This week’s chosen staff member for the staff spotlight is Mrs. Liz Blue. She has worked in the Brooklyn City School District for the last four years. Her office is in the elementary school, but she works with all grades, K-12. Prior to Brooklyn, she worked in the Cleveland Municipal School District. In her free time, she loves to hang out with her family and watch one of her daughters play volleyball. She also recently started to knit. A fun fact that you may not know about Mrs. Blue is that she has been to 12 different countries.
Q: Where did you go to college, and why did you choose that school?
A: “I went to Dayton for college, and I chose that school because I enjoyed the small school feel.”
Q: What do you like most about what you do?
A: “I love that with my job I can work for all grades and all ages.”
Q: In your opinion, how supportive is the Brooklyn City School District?
A: “I think that Brooklyn is extremely supportive, all-around.”
Q: What was your very first job?
A: “My first job was at a coffee shop at the West Gate Mall.”
Q: What is your go-to meal?
A: “My go-to meal is a bowl of Lucky Charms.”
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to the students at Brooklyn, what would it be?
A: “If I had to give a piece of advice for the students at Brooklyn, it would be to never underestimate your worth.”
Q: Are you considered an indoors or outdoors type of person?
A: “I would say I am both an indoor and outdoor person. In the Summer, I like to be outdoors, but in the Winter, I like to be inside.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?
A: “I plan to still be in Brooklyn in five years, and I will also be an empty nester in the next five years.”
Thank you for your time, Mrs. Blue. We hope that you continue to enjoy working in Brooklyn. Stay warm!
On Monday, the boys basketball team (1-10) hit the road to face off against the Bard Early College Raptors (0-9). With the Raptors being winless, this seemed like a fair game to get the Hurricanes back on track after what has been a more challenging season, compared to the last two years.
The youthful Hurricanes came out of the gates hot as their defense held very strong in the first quarter. A physical and swarming defensive effort aided with a fast-paced offense enabled the Canes to jump out to an early 15-4 lead.
In the second period, Brooklyn continued to play well on both ends, clinging to a 12-point lead at the break, 28-16. Junior Devin Hardwick led the way with eight points, while freshman Mason Vega and senior Aiden Starr both added seven points a piece.
With a 12-point lead with one half to play, Hardwick took over as he scored 29 second half points, including three monster dunks on back-to-back-to-back possessions. Yes, you read this correctly. The Hurricanes defense was relentless in the third quarter allowing only eight points, making the score 45-24 with one period to play.
Although the Hurricanes gave up 23 points in the fourth quarter, they held off the Raptors en route to a 60-47 road victory. They earned their second win of the season and are starting to come together. It takes time for freshmen to get acclimated to varsity basketball, but this team is finding its rhythm at the right time.
The boys will be back in action tomorrow night as they travel to Beachwood to take on the Bison. Tip off is at 7:00.
In other Winter sports, the hockey team (2-11-3) is home tonight, taking on the Aurora Greenmen. Puck drop is at 7:30. Tomorrow, they will travel to Strongsville for a 7:50 start time. Finally, they will be home again on Sunday to take on the Notre Dame Cathedral Latin Lions with a 3:00 start time.
The wrestling team travels to Independence tonight for their sixth meet of the season, which begins at 6:00.
Finally, the bowling team (4-4) plays against the Garfield Heights Bulldogs this Saturday. The match will begin “bright” and early at 8:00.
Although frigid temperatures have invaded Northeast Ohio, the first few weeks of 2025 have gone by smoothly. Typically in the new year, people make resolutions, but most do not stick to them for more than two weeks. Usually by late January/early February, old habits rear their ugly heads.
For today’s focus, we will review the most popular resolutions from those who decided to make them, even if they might not last much longer.
*Number 1: Save More Money
Most people have issues with spending habits, so deciding to save money instead of impulse-buying can relieve some stress. You won’t have to worry about whether you will have enough money for necessities, but in a week, you will more-than-likely be impulse-buying random junk all over again. Stay off of Amazon!
*Number 2: Eat Healthier
Eating the right foods can drastically improve your health and help you lose and maintain weight. A balanced diet will ensure that you will become healthier and not have to worry about as many health problems. Then again, Super Bowl Sunday is coming up, so this resolution will quickly be sent to the backburner. Buffalo wings, anyone?
*Number 3: Exercise More
Most people want to get fit from all of the junk food that they ate during Christmas and New Years. So, they decide to start going to the gym more or just use exercise equipment in their homes more often. Let’s face it, memberships and home equipment will be gathering dust in about a month.
*Number 4: Lose Weight
After celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas, gaining weight is inevitable. Losing weight is a popular New Year’s tradition, but many do not. Losing weight can help improve health if done correctly and will give you something to brag about…until you ultimately end up on the couch, eating a tub of ice cream while binge-watching a TV show that went off air in the early 2010s.
*Number 5: Spend More Time with Family/Friends
Spending time with family and friends is always nice when they aren’t swamped with work. Having a good break from a stressful job or school is a good way to prevent yourself from burning out. This only matters if your family and friends aren’t swamped with their work, too, so good luck with making those plans because you are going to need them. Let’s face it, didn’t we all spend enough time with family and friends over the holidays? Do we really need more?
Are you the one-to-two week resolution follower, or are you the exception and continue with new and better habits for the long-term? Many people don’t keep their New Year’s resolutions to the point that there have been set days for when people drop them. “Quitters Day” is on the second Friday of January, while “Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day” is on January 17, this upcoming Friday.
Don’t be a loser, and keep your resolutions. If you don’t have any resolutions, then set some to prevent laziness.
Let’s face it, the resolutions mentioned above will make you a better version of yourself.
Thank you Dr. Caleris for yesterday’s call-off. It was much-appreciated! By the way, have you seen next Tuesday’s forecast? 😬🤐
The third quarter is in week two, but as of now, there is not a lot going on. Once the end of this month rolls around, it is expected for events to pick up.
In the meantime, to begin this week’s news, each grade will have their class meeting this week. During class meetings, December Students-of-the-Month will be announced. Furthermore, students with either perfect or outstanding attendance will also be recognized for their efforts. Congratulations to all of the winners. Keep up the good work and continue being positive role-models for your peers.
Attention all baseball, football, and boys soccer players, off-season conditioning has begun. See Coach Sedlacek, Coach Agnew, or Coach Grigson for more information. Remember, games are won in the offseason.
Next, there will be a mandatory parent meeting with students for the Cast, Pit, and Crew of this year’s musical, The Wizard of Oz. It will be held tomorrow (January 16) at 6:00 p.m. in the Choir Room. Please schedule your attendance accordingly.
Reminder, all staff and students are off next Monday (January 20) for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Here is the upcoming schedule for January:
January 16: Mandatory Parent Meeting for All Cast, Pit, & Crew Members
January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day / Inauguration Day
January 27-31: Hurricane Heritage Week
January 29: Chinese New Year
January 30: Hockey Senior Night vs. Twinsburg
Have a spectacular week, Brooklyn. Stay warm!
{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to click here.}
Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Alidailyz Millin. She is still undecided about what college she will be attending, but she plans on majoring in a program to become an Ultrasound Technician. In her free time, she likes to hang out with friends and play volleyball. Something interesting about Ali is that she has played club volleyball since she was 11.
Q: Out of your entire school career, what teacher has been your biggest inspiration?
A: “Mr. Kasper. He keeps everything real with me. He had a really big impact on me throughout high school and was always the person to listen to me and guide me through whatever I needed.”
Q: Where is the ideal vacation spot for you?
A: “An island somewhere with clear blue water and the beach, tanning with an ice-cold smoothie next to me. I love laying out in the sun because it brings out tropical vacation vibes.”
Q: What advice would you give to next year’s incoming freshmen?
A: “High school goes by so fast in the blink of an eye, so enjoy it and make it something memorable.”
Q: What is your main focus for your final semester of high school?
A: “Get my grades where I need them to be and enjoy what I have left with my friends at school.”
Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?
A: “When underclassmen stand in the middle of the hallway.”
Q: What would be your last meal?
A: “Spanish rice and pork.”
Q: How do you plan to spend your Summer?
A: “With my friends traveling, doing fun activities, going to work, getting a car, accomplishing my goals, spending money on shopping, hair, nails, and lashes.”
Q: What was your most challenging year of high school?
A: “Sophomore year because everything started to get hard for me. Personally, sophomore year is a crazy year for many people because there is just so much going on.”
Thank you for letting us interview you, Ali. We wish the best of luck to you in your future endeavors and hope that you have an amazing rest of your senior year.
Many people did not think that this revamped Cleveland Cavaliers squad would have just four losses coming into the new year, but this team has defied the odds all season long as they currently hold the best record in the NBA at 32-4.
Last night, the Cavs earned a big victory against the #1 team in the Western Conference and #2 overall team in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Cavs 129-122 victory over the visiting Thunder broke their 15-game winning streak and extended their own winning streak to 11 games. Ten of those games were won by a margin of ten or more points.
First-year head coach Kenny Atkinson has given this team a new identity with the ability to pass more and create more efficient, open shots. There has been no true leader, but the core four of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen have been the big contributors, along with Caris LeVert, Ty Jerome, Sam Merrill, and Isaac Okoro.
A few weeks ago, the Cavaliers had a key piece return to the lineup in Max Strus, as he missed the first 27 games due to an ankle injury that he suffered in the preseason.
Currently, Cleveland has the third best odds to win the NBA championship, despite being the #1 overall team. They are also on pace for 73 wins, matching the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors record of 73 victories.
Can these Cavs keep up this pace? Here is the Cavaliers’ upcoming schedule.
With the core four and stellar bench play, this team is finally receiving the national recognition that it deserves. This team is deep, explosive, and fun to watch. There are no egos, just a group who loves playing basketball together.
We are excited to see if this team can continue their success and hopefully bring another championship back to the great city of Cleveland.
Go Cavs!
In Brooklyn sports, the hockey team (1-9-3) is home tonight to take on the North Olmsted Eagles. Puck drop is at 7:30. On Saturday, they will travel to Garfield to face the Twinsburg Tigers for a 7:00 start time.
The boys basketball team (1-9) is back in action tomorrow night on the road, taking on the Cuyahoga Heights Redwolves. Tipoff is at 6:45.
The bowling team (3-4) rolls it back this Saturday at 8:00 in the morning against Elyria Catholic at the RollHouse in Parma.
Finally, the wrestling team travels to the Wylie Athletic Center (Maple Heights) this Saturday for their fifth meet of the season, which starts at 9:00 in the morning.
Every year since 2010, presidents of The United States have dedicated January to be the month to raise awareness of human trafficking. This month, we celebrate the collected efforts of law enforcement officials, survivors, and many others, but we know the job is not finished.
Human trafficking is defined when an individual is exploited for labor, services, or sex. It is estimated that worldwide, 27.6 million victims are trafficked. Unfortunately, this is considered one of the fastest-growing illegal industries in the world.
In Ohio, 810 anonymous reports have been received, and 222 reports were made by victims and survivors in 2023. Through the help of reporting these cases, 258 cases were identified, and 458 victims were involved, with some cases having multiple victims at once. Unfortunately, most cases of human trafficking are hidden worldwide, so there is no way to know the exact number of people subjected to it.
Although statistics about the human trafficking of people with disabilities are limited, from January 2015 through December 2017, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported a total of 2,116 potential victims who had pre-existing health issues or disabilities.
Race and gender discriminationare prevalent in trafficking. Traffickers try to find the most vulnerable groups for the traffickers’ gain. Traffickers will claim that their working conditions will be better, and they will have better pay, even though their working conditions are usually unsafe, and often, the victims do not get paid or are paid such a low amount. Women and girls are often the target of human trafficking, making them around 54 percent of a higher risk. Race also plays a role in trafficking, putting race groups at higher risk. A study by the U.S. Department of Justice claims that over 40 percent of the victims are black, and 63 percent of labor trafficking victims are Hispanic.
Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to buy or order something that was not made in the traffickers’ workplace. These workplaces are called sweatshops, by most. Big brands like Apple unfortunately use sweatshops for their parts. In Foxconn City, there are an estimated 450,000 workers, but the number is dropping due to the many suicides of the workers. In 2010, workers gathered together to form a line to jump off the building, one-by-one. The suicide notes from these workers often read about how much stress was put on them and that their managers would humiliate them for small mistakes. The suicide rate at this factory became so high that the owners had to put up nets and make their workers sign a document stating that they would not attempt suicide. Former workers warned others that the place was unsafe and extremely stressful, usually 12-hour work shifts per day.
Some ways to help potential victims are to do as follows:
Approach the victim when they are alone and when you are comfortable because the trafficker could be nearby or watching.
Express and communicate that you are concerned for their well-being and safety. Ask about their working and living conditions, whether they are allowed to move and whether they have access to their travel documents.
Tell them that the abuse they are going through is not their fault, and reassure them that they don’t deserve what’s happening to them.
Boost their self-esteem by telling them good attributes because the trafficker(s) could be trying to tear down their self-esteem.
Take mental notes about specific things in the situation like the model of the vehicle, license plates, and any identifying features of the abuser(s) such as scars, tattoos, clothing, etc.
Respect the victim’s choices.
Be patient with the victim.
This is a miserable tragedy that can happen to anyone. Show your support by donating to organizations that help victims.
Happy New Year, Brooklyn! With 2024 in the books, we welcome in 2025 with the hope of a year full of opportunities and memories to be made.
To start off, next week, each grade will have their class meeting. During this time, December Students of the Month will be announced. In addition, students with either perfect or outstanding attendance will also be recognized for their efforts. Students who come to school on a regular basis succeed at a much higher rate than those who do not, so get to school!
Speaking of recognition, earlier during this school year, a small group of students were recognized for their strong leadership abilities and were chosen to be a part of the Hurricane Empowerment Leadership Group. These students will meet with Mr. Burton this Thursday, January 9, to discuss school culture, concerns, and any other ideas to improve the overall student experience here at BHS.
Amongst the chaos of this week (and the weather), all members of the Cast, Pit, and Crew have begun working with music rehearsals and building the set/props for the upcoming play, The Wizard of Oz. Before you know it, the curtain will be pulled.
Finally, remember that this semester is a clean slate for any students who struggled in the first semester. Check ProgressBook daily, organize your Google Drive, and manage your time wisely to begin the second half of this year in stellar fashion.
Here is the schedule for January:
January 9: We Empower Student Leadership Meeting
January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)
January 29: Chinese New Year
Have a terrific first week back, Brooklyn.
{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to click here.}
Contrary to the Grinch’s philosophy, Christmas is about giving, not receiving (or stealing). This season is about giving love, joy, hope, and gifts to family and friends. Of course, it is okay and encouraged to watch Christmas movies, listen to Christmas music, and bake Christmas cookies, but we all know that this time of year is about providing others with happiness, hence the season of giving.
For the final article of 2024, each journalist provided a picture of their current Christmas tree and recalled the best gift they have ever given or received.
*Summer:“I would say the best gift I have ever given was in fifth grade. I made both of my favorite teachers a gift basket with their favorite dessert, of course, it was all homemade, so they enjoyed it more. The gift also included two of their favorite candies, school supplies, and a $20 gift card to their favorite place. Honestly, to see their faces light up when they received it is something that I will treasure forever.”
*Jacob: “The best gift I have ever received was probably an Xbox One when I was about nine-years-old. This was my first gaming console, and I also got games such as NBA 2K, MLB The Show, and Minecraft. Whenever my half-brother came over, we would always play on the Xbox, and it was a lot of fun. Eventually, I grew out of it and started playing less and less, but I will forever remember the first console I got.”
*Ben:“The best gift I’ve ever received was an Xbox 360 that I used to play with my brother, even though we couldn’t get wifi connected to it. We had two games, and we played the Minecraft Tutorial World about three dozen times. It supplied us with hours of entertainment during the Summer and Winter months. On many occasions, friends came over to play it, and many memories were made.”
*Collin: “The best gift I’ve received is a Playstation 5. I got it last year and didn’t expect my parents to get it for me, but it has provided me with many fun nights to play with my friends. They also bought me plenty of sports games to go along with the console. It still works perfectly, and I’m so grateful to have it.”
*Caydin: “I’d say the best gift I’ve ever received would be a Nintendo 3DS from my mom. I was a big Nintendo fan when I was younger, so I asked my mom for a 3DS to play Nintendo games on the go. I had it for years before having to get rid of it since it stopped working, and I was super sad when it broke. I still enjoy playing Nintendo games, and I believe the 3DS is why I still enjoy it.”
*Rayna: “The best gift I have ever given was a themed watch. I gave the watch to one of my favorite teachers this year. I was so excited to give it to her because I knew she would love it, and I knew how happy it would make her. It was the best moment to see her face light up with near-tears.”
*Justin: “The best gift I ever received was way back when I first got my PlayStation 4. The reason that this was the best gift was because of how long it lasted. It was the only thing I asked for, and I was so surprised when I got it. That unit provided me many nights of playing for multiple hours straight until the sun started to rise. I have a Playstation 5 now, so I don’t use the PS4, but it still works in case I ever wanted to go back to where it all started.”
*Madison:“My favorite gift I have ever received was from when I was younger, the Barbie Dream House. I remember this being my favorite gift because I begged for it before Christmas. It also reminds me of a lot of memories with my sister. Even though I no longer play with Barbies, it still sits in my basement.”
*Aiden: “Definitely my huge Monster trucks I got at age five! I will never forget when my older brother and I put holes in the wall because of how serious our games got. I remember the times like it was yesterday when my mom would hide them from me because I was so loud. I still have them and can’t wait to tell more stories about them when I get older.”
*Nicolle:“I would say the best gift I’ve ever received is my car from both of my parents. It was originally my mom’s car, but she ended up buying a new one. I am extremely grateful that my parents trusted me enough to give me my own car. I love it so much! Thank you, mom and dad!”
It seems that gaming systems are the highlights of gifts. What is the best gift that you have ever given or received? Please share them in the Leave a comment section below.
Whether it’s a Red Ryder Carbine-action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle, a leg lamp, a bowling ball, or a simple pair of socks, gifts make others happy in the present and nostalgic in the future. This Christmas, be a giver.
Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Kimberly Daerr. Although she has worked in the district for 18 years, this is Mrs. Daerr’s eighth year working in the Media Center. Outside of working in Brooklyn, she has been a hairdresser for over 34 years. In her free time, she likes to babysit her grandchildren and watch their sporting events. She also loves to go out to dinner and watch plays with her husband. A fun fact about Mrs. Daerr is that she once was the Homecoming Queen here at Brooklyn High School.
Q: How do you mentally and physically prepare for the holiday break?
A: “I like to take one day at a time.”
Q: How do you keep an organized schedule throughout the day?
A: “I like to write down appointments and obligations in a planner to stay organized.”
Q: If you could choose any other career, what would it be?
A: “If I could choose any other career, I would choose to be in the medical field. I think being an Ultrasound Technician would be very interesting.”
Q: What is one of your favorite memories working in Brooklyn?
A: “One of my favorite memories in Brooklyn is when Mrs. Wendy Smith comes up with crazy Halloween costumes for us to wear.”
Q: What is your favorite quality about yourself?
A: “My favorite quality about myself is that I am always kind to everyone.”
Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?
A: “My biggest pet peeve is people who don’t tip.”
Q: What is the favorite gift that you have ever given or received?
A: “My husband and I took our daughter and her family to Great Wolf Lodge. We had an awesome time there.”
Q: What are your plans for Winter Break?
A: “Enjoy staying home and relaxing with my family.”
Thank you for your time, Mrs. Daerr. We hope that you have an enjoyable Winter break, surrounded by your loved ones. Merry soon-to-be Christmas to you and yours!
Last Friday, the boys basketball team (0-2) welcomed in the Cloverleaf Colts (1-1). Both of these teams matched up pretty evenly, so this was sure going to be an entertaining game, and it certainly did not disappoint.
In the first quarter, both teams traded multiple baskets in high-tempo fashion. Offenses were clicking, putting stress on both defenses. Senior Tyler Cox scored 10 points in the first quarter alone, but the Colts held a three-point advantage, 21-18, as the period closed.
The Colts began to pour it on in the second, as they increased their lead over the Hurricanes with multiple three-pointers, transition baskets, and a swarming press, taking a 40-29 lead at the break.
Coming out of the break, the Hurricanes were blazing, but the Colts continued to respond to the Hurricanes offense with offense of their own as they held a 10-point lead with one final quarter to play.
In the fourth, it seemed like Cloverleaf was going to pull away due to their 65-48 lead; however, the energy began to shift in favor of the Hurricanes, as they went on a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to four with two minutes to go.
The noise level in the gym was very high as the Hurricanes had a chance to complete the miraculous comeback. Unfortunately, the young Canes came up just short in the final minutes, and the Colts prevailed, 71-65.
Junior Devin Hardwick led the team down the stretch with a career-high 37 points, including 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Great effort, boys!
The Canes will be back in action tomorrow night as they travel to Garfield Heights to take on their CVC rival, the Trinity Trojans. Tipoff is at 5:00.
In other Winter sports, the hockey team (0-2-1) is home tonight to take on the Cleveland Heights Tigers. Puck drop is at 7:30. On Sunday, they will travel to Chagrin Falls for a 3:40 start time.
The girls basketball team (0-4) is back in action tomorrow night on the road, taking on the Trinity Trojans. Tipoff is at 6:30.
The boys wrestling team travels to Cuyahoga Heights this Saturday for their second meet of the season, which starts at 9:30 in the morning.
Finally, the bowling team (1-3) plays this Saturday, taking on the Holy Name Green Wave. The match will begin bright and early at 8:00.
Christmas is known all over the world! Even if some don’t celebrate it, they know about it. Today, we decided to shine our collection of holiday lights on the history of this beloved holiday.
Long before Jesus’ arrival, many Europeans celebrated light and birth during the Winter, even on the darkest days. After the harsh Winter days, many would look forward to the longer days and sunlight.
The end of December was a time for celebration, especially in Europe. Winter meant that they would always have a fresh supply of meat. Cattle were often slaughtered, so they would not have to be fed during the Winter.
In Scandinavian countries, people celebrated Yule from December 21 through January. They did this because they were celebrating the return of the sun. To do this, fathers and sons would go out to the woods and bring back large logs to start a fire. Once the fire was lit, they feasted until the logs burned out, which meant that they would be eating for up to 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or cow that would be born the next year.
Germans honored a pagan god named Oden. It was believed that Oden flew through the sky during the night and observed people to judge who would perish or prosper. Because of this, Germans were terrified of Oden and stayed inside during mid-Winter.
Germans also created the tradition of decorating trees. This was a known tradition in Germany for a while. Christmas trees began popularity after 1750 when Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited Strasbourg to publish his novel, which included a Christmas tree. His book was called, The Suffering of Young Werther.
A place like Rome (Italy) doesn’t have as harsh Winters as other countries. They celebrated Saturnalia (a holiday in honor of the god of agriculture, Saturn). They began this during the week leading up to the Winter Solstice and continued for an entire month. For the Romans, food and drinks were plentiful. For a month, enslaved people were given freedom and were treated as equals. During this time, businesses and schools were closed, so everyone could be involved in the celebrations.
Now, for the main reason for the season.
Christmas is known for being the date that Jesus was born. Church officials declared the birth of Jesus as a holiday in the fourth century. The Bible does not include an official date of birth, but many believed his mother Mary became divinely pregnant with him on March 25, which means after nine months, he would be born on December 25. It is also thought that Pope Julius I chose this day to keep the traditions of Saturnalia alive.
Since Christmas is celebrated at the same time as traditional Winter Solstice festivities, church leaders decided to increase the odds of Christmas being celebrated by everyone. This action caused the ability to dictate how it was celebrated to the lost. Christmas ended up replacing the pagan religion.
On Christmas, people attended church and then celebrated a carnival-like festival, which was similar to today’s Mardi Gras. Each year, people would choose someone they would label as the “Lord of Misrule”. Most of the time, they would pick a beggar or a student to give the title to, and they would play the part of the lord’s subjects. They would go from house to house, knocking on doors, and asking for their best food and drinks. If the homeowners didn’t comply, their visitors would most likely end up doing something naughty. For the wealthy, they believed Christmas was their opportunity to pay their “debts” to society by entertaining the poor.
The legend of Santa Claus started back in 280 A.D. Santa is believed to be a Turkish monk named St. Nicholas. He gave away his inherited wealth to help those who were poor and ill. He was known as the Protector of Children and Sailors. This legend entered America in the 18th century in New York when Dutch families came together and celebrated the anniversary of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas), also known as Sinter Klaas. Later on, his name was abbreviated to Santa Claus. The now-known, jolly version of Santa Claus was created by a man named Clement Clarke Moore. He wrote the poem “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas”. In this poem, he wrote Santa as a jolly man who flies to-and-from houses in a sled, pulled by reindeer, to deliver toys.
During World War I, on Christmas Eve in 1914, one of the strangest occurrences happened. The British and Germans were spending their holidays in the cold trenches trying to keep warm. When a British soldier overheard some Christmas carols coming from the Germans’ side, the British started singing back. Then suddenly, they heard confused shouts from the Germans, and the British were confused until one of the German soldiers spoke in English with a strong German accent, telling the Brits to come over to their side. The Brits were skeptical, so they shouted for them to meet in the middle of “No Man’s Land”. Both parties were nervous while they climbed out of their trenches, but soon, the feeling disappeared as they all exchanged handshakes, words of kindness, and Christmas carols.
This Christmas Truce didn’t just happen on the battlefield. The French, German, British, and Belgian troops started holding cease-fires all across the Western Front, with some even happening on the Eastern Front. Some of these truces lasted for multiple days. This was a very welcomed break for the soldiers because they were suffering in war and expected to be home for the holidays and not for a war that would last four more years.
The Christmas Spirit is everywhere, so have a holly jolly Christmas this year!
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 