he travels around the world like Santa on his sleigh to bring the Christmas cheer to his family.

“My family celebrates Christmas all together,” Xavier said.

“Christmas is a special occasion for us, so being able to spend that time with them is an enjoyable experience. Especially because I have relatives in Japan, Korea, and the US, Christmas can be in one place one year, and one in another.”

What about the joy of exchanging gifts and the triumph that comes with tearing open a Scotchtape vault, arguably the most

exciting part about Christmas?

For Xavier, this joy is twofold.

With his birthday and Christmas, the two holidays that bring the most gifts, overlapping, Xavier is allowed to wish for more expensive presents than what would normally be asked for. Unlike his less fortunate friends born around Christmas time who receive only one present, Xavier can combine the two into one grand gift. However, there is no Christmas tree without splinters: along with its unique perks, Xavier’s birthday has its catches as well.

“I find it hard to tell people my birthday is on Christmas,” Xavier admitted. “They get very excited, and sometimes I wish my birthday was on a regular day even though this is one of the things that make me special. Plus, because my birthday is around winter break and on a holiday reserved for family, it tends to get a bit boring seeing the same decorations year after year.”

At the end of the day, though,

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there is no definite good or bad, but only the joy of his birthday that remains. One thing for sure is that Xavier gets to celebrate such occasions and share the joy and festivities not only by himself but also with millions of merrymakers around the world.

“My mom always reminds me that I was her best Christmas gift,” Xavier reminisced. “My family and friends tell me how special I am to be born on such a grand occasion. But I want everyone to know that my birthday is not much different, nor more fortunate than others. Everyone’s birthday is special—mine just happens to land on December 25th.”

BY: Alice Lee & Grace Lee Junior, Photo Editor & Sophomore, Reporter

A Christmas tale: Christmas throughout history The official purpose of Christmas is to serve as a Christian festival that commemorates the birth of Jesus, and at the time of its creation, its purpose was exactly that. However, throughout several centuries of evolution, Christmas is now a holiday celebrated globally, characterized by chaotic family gatherings, massive Christmas trees, last-minute shopping, and Michael Bublé playing around every corner.

Since the creation of the popular holiday, the traditions and customs used to celebrate Christmas have greatly changed throughout history to shape the modern Christmas we know today.

Christmas finds its earliest origins in ancient Rome, where, instead of a celebration of the birth of Jesus, it began as the worship of a pagan agricultural god. Saturnalia, a very early precursor to Christmas, was a celebration of the Roman god Saturn during the winter solstice on Dec. 25. This pagan holiday largely contributed to the date that Christmas is celebrated today and influenced many modern Christmas traditions. For example, Romans

halted all schools and businesses during Saturnalia to celebrate with feasts, music, and gifts.

Eventually, due to the Roman Empire’s conquest of Europe, many of the traditions found in Saturnalia spread into Western culture and have served as the foundation for how most celebrate modern Christmas. Later, European priests would see the popularity of this pagan holiday and identify Dec. 25 as the birth of Jesus in order to incorporate popular pagan winter festivals into the new Christian holiday.

However, even after the spread of these traditions, it was not until the ninth century that Christmas became a widely celebrated Christian festival. Before this time, it had been considered much less significant compared to other major Christian holidays such as Good Friday or Easter. Most Christmas traditions during this time period took place in churches, with both Roman Catholic and Protestant churches holding preachings during Christmastime.

Despite the several centuries of history leading up to Christmas,

many of the holiday’s modern customs and traditions were actually created fairly recently. In fact, even the Christmas tree, a major symbol of Christmas, originated in France in the early 17th century as merely a fir tree decorated with apples. A popular tradition that started at a similar time in the 16th century was the wreath, made by combining multiple fir branches into a circular shape to symbolize the 24 days of December preceding Christmas.

The most contemporary aspects of Christmas and the beginning of its shift to secularity finally appeared in the late 18th and early 19th century. In the Western world, the tradition of gift-giving had become well established, and the public view of Christmas was shifted toward being a secular holiday that was focused more on reunions with family and friends.

People continued to celebrate through family gatherings, massive feasts, and popular carols such as “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells” that depicted the cheerful joy of spending Christmas with family and friends.

The evolution of Christmas from being a festival based entirely on religious affairs to being a multicultural holiday celebrated globally is clearly shown in the evolution of Santa Claus, arguably the most iconic Christmas figure and the focus of many legends that are still believed in today. This imminent figure received his name from Saint Nicholas, a Turkish Christian monk who was born in the year 270. He was known for his empathy and kindness, giving away his wealth to the poor and aiding them in their struggles. The tales of his travels only grew more popular as time went on, and he soon became known as the protector of children and the most popular saint in Europe.

The image of Saint Nicholas took a step closer to becoming the figure he is today when the name Santa Claus was derived from the Saint’s Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas. Afterward, authors and poets such as Washington Irving and Clement Clarke Moore helped promote the current image of Santa Claus through popular written

pieces such as “The History of New York” and “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Both of these works depicted him as a mystical, jolly old man donning a red coat and delivering presents to children from his sleigh—a stark contrast from the character’s origins as a Christian monk.

The many ways that Christmas has evolved since its creation may surprise people who view Christmas as a timeless holiday that has retained most of its traditions and customs throughout history. However, these assumptions could not be further from the truth, as Christmas has changed in both the ways that it is celebrated and its image as a religious holiday. The full story of the evolution of Christmas shows that although modern Christmas traditions seem to be set in stone, Christmas will continue to form new traditions and celebrations for as long as it will be celebrated.

BY: Junseo Lee Sophomore, Reporter

A Christmas tale: Christmas around the world As one of the most popular holidays in the world, Christmas has been celebrated every year on Dec. 25 for the past several centuries in countries all over the globe. While it may seem like there are little differences in how Christmas is celebrated, each country has unique ways of commemorating it, particularly in the food, customs, and music they use.

One of the major differences cultures have in celebrating Christmas is the food they eat. In the US and Canada, a traditional Christmas dinner includes turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. For dessert, pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, or fruitcake is common.

A popular drink consumed in this region is eggnog, a milk-based punch infused with alcohol. In addition, European countries such as Italy have a celebration called the “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” where a variety of seafood, such as salt cod or fried shrimp, is served. Meanwhile, Sweden’s traditional dishes include pickled herring, salmon, meatballs, red beet salad, and bread.

Because it is a popular Western holiday, Christmas is not as widely celebrated in Asian countries. There is no established special dish for this holiday in many of these countries.

Nevertheless, some countries still recognize Christmas as an official holiday and serve traditional dishes during festivities. For example, in Korea, people serve traditional foods like bulgogi (barbecued beef ), japchae (sweet potato noodles), and kimchi, along with steamed rice cake for dessert. In China, they commonly serve roast pork, dumplings, and spring rolls. Many stores also sell apples covered in colored paper as gifts to hand out during this time.

Many cultures also have special customs for this holiday. In North America, friends and families celebrate by decorating Christmas trees, setting up lights around the house, exchanging gifts with families and friends, and for Christians, attending church. Many also bake Christmas cookies, butter tarts, and shortbread. All such Western modern practices are very similar to those of other places that celebrate this religious holiday.

Especially in Europe, lights are set up around town for decorations.

Most countries have this custom because the lights symbolize stars.

In “The Bible,” the birth of Jesus is very significant. When the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem, noble pilgrims from the East followed a guiding star to Bethlehem, where they paid homage to the infant Jesus. It also has the Christian significance of lighting up the world and supporting others.

One common custom among many countries is the appeal to children and the circulating image of Santa due to the commercialization of Christmas. In the past few decades, the popularity of Christmas significantly increased. During the 1840s, when Christmas was first introduced to northeast cities of America such as New York City, European immigrants created the idea of Christmas being a child-centered and gift-oriented holiday and helped popularize the holiday by promoting a figure called Saint Nicholas, more commonly known as Santa Claus.

As Christmas became personified

as Santa Claus, marketers in New York saw this as an opportunity to sell goods and began to use this early depiction of Santa Claus with their advertisements in the 1840s. Since then, products and advertisements have been mass-produced and targeted towards children. Toys, candies, even soft drinks, were advertised with labels and photos of Santa Claus. Because of this trend, Christmas has changed its course to be centralized towards consumerism and commercialization.

Another major difference that countries have in celebrating Christmas is their music. Music is one of the crucial aspects of Christmas, as it raises the holiday spirit and brightens the mood of festivity. Many countries have a unique music culture during this holiday. In Western culture, Christmas music first was derived from Catholic carols sung by choirs, along with bands that play instruments such as handbells and harps. In India, merrymakers use musical instruments like the sitar, sarangi, and shehnai to celebrate.

In Australia, the instruments are unique to their nation, such as the

didgeridoo, a wind instrument played by using a special breathing technique called circular breathing.

Now, however, the religious hymns of Christmas music have developed to become more similar to popular music with a faster tempo and a positive and upbeat tone. This modern music has also become very popular and widespread. For example, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” one of the most influential modern Christmas songs of all time, had a weekly streaming total of nearly 11 million last year.

Unlike the mainstream and popular Western portrayal of Christmas, there are actually several ways that Christmas is celebrated in countries around the globe. With its diverse foods, music, practices, and ties to religion, Christmas is one of the most fascinating holidays in the modern world. Despite these differences, all countries still celebrate Christmas to spread positivity and practice gift-giving.

BY: David Kim Sophomore, Reporter

6 Editorial Have yourself a merry little Christmas by

Jenny Seo & Emily Sung editors-in-chief

Dreary eyes and lifeless spirits constantly check the calendar and await the most anticipated date of the year: the last day of school before winter break. On campus, these eyes meet the sight of, but fail to take in, the festive decorations. Similar to how snow only incites glee when it piles, the low Christmas spirit at SIS indefinitely fails to meet what used to be the joy, or rather “hype,” surrounding the holiday. Though the 25th is fast approaching, the excitement surrounding what is traditionally the most loved holiday is nowhere to be found.

Ten years ago, we all stayed up under our blankets with a flashlight waiting to sneak a peek of Santa and his sleigh. Waking up on Christmas day and tearing apart shiny wrapping paper were all we looked forward to as soon as the cold weather settled in. The inner child that once believed in the wonders of the world now longs for this innocence to return.

As time passes, textbooks replace picture books, backpacks grow heavier, and winter coats don’t fit quite the same. As we wrap our jackets more tightly around us to fight the icy wind, the brightly lit Christmas tree and red and green decorations only serve as a bittersweet reminder of our long-lost childhood.

The harsh reality we face now is filled with looming deadlines and overwhelming academic pressure: a YouTube Christmas carol playlist is nothing but a countdown for seniors who await their impending college early decision results and sophomores who dread their upcoming December SATs, instead of what would have normally been a heartfelt sing-along.

While we were writing this article, our own lack of excitement prompted us to ponder over the true essence of this holiday.

We lose much if we forget that the mundane aspects of Christmas are what give it its true value. They can be found in the sharing of feasts with loved ones, a welcoming tingle of bells, a falling snowflake. The annual season that elicits warm acts of kindness lights the candles that brighten the world in hopes of bringing joy to all. Happiness does not always come from large-scale accomplishments or life-changing experiences, it can take the form of small, everyday pleasures––Christmas is simply one of the many pieces of joy we find in life that add to our happiness as a whole.

As we grow older, “Home Alone” may not excite us as much as it did before. We may no longer wish for Lego sets or toy cars. If, when we were younger, Christmas was all about presents under the tree, our wider vision of the world now inspires us to center the holiday around happiness in other areas that might not seem as magical, but hold the same gravity nevertheless. Perhaps this is the true nature of Christmas; appreciating the value of the smaller aspects of the holiday and its soft glow that warms the hearts of everyone wherever they may be.

And with that in mind, have yourself a merry little Christmas.

Let yourself be heard. If you have any responses to articles published in the Tiger Times or original contributions, please send them to tigertimes@gmail.com

layout by Bona Suh

VIEWPOINT

All SIS wants for Christmas

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he cold air has settled, and the season for Christmas gifting has begun. It is never too early to start shopping for the holidays. But let us be real here: selecting the best, perfectly tailored Christmas gift is not easy business. With notoriously tough-to-shop-for people like dads bluntly responding with the dreaded “I don’t know what I want for Christmas,” many struggle to find the present of best fit and, alas, end up procrastinating until the last minute, betting their hopes on next-day delivery.

To help alleviate these dire concerns, we present to you the comprehensive best Christmas gift list for your classmates, best friends, parents, distant relatives, significant others, and whoever else deserves such largesse.

If you are an older sibling searching for a gift, Alyssa Lee (10) believes a little doll would be perfect. “The most memorable Christmas gift I received as a child was a small doll from my mom,” Alyssa said. “Despite it being several years back, unwrapping the gift to see my doll on Christmas is a vivid memory to this day.”

As a traditional gift, cute dolls will never fail to impress your little ones.

Moreover, any type of clothing item will be a pleasant gift for people of all ages, from your best friend to your dear grandmother. Even for Ryan Jung (10) who does not have “any particular thing” he desires, a stack of new clothes would always be a solid present for the holidays.

“Whatever situation or whenever it may be, it is difficult to go wrong with clothes, an obvious daily necessity, as long as they do not deviate too much from the person’s fashion preferences,” Ryan said. “In fact, I think a cozy sweater would be a perfect gift for my mom.”

Looking toward the higher end, an electronic device would also be a great surprise for people wishing to switch up their old devices or simply escort more fun into the remainder of their winter holiday. Ranging from small gadgets like earphones to larger student necessities like laptops and tablets, electronics can meet the needs and desires of any target audience. “My all-time favorite and most memorable Christmas gift would have to be my first Macbook received before sixth grade,” Henry Hatridge (10) said.

“It stands out as the most significant gift because I would not survive a day

without it.”

Except a gift does not have to be tangible. “Though it would surely be nice to receive gifts like clothes and shoes, personally, I would much rather spend time with my friends and family and enjoy a special day out,” Eric Cho (9) said. “To me, Christmas is a time that should be celebrated with not only presents but also the presence of each other.”

Evidently, one Christmas gift does not fit all. But to perfectly tailor a gift for every individual, people may not be left with enough time to finalize their best choices. Although it might be banal to say that Christmas is about our connections with family and other loved ones, the truth is the truth — the cliché remark has stood true for centuries. After all, it is not what is under the Christmas tree that matters. It is the hearts we touch and the care we show that we all truly need for Christmas.

BY: Katelyn Oh Sophomore, Reporter

Santa Claus: Saint Nick or Scarlet Nightmare?

He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake.

We all know about Saint Nicholas, the man who flies in a sleigh and brings joy to children everywhere, all in one night every year. With the passing of time, he has become renowned for his good deeds, some going as far as to call him “Father Christmas.” What people forget to question, however, is exactly how he can carry out this enormous feat every year without fail. Both his motives and means of accomplishment are shrouded in mystery, as no one has ever dared to truly look into the man behind the red suit.

The first point of discussion is how he is able to make millions of gifts by Christmas Eve. Yes, he has a toy factory up at the North Pole with the elves, but no one has gotten the elves’ accounts of the process. How many hours do they work each day? Do they get paid leave?

Are they bound to Santa by contract? Are there sufficient wages? Like so, there is barely any transparency in the gift production process. Of course, some may say that knowing everything would ruin the magic of Christmas and these questions are far too invasive for a well-meaning

man. Still, this is basic information that any respectable manufacturer should be able to disclose, especially if their products are being distributed to the entire world. In the North Pole, there are no labor laws or regulations holding Santa’s production back—he can get away with basically anything.

The deception does not end there.

Apart from the possible abuse of employer power Santa is wielding, there is yet to be any clarification on the care of the reindeer. Every year, they need to gallop through the night sky of the entire world in 24 hours, or a bit more if one considers time zones. The fate of Christmas depends on nine reindeer who have presumably been doing this their entire lives. To quickly show the magnitude of the task, the circumference of Earth is about 40,075 kilometers. Since Santa most likely does not travel in a straight line across the equator—more like a zigzag from every house in every town in every country—there is a lot more ground for the reindeer to cover.

Although normal reindeer can only pull about 300 pounds, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph pull the weight of Santa and all of the world’s Christmas

gifts—presumably quite over the 300pound limit.

Taking all of this into account, it does not help that there is a rumor that Santa is actually a lie fabricated by parents. The belief that they are the ones putting the gifts beneath the tree is reasonable but in the end only works in his favor. Santa is real, and is doing well. It is a carefully calculated technique that allows those who are “too old” to be subtracted from the demographic receiving gifts. The fact that this cover-up is so widely accepted creates a perfect way for him to escape accountability and stop letting older kids look forward to that holiday magic.

It is a cheap trick to scam millions from getting the gifts they deserve and experience the joy of Christmas for a while longer.

With this, dear reader, it is important to take away this: do not trust this man at any cost. Even if he is to show his broad face, his round belly, or shake when he laughs like a bowl full of jelly, do not give in.

BY: Rachel Yoon Sophomore, Copy Editor

MULTIMEDIA

DEEP_FRIED_INTERNET

rosa suh

‘Twas the night before Christmas: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all Deep Fried Internet edition

through the Web, Not a person was stirring, not even a mod; The homework was finished on the desk with care, In hopes that a PS5 would soon be there; The seniors were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of acceptances danced in their heads; And students of all ages had just settled down, Passed out from countless hours of scrolling past nine.

Across the world, couples watched Netflix, Searching endlessly for the next holiday hit.

Mariah Carey sang her heart out to the tune “All I Want For Christmas is You.” On Reddit and 4Chan galore, People drew Santa as a cute anime gorl.

While people posted pics of dogs in red and green collars, NFTs of St. Nick sold for millions of dollars.

Our favorite Christmas songs and movies to brighten up your Christmas, ranked

Songs

1. The Christmas Song by Ray Charles This jazz carol, originally by Nat King Cole, is the most iconic of the Christmas carol classics. This particular adaptation by Ray Charles incorporates his deeper, rasping voice that creates a more romantic atmosphere. After all, this adaptation was one of the main tracks for the classic romance drama “Love Affair.”

Nonetheless, this adaptation embodies the cheerful and relaxed atmosphere of Christmas just as well as Cole’s original piece with its slow tempo and the soothing sound of flutes, as soft as fresh snow. At the same time, it is a truly unique standout among Christmas carols— unlike most hits, it lacks a chorus and is much more relaxed, earning itself a special place among jazz carols.

2. I Really Don’t Want Much For Christmas

by Chris Botti (Instruments) and Eric Benét (Vocals) Although quite obscure, Chris Botti’s “I Really Don’t Want Much for Christmas” is one of the richest Christmas songs. The instrumental performance in the song is especially admirable—from the start, the deep, reverberating sound of a single trumpet played by Botti sets the mood for a soothing Christmas piece.

The trumpet is the only dominant instrument throughout the entire song, perfectly augmenting Benét’s clear vocals and making for a truly unique song that flawlessly blends one trumpet and one voice.

3. All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey If “The Christmas Song” is the most easily recognizable of relaxing carols, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is arguably the most emblematic of the Christmas pop songs. Ever since it was released in 2011, the song has been a global hit and is played all over the world starting as early as Thanksgiving. There is no wonder why the song is so popular: Mariah Carey’s powerful vocals along with the

vibrant chorus create a wild, cheerful mood that brightens up the holiday season.

4. White Christmas by Frank Sinatra There is no bigger name than Frank Sinatra in jazz, and unsurprisingly, his hallmark Christmas song “White Christmas” is a Christmas classic. Characteristic of Sinatra, the song is a slow-paced song that sets a laid-back atmosphere for Christmas. The combination of Sinatra’s deep, ringing voice and the numerous soft violins in the background flawlessly delivers a memorable tune for an unforgettable Christmas. More than the other calm, jazz Christmas songs like Botti’s “I Really Don’t Want Much for Christmas,” this masterpiece

by Sinatra is extremely repetitive and centers around only 13 lines of lyrics as opposed to Botti’s 28 lines and Charles’ 20 lines, consisting mostly of repetitions of “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas.” But with Sinatra’s slightly different intonations, each repetition has its own unique flavor and the many repetitions only make this soothing song one of the catchiest and most memorable carols of them all.

5. Let it Snow! by Michael Bublé When it comes to Christmas carols, Michael Bublé along with Sinatra is perhaps one of the most renowned names. Although the list of excellent Buble Christmas carols is endless, “Let it Snow!” is one of his most popular tracks. It is hardly surprising, for the song has all the elements of a good Christmas song—Buble’s clear, varied vocals, skilled piano and trumpet playing, along with a cheerful, vibrant chorus.

Buble’s cheery lines followed immediately by exuberant notes from the trumpet create a joyful atmosphere that suits Christmas perfectly.

People rushed to buy Christmas presents, AirPods drained the wallets of parents.

Amazon carts filled with dalgona kits; Jeff Bezos laughed because he is rich.

As we pretended that airplanes were shooting stars, Elon Musk was trying to get to Mars.

When streamers on Twitch were playing Among Us, Donald Trump was calling AOC sus.

As TikTokers danced to songs slowed and reverbed, And Flat-Earthers denied a world that was curved, Karens on Twitter claimed Bill Gates was evil, And promoted intense vaccine upheaval.

More things, both fun and sad, Make you happy, make you mad, Preserved on the Internet, things held dear, Let’s live on for another year.

Hugo Lee Movies

1. Die Hard “Die Hard” is not a typical Christmas movie, as it is not a sweet romance or cheerful fantasy that captures the fantastical elements of Christmas. Rather, it is an action-packed thriller that follows the exploits of protagonist policeman John McClane as he attempts to save everyone’s Christmas from deadly terrorists who plan to take over an LA skyscraper. Although it is not the typical Christmas movie, “Die Hard” depicts the extreme measures people will take just to have a safe and merry Christmas holiday, only in a much more thrilling manner.

2. Home Alone One of the most popular Christmas movies of all time, “Home Alone” depicts every mischievous child’s Christmas wish: to make their family disappear. Although the eightyear-old main character Kevin’s actions sometimes seem disturbingly sadistic, the movie is a humorous and entertaining watch for any family, and a considerable number of children will surely sympathize with Kevin’s secret mischievous wishes while their protective parents will definitely sympathize with the shock and bewilderment of Kevin’s parents when they realize their son is missing. All in all, “Home Alone” has something to offer for all members of the family and makes for an excellent movie for the family to enjoy on the couch.

3. Elf If Christmas were to be summed up in three words, it would be Santa, reindeer, and elves. This movie captures all of these: particularly the elves. An entertaining depiction of an orphan toddler’s accidental journey to the North Pole where he grows up as an oversized elf, this movie will answer any curiosities people may have about the obscure lifestyle led by Santa and his elves. However, this movie goes beyond just elves and Santa Claus to explore the powerful family love associated with Christmas. Later on, the now fully-grown orphan, Buddy, realizes the truth of his human identity and returns to New York City to meet his parents and spend the Christmas holiday with them. At first, his biological parents find it difficult to accept that their son is an oversized elf but amidst the warm, loving atmosphere of Christmas, Buddy and his biological family grow increasingly tight-knit and Buddy ultimately finds true familial love.

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SMALL TALK

That Theater Nerd.

‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’: the best Christmas musical movie ever

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” tells the story of the Grinch, a green, grumpy, lonesome creature, as he attempts to get rid of Christmas once and for all by ambushing the nearby town of Whoville on Christmas Eve. While dressed as Santa Claus, he sneakily pockets all of the Whos’ decorations and gifts, loads them in his sleigh—pulled by his dog Max, and wreaks havoc.

Although the original illustrated children’s book

by Theodor Seuss Geisel, more commonly known as “Dr. Seuss,” was published in 1957, the Grinch remains a popular character that resurfaces from the murky depths of Christmas past every December. Due to people’s undying love for this fuzzy, green Scrooge, there have been many adaptations of the Grinch’s tale, including a cartoon version released in 1966, a live-action one starring Jim Carrey released in 2000, and an animated version featuring Benedict Cumberbatch’s American accent released in 2018.

Across all of these adaptations, there are three things that stay consistent: firstly, the Grinch starts

By Katie Kim

off as a very emotionally unstable hermit who has a lot of pent-up anger in his heart. Secondly, the Who community is introduced to the audience as materialistic, annoyingly positive, and overpopulated. Thirdly, the Grinch ends up changing his outlook on life with the help of Cindy-Lou Who, a little girl who shows him that Christmas is so much more than just useless ruckus.

Nevertheless, each adaptation shines in its own way.

For instance, the 1966 cartoon adaptation has the best soundtrack. Thurl Ravenscroft, with his low, booming voice, sings “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” in such an ominous way. The orchestra playing in the background crescendos at all the right times, making every intense scene more dramatic.

The 2000 live-action adaptation strays the furthest from the original narrative, for it provides an in-depth analysis of the Grinch’s childhood trauma. In this remake, the Grinch arrives in Whoville as a baby and is adopted by two elderly sisters. As a young student, he develops a crush on his classmate Martha May Whovier, who reciprocates his feelings. Augustus MayWho, another classmate, is jealous of Martha’s feelings toward the Grinch, so he starts bullying the Grinch—a classic douchebag move. That Christmas, the Grinch accidentally cuts his face while trying to shave, and his classmates tease him endlessly, which causes him to pop off, announce his hatred for Christmas, and flee to Mount Crumpit, where he has resided since.

The 2018 animated adaptation attributes the Grinch’s horrid personality to his abandonment issues.

The audience sees a flashback of the young Grinch’s lonely holidays in an orphanage. He was only able to watch the Christmas festivities in Whoville from afar, leading him to resent the Whos and their happiness.

This adaptation also has a great soundtrack—Tyler, the Creator sings “I Am the Grinch” and a hip-hop version of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

At first sight, the Grinch is not lovable. However, despite his hunched back and sharp claws, his round facial features make him cute. His behavior is not even as bad as everyone makes it out to be! Firstly, after enduring relentless bullying, he would obviously want to live in a mansion isolated from society. Secondly, the Whos were not always the nicest people. Not only did they refuse to exercise basic decency by disregarding the Grinch’s noise complaints, but they also shamed him for using sarcasm to cope with his emotional pain.

By “stealing Christmas,” the Grinch taught the Whos that Christmas is a time for love and merriment, not just material goods. He was essentially a hero—a hero dressed as a pantless Santa Claus.

Little Lens, Larger Ends

All I want for Christmas is (not) you

By Skylar Peck It is that time of the year: days get shorter, colorful trees turn bare, and the hallways of SIS fill with choruses of students grumbling about having to spend a “Solo Christmas.” For those lucky enough to be unfamiliar with the phrase, a Solo Christmas refers to a Christmas spent while not in a romantic relationship: “solo” is an English-borrowed Korean term for “single.”

In South Korea, though devout Christians celebrate Christmas to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, for a majority of the population, it is a secular holiday. However, unlike the United States, where Christmas is a time for family, Korea has other family-centered holidays such as Seollal and Chuseok. Therefore, Christmas is instead considered one of Korea’s most romantic days of the year—a holiday for couples, almost like a second Valentine’s Day. To couples, Christmas in Korea is nothing short of a paradise. Hotels offer special Christmas couples packages, advertisements for couples gifts ideas permeate social media, and every public place seems to be adorned with “photo zones” for lovers. On the other end of the spectrum are single people, some of whom transform into Grinches as Christmas approaches; the couples-targeted commercialization of Christmas often causes the loneliness that single people feel to snowball.

This Solo Christmas-induced loneliness lays bare the problematic implications of relying on a romantic partner for fulfill-

layout by Alice Lee

ment. The desire to be in a relationship may be heightened by the sight of happy couples during the Christmas season, but it is a thought that lurks in the minds of many single young people throughout the year.

There is no inherent issue with wanting to be in love, of course, but a problem arises when that want turns into a need.

The belief that it is impossible to be happy without a partner plagues many young single people, who anguishedly search for a piece that will complete them.

However, over-relying on others can take a toll on our emotional health, subjecting us to increased stress and anxiety, along with reducing our capabilities of caring for ourselves.

We often fail to recognize that we should not need someone else to complete us because we are already our own, whole beings. We should be able to feel fulfilled and whole on our own: we are the ones with full control over the sleighs of our lives. After all, Rudolph may lead Santa’s sleigh with the help of other reindeer, but he shines brightly enough on his own.

Hence, whether this holiday season will be your 17th Solo Christmas (as will be for me) or a Christmas spent with your romantic partner, let us bask in the radiant spirit of Santa and his reindeer instead of sulking like the Grinch.

photo of the

month

Singing the classic Christmas carol “White Christmas” at the Annual Christmas Karaoke, Mr. Warkentin wishes everyone an early Merry Christmas!

Photo by Alice Lee