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A Christmas Story, Norwegian Style
By: Thomas Davik, Staff Writer
The difference between a Norwegian and American Christmas isn’t that big when it comes to the tradition. It is mainly how we celebrate. In Norway, Christmas Eve is celebrated like Christmas day. We get our presents on the evening of the 24th instead of on the morning of the 25th. The big dinner, family party and the opening of presents at the end of the day is all done on Christmas Eve. I myself have not yet experienced an American Christmas, so my interpretation of an American one will be colored by what I have been told, and seen on TV.
Both in Norway and the United States, people get excited about Christmas. In the United States people hang up their stockings and decorate their tree in the beginning of December. In Norway people traditionally wait to decorate the Christmas tree until the day before Christmas Eve, the 23 of December. Decorating the tree is important in both countries, as is the feeling of expectation about all the things that are to come.
We also have a waiting period in Norway, which is referred to as “advent”. It is a time when we eagerly are awaiting Christmas.
The advent period in Norway starts out with the first Sunday in advent, and ends with the Sunday before the 24th. Some years that means, that advent starts the last Sunday in November, as is the case this year.
Most Norwegians hang up an electrical advent star in their windows and have an advent light that they put in their windowsill. In their homes people also have advent candles. The traditional color of this waiting period is purple, so until Christmas Eve comes along, the candles are purple; afterwards they are red. There are four candles, one for every Sunday before Christmas Eve. As a part of this same “waiting tradition”, we also have advent calendars for the children. Like here, you can buy premade versions in the stores, or you might make your own. In our family we had homemade ones. Every child has one, and our parents wrap small gifts. What they are depends on the family, some get candy like us, while others get real presents. There are 24 little gifts, one for every day until the twenty fourth of December. Every morning we would go downstairs and open our gift for the day.
I feel that in the United States, there is a great focus on family during Christmas, but I also think that it is easier to include other people who are not a part of the core family than it is in Norway. This doesn’t mean that Norwegians are heartless, strangers may be invited. It is just not that common. In Norway, Christmas is considered a time that is especially for the family. This is one of the reasons why this season is so difficult for many people living on their own. It can in this way be very excluding, since all traditions focus on families being together. You do not come uninvited to family homes in the Christmas period, and in my home we can not visit our friends between dinnertime Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas day. These days are set aside for family parties. After these days have passed, things become more normal again. There might be the odd Christmas party, but Christmas itself is over.
Christmas is very much a “food time” in both countries. There is more emphasis put on it in Norway. In the states the big “meal of the year” is Thanksgiving. In Norway, it is Christmas. Not only is the food to be perfect at this holiday, people also dress very formally. In my American family, Christmas parties are informal and people wear their regular clothes. In Norway, people have their best outfits on. Some even wear their traditional costumes, in Norwegian called “bunad”.
Children are so full of expectations when they wake up on Christmas Eve. We get our presents on the evening of the 24th, and I think that no matter what culture you are living in, be it Norway or the states, children do not like to wait. This also makes the day more exciting, but sometimes a bit boring for the little members of the family.
The whole day has a stigma of excitement, but when the presents finally are placed under the tree, the excitement really grows. Some families might include Santa in this phase, but others do not. In my family my dad would read the nametags on the gifts and hand them out. When we were at my grandparent’s house, my grandfather always had this job too, and when the children finally get their presents, peace finally sets in. Having the gifts “out of the way” makes the 25th and the 24th more relaxing.
Because the United States is made up of many different cultures, I think that every individual family tradition may vary. In my American family for instance, they include many Norwegian elements into their Christmas. They have a dinner on Christmas Eve and open presents. Still, they also have gifts on Christmas day. In Norway all gifts belong on Christmas Eve.
Students Attend Drug Court
By: Porter Simmons, Staff Writer
Students in Bo Roundy’s government class had the opportunity to attend drug court, a type of rehabilitation program for those addicted to a hard drug who have committed a felony.
“It was a good experience,” senior Andrew Littel commented. “We learned quite a bit about the American judicial system, not just about the people involved in it.”
Established in 2000, the Cache County drug court is a controversial alternative to the prison sentence drug addicts would otherwise receive. Felons can apply for drug court if they are addicted to a hard drug, commit a felony and enter into a guilty plea. The charges are then put on hold until drug court is completed, at which point the charges are dropped. If the program is not completed, imprisonment is inevitable.
Drug court involves regular and mandatory meetings, treatment sessions, court appearances and drug tests. If any of these are skipped in excess, participants can no longer be a part of the program and are sent to prison.
While the rules may seem strict, drug court has significantly better statistics than traditional courts when it comes to the re-offense percentage. According to the United States Department of Justice, forty-five percent of all offenders are likely to commit another crime similar to their previous offense, as opposed to the five to twenty-eight percent that drug courts have.
“I take students to drug court for several reasons,” Roundy explained. “Drug court is an open court where there is great dialogue between the judge and those that are in trouble with the law. It is a real and emotional court that facilitates learning, and it teaches cause and effect, the real consequences of a drug-using life. Judge Thomas Willmore has been great to us, and is always willing to let us come and watch.”
The majority of students who attended valued the experience. “It was interesting to see the interaction between the attendees and the judge,” Todd Fluckiger, a senior, said. “I’m glad that I went.”
Slam into Reading!
By: Elise Johnson, Staff Writer
This year Logan High hosted a book drive for Bridgerland Literacy known as the Reading Slam. This event took place on Tuesday, November 10, in the Crimson Gym. Bridgerland Literacy helps children 10 years and older as well as adults learn to read or improve their literacy skills. Therefore, the Reading Slam was hosted in an effort to collect more books for these children and adults to read.
The occasion was planned by Logan High AmeriCorps member Holly Bingham. She explained that although Bridgerland Literacy collects and distributes books year-round, November especially focuses on encouraging young adults and children to read.
As an incentive to come, many prizes were awarded via a raffle drawing. Raffle tickets were provided to those who by simply attended the event, won a game, or brought book to donate. Students of Logan High also received raffle tickets during their English classes. These tickets were put in a big bucket and names were called along with the prizes those people received. Attendees had three minutes to claim their prizes.
Prizes included Aggie ice cream coupons, movie theater certificates, many restaurant certificates, and all-day passes to Beaver Ski Resort.
Kid-themed games also promoted attendance and participation. There were two relays, bowling, and a basketball game called lighting.
Several players from the Utah State University men’s basketball team came. They interacted and played with the attendees, and they also talked to the audience and encouraged people to read.
Over 200 books were donated by the 150 people who attended. Bingham was excited by the large attendance especially on a Tuesday night but still wished more people would have come.
“It was great to see so many high school students there,” she commented.
One of 25 volunteers, Senior Body Vice-President and raffle announcer Holly Dyer said, “It was fun and a great way to spend a Tuesday night.”
Ups and Downs of Participating in the Musical
By: Sara Simmons, Staff Writer
Every year a handful of Logan High students get the opportunity to perform in the school musical. These students go through a series of auditions the year prior to the musical, and then rehearsals begin the month before. During these four- to six-hour rehearsals participants practice blocking, singing, and dancing. Although the rehearsals may be meticulous, the experience of being in the musical makes it worth while.
Hillary Dodd, a senior, played Sandy in Grease in 2008 and Rosemary in the 2009 musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Dodd commented, “You get to know people that you otherwise would not have had the opportunity to know. It is fun.”
Although great friendships are formed, there is also a downside to participating in the musical. Rehearsals are time-consuming, and it is often hard to keep grades up because time is limited to do homework. Some students had to drop out of the musical because of other commitments like sports, Hi-Lo’s, and cheer.
Senior C.C. Roderick played Delilah in Damn Yankees in 2007, and Hedy in the 2009 musical. “It is difficult because you are unable to participate in other extracurricular activities,” Roderick explained.
Although there can be setbacks in school, in the end all the hard work pays off. The performances are really enjoyable not only for the audience, but for the cast as well.
Lydia Heins, a senior, joined the chorus in the 2009 musical and said, “It’s a lot of fun to get dressed up and perform.”
“Reaction from the audience is fun, especially when it is unexpected,” stated Jessica Morgan, also a senior who performed as a dancer in the 2009 musical.
If you want to be in the school musical, get ready to go through the audition process. Auditions are held in January, and registration will be on the wall by the chorus room. Sign up before it is too late!
Get Some Popcorn and Watch a Movie in Film Club!
By: Jaren Larsen, Staff Writer
Scott Harris, the news teacher at Logan High, is considering a film club. This club would provide many opportunities to learn about the filming industry, the actual news channel on TV, editing personal movies and adding effects.
“I would love to join this club so I could learn how to make sweet epic movies,” said Carater Watts, a junior.
According to Mr. Harris one goal is to have club members film after-school activities and then sell the DVDs to raise funds for more field trips. Other clubs would be able to request recordings of club activities or meetings.
Another goal is to teach club members how to run and work the computer programs by visiting the local news station. They could see how they use the cameras and how to look presentable on the news. They could also show how to capture good news stories appropriately, how to get a lead on a story, how to shoot the scenes so they look good, and how to show the story so it looks well made.
This club is different from the news class in many ways. “Not a club to be a club. It’s part of the criteria too,” said Mr. Harris. The class is all about working the schools news channel and coming up with interesting news stories. The film club would be for people who have taken Harris news class before, although it would focus on filming after-school activities.
Since students seem to be interested in joining this club, the last step is to have it approved by the administration.