Traditions: New Years

by Tegan, 7th grade

Every January, as the world bids farewell to the old and welcomes the new, people across the globe partake in traditions that are varied throughout cultures. While festivities universally mark New Year’s Eve, how different countries embrace this date tells us as much about their culture as they do about the collective human desire for celebration.

The United States: The clock striking midnight signals more than just the passage of time; it signals a “go ahead” for partying. New Year’s Eve parties are an institution filled with glittering gowns, tuxedos and clinking glasses of champagne. But the fireworks steal the show. Cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago boast stunning displays that light up the sky.

The highlight of the evening for many Americans is the Times Square Ball Drop in New York City – broadcast on T.V. nationwide – where millions countdown the final seconds before the iconic crystal ball descends at midnight. The chaotic optimism of the countdown, with its chorus of voices chanting “Ten, nine, eight…” often carries quite personal promises of change.

Japan: New Year’s is a time of quiet reflection and spiritual renewal in Japan. Known as Shogatsu, the celebration focuses on cleansing and preparation for the year ahead. Leading up to New Year’s, families engage in osoji, or deep cleaning, to purify their homes and rid them of bad luck. At midnight, many individuals visit shrines for hatsumode, where they pray for health, prosperity and happiness.
The emphasis is on family, gratitude and starting the year with a clean and sparkling slate, making it a peaceful occasion.

Spain: New Year’s Eve – Nochevieja – is a time for feasting, dancing and a peculiar but beloved tradition: eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight.

Each grape represents one of the 12 months, and with every chime of the bell, celebrants pop a grape into their mouth. They wish for good luck in the year to come. It is a lighthearted ritual that carries the weight of centuries of tradition.

In addition to the grape ritual, the evening is also marked with massive parties where music, dancing and laughter drown out the past year’s worries. The sense of celebration is intense and palpable as if collectively celebrating can erase the previous year’s misfortunes.

Denmark: New Year’s Eve takes on an explosive, cathartic tone in Denmark. As the year ends, Danes gather with friends and family to smash old plates against the doors of loved ones’ homes.

The larger the pile of broken dishes, the better the year ahead is said to be. This playful custom symbolizes casting away the old and welcoming the new year with a loud, unapologetic bang. It is a loud act of optimism and an outlet for pent-up energy.

The Danes also take part in a tradition of jumping off chairs at midnight – a leap into the new year. This jump is meant to literally “jump over” any bad luck or misfortune.

India: An effigy representing an old man, symbolizing the past year, is burned at midnight. This ritual signifies the release of grievances from the previous year and creates space for the new year. This celebration unites individuals of different ages and beliefs.

New Year: Setting New Goals

by Alicia, 7th grade

New Year’s is the perfect time for students to set fresh goals and look forward to the opportunities a new year brings. As January begins, there’s excitement in leaving old habits behind and striving to become the best version of yourself. Whether it’s improving grades, picking up a new hobby, or staying organized, setting goals can motivate you for the year ahead.

One of the most important steps to setting New Year’s goals is to make them realistic. It is easy to aim too high and end up disappointed if things do not work out. Instead of deciding to change everything completely, students can start small.

For example, instead of saying, “I will never procrastinate again,” a better goal might be, “I will work on starting my homework earlier each day.” Small, achievable goals build confidence and set the foundation for bigger successes later on.

Another key to setting goals is to focus on specific areas. Instead of trying to do everything at once, students can pick a few domains where they would like to improve. Maybe one goal is to enhance their abilities in a certain subject in school, while another might be to try a new sport or join a club.

Having goals covering academics and personal growth makes life more balanced and fun. It is also important to remember that not all goals have to be serious — goals like making more time for hobbies or spending more time with friends are just as valuable.
Writing down goals is a great way to stay committed. Putting them on paper or in a planner makes them feel more real, and it is easier to keep track of progress.

Some students like to keep their goals somewhere they’ll see every day, like on a bulletin board or a widget on a phone. Checking in on those goals regularly, like once a month, can also help to see how things are going and whether any adjustments need to be made.

Lastly, it is important to celebrate progress along the way. Even small victories are worth recognizing because they show growth and effort. If students reach a goal, they can reward themselves with something fun, like a day off from studying or a treat. If a goal takes longer to achieve, that is okay too — what matters is continuing to work at it.

The new year is full of possibilities, and setting goals is an exciting way to start fresh. By staying realistic, focused and consistent, students can accomplish amazing things and make 2024 a year to remember.

National Observance: World Day for War Orphans

by Mateo, 11th grade

Far too many children around the world face the unbearable challenge of living their daily lives and growing up without their parents. In truth, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund predicts that roughly 150 million children are orphaned at this very moment. Although there is a wide variety of reasons for this disturbingly high number, one seems to stand out above the rest as of late: war.

Ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East, among other parts of the world, have left many innocent families in ruin, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and dislocating millions more from their homes. Unfortunately, these impacts of war make around 5,700 more children orphans daily, depriving them of the opportunity to live a safe and prosperous life. World Day for War Orphans, celebrated annually on January 6, works to combat the increasing number of war orphans by spreading public awareness of the effects of warfare on children while simultaneously creating opportunities for these children to move past their horrid experiences and lead prosperous lives.

World Day for War Orphans was introduced by the French organization SOS Enfants En Détresse, translating to SOS Children in Need. Founded in 1982, their primary goal is to inspire a newfound sense of hope and opportunity in the hearts of orphans worldwide who have endured the miseries and hardships of war and its effects. In doing this, the organization hopes to establish a foundation for these children to surmount their struggles and build a better future for themselves and their successors.

To fulfill their mission, SOS Enfants En Détresse collaborates with over 60 partner organizations and hundreds of members and volunteers in education, health, and environmental studies to give war orphans the best chances at long-term prosperity.

You can contribute to these efforts during this year’s World Day for War Orphans in many ways. One of the simplest ways is by spreading awareness to those around you. By informing others of the dreadfulness of war and its impact on young children, you can encourage them to take part in the effort as well. Additionally, feel free to donate to an organization that helps rehabilitate grief-stricken war orphans and aid in their recovery process. You can donate directly to SOS Enfants En Détresse, but there are many other options for you to choose from as well, such as the Children and War Foundation and War Child. Many organizations like these depend on donations from people like you to fund their efforts, so they would undoubtedly benefit from even a small contribution.

With social media exposing the harrowing terrors of war to millions of onlookers and advanced technology making combat increasingly more costly on both social and economic fronts, the impacts of modern warfare on innocent families and young children are more drastic and visible than ever.

World Day for War Orphans serves as a gateway for the community to aid helpless and hopeless children struck down by war in attaining the amenities, education, and support they need to rekindle their hope and experience success and flourishment in the future.

Legal Insights: The Legacy of Dred Scott

A Landmark Case in the Fight for Citizenship

by Kathryn, 8th grade

Today, people of all races have the right to become U.S. citizens, but this right was hard-won. A major obstacle was the Dred Scott v. Sandford ruling in 1857, in which the Supreme Court upheld slavery in U.S. territories, denied Black citizenship, and ruled the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

The Dred Scott case began in 1846 when Dred Scott, an enslaved African American, claimed his freedom based on his residence in the free territories of Illinois and the Wisconsin Territory with his owner, John F.A. Sandford. He argued that living in these areas, where slavery was prohibited, justified his claim to freedom.

Scott first filed his case in Missouri after being taken from free territories. He moved through state and federal courts, and after losing in Missouri, he filed a new suit and brought his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. As the case moved through the courts, it gained importance as slavery became the nation’s most controversial political issue.

By the time it reached the Supreme Court, it symbolized the growing tensions over slavery and its expansion into new territories. On March 6, 1857, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney announced the court’s decision against Dred Scott. The court ruled that African Americans could not be citizens and had no right to sue. The court also stated that Congress lacked the authority to ban slavery in the United States.

The Dred Scott decision is widely regarded as one of the worst rulings made by the United States Supreme Court due to its significant implications for the legality and morality of the nation. The decision was ultimately rendered irrelevant by the 13th and 14th Amendments, which abolished slavery and established that all persons born in the United States, regardless of race, are considered citizens. This ruling, along with the continued denial of basic human rights to African Americans, contributed significantly to the escalating tensions that led to the Civil War.

Blaming the justices for the unjust ruling misses the mark. The court’s role is to interpret the law, not create it, and it doesn’t determine the fairness of laws — that’s up to the political and legislative authorities who drafted the Constitution. The court must apply the Constitution as originally intended, using the best available information. Thus, a mere act of Congress was insufficient to grant citizenship.

The Dred Scott decision was overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, passed in 1865 and 1868 after the Civil War. The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all individuals born in the United States, regardless of race, nullifying the earlier ruling that denied citizenship to African Americans.

Although it was overturned, and Black citizenship is legally recognized in America today, the case of Dred Scott remains a significant historical example of how legal interpretations can impact social structures and perpetuate injustices. It also contributes to the broader history of racial inequality that the U.S. continues to contend with today.

Self-improvement: Properly Washing Your Hands

by Declan, 9th grade

In the flu season, colds and virus infections are more common and have affected many schools, families, and individuals around Fullerton, including myself.

One significant method to prevent and repel illness during these cold months is to wash hands with soap. Although many wash their hands daily, they do not thoroughly lather their skin and disregard crucial body parts that interact with most bacteria.
Most people and children at school are taught to refer to a duration of time or a song like “Happy Birthday” when washing their hands.

Emphasizing the duration of washing hands causes individuals to focus on repeatedly scrubbing their palms and fingers while ignoring their fingertips, wrists, thumbs, and other parts of the hand. With fingertips and fingernails containing germs and often touching other objects, including the face, unknowing people are the most likely to experience sickness.

The CDC recommends wetting your hands, lathering them with soap, scrubbing for 20 seconds, rinsing, and then drying. When lathering, it is necessary to reach under the nails, between the fingers, palms, back of the hand, and thumbs by surrounding a thumb with one hand and then twisting that thumb. Washing hands or applying hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is necessary when handling waste, food, wounds, animals, coughs, sneezes, and caring for an ill person.

Cleaning the most exposed segment of our body is essential to stay healthy and eliminate the spread of uncomfortable illnesses.

Support our advertisers click an ad below.