Catamount Times
December, 2015
Krampus: So Scary It’s Ridiculous
The Czech Republic and the Golden Pig!
Christmas in the Czech Republic is
mostly celebrated on Christmas Eve.
Some people fast on Christmas Eve,
in the hope that they will see a vision
of the “Golden Pig” appear on the wall
before dinner. Seeing the Golden Pig
is believed to be a
lucky sign, showing
that the child is worthy
of praise and good
fortune!
On the evening of
December 5th, the
children of the Czech
Republic are very excited and watch for St.
Nicholas (Svaty Mikulas) to arrive. He is normally accompanied by two angels and one devil.
He asks the children if they have
been good or bad, and if they have
been good he gives them a basket of
presents (usually containing various
sweets and chocolates). He then
asks them to either sing a song or
recite a poem.
If they have been naughty, the
devil presents them with a lump of
coal. For Christmas Eve dinner,
the people of the
Czech
Republic
have fish soup,
potato soup and
fried carp.
It is said that if
you throw a shoe
over your shoulder
on Christmas Day
and it lands pointing towards the
door, you will soon be married.
Merry Christmas! (Veselé Vánoce)
By Lily S.
Catamount Staff Reporter
Half goat, half demon, Krampus is
evil Santa! He will run around your
town and, unlike Santa, will not give
you presents - he will put you in his
bag!
Krampus originates from the
German
word
Krampen, which
means claw. In
Norse mythology,
he is supposed to
be the son of Hel,
the goddess of
the underworld.
He is Santa’s
counterpart, but
instead of giving
coal to bad children, he knocks them
out and drags them to his lair. Fortunately, he only takes ba d children, and
he is supposed to come only on the
night before December 6th.
Krampus is a very strange Norse
myth but, then again, all the Norse
Celebrate the ‘Year of the Monkey’ when
the Chinese New Year Starts on Feb. 8
The Chinese New Year, also
known as the Spring Festival, is on
February 8th this year. The coming
year will be the year of the Monkey.
Tales and legends say that the
Chinese New Year was started by a
fight
against
a
mythical
beast. This
beast
is
called
“Year,” and
it looks like
a
cross
between an
ox and a
dragon.
People feared Chinese New Year's
Eve because the Year comes out to
harm humans and animals and destroy properties. Later, people found
out that the Year is afraid of red, fire
and loud sounds.
So now the people of China put up
red lanterns or red couplets. A form of
Chinese literature that usually includes poetry and calligraphy, the
couplets are hung on door frames.
and are generally written in black ink
on red paper. The couplets are filled
with people’s best wishes.
myths get a little strange. Krampus
also shares many similar traits with
some Greek mythological monsters
such as looking like a goat, just like
satyrs and fauns.
Krampus
is
now
celebrated
around the world,
including in America! He is celebrated in several big
cities like Los Angeles,
Chicago
and Washington,
D.C., among others. It’s actually a
very
humorous
tale, and it tends
to make people smile at the absurdity.
So the next time somebody says,
“happy holidays,” you can answer by
saying, “I hope Krampus doesn’t carry
your children off in a sack!”
By Tristan M.
Catamount Staff Reporter
New Years Resolutions … No, Really!
How has this year gone by so fast?
2015 is quickly coming to a close, and
that means it’s time to start thinking
about changes you want to make in
the upcoming year.
People usually make New Year’s
resolutions in January, and by March,
we’ve given up on them. However, it’s
still nice to think about it in the spirit of
a fresh start.
Some resolutions can be as simple
as staying more organized or being
healthier, small things that often slip
our minds or that we just dismiss in
our everyday lives. Other resolutions
can be more important or crucial, like
putting your own happiness before
that of others. (That’s one of mine for
the coming year.)
Some people make their couplets
but most buy them at the market. The
purpose of the red couplets is to drive
away evil spirits during the Spring
Festival.
Since the Year is afraid of fire,
people set
off
fireworks and
firecrackers. In big
cities and
towns, setting off firecrackers is
one of the
most
important
customs, but in some major cities it
has been banned because of the dangers and noise the firecrackers can
bring. In small cities and towns, it’s
not generally considered dangerous
and is a custom that is still practiced.
Certain dishes are eaten during
the Chinese New Year for their symbolic meaning. A big dinner is usually
held on New Year’s Eve, which is believed to bring good luck for the coming year.
By Kelsey L.
Catamount Staff Reporter
Of course, you don’t have to wait
until Jan. 1 in order to make a change.
It’s nice to think about the fresh start
of the new year, but there are still 364
other days in the year that can be
filled with positive change.
It’s also important to appreciate
and be proud of everything that happened in the past year, good and bad.
A lot has changed and it’s great to
look back on where you were at the
beginning compared to where you are
now.
Are you proud of where you are as
2015 is closing? What are you going
to do differently in 2016?
By Emily R.
Catamount Staff Reporter
Still Need Some New Years Resolutions?
Are you stuck on New Year's resolutions? Never fear, the resolution finder
is here. Here are some ideas:
Learn a new language.
Get another pet (or new pet).
Volunteer in your community.
Take better care of yourself.
Try to get better grades.
Save for something you want to buy.
5
Meet a princess or a prince.
Learn how to play an instrument.
Grow a mustache.
There are many more things you
can do. I wish you luck in finding
some resolutions, and I hope this
helped. Have a happy New Year!
By Precious S.
Catamount Staff Reporter