Kerri Temple, Introduction to Journalism

“Fa la la la la la-la la la,” is the sound of Christmas making its presence in Gillette. Traditions are a part of everyone’s holiday season, from Christmas Eve rituals to the food we eat on the 25^th.

“Every year we go out and cut down a tree,” senior Cheyenne Simper said. “We decorate the tree, but wait until Christmas Eve or Day to add a new ornament.”

“We celebrate with a fake tree which we hang white lights on,” sophomore Kelsy Wooldridge said. “On Christmas Eve, my sisters and I each get to open one present, but we have to wait until the next day to open the rest.”

“We have a fake tree that we have used for 15 years,” junior Haley Shackelford said.

Not only will the holidays be filled with the scent of real and fake trees, but holiday food permeates the air as well.

 “On Christmas Day, we eat prime rib and spritz cookies,” Shackelford said.

“On Christmas Eve, we always have pizza and go to my in-law’s house,” librarian Mitzie Neubauer said. “On Christmas, we stay home and have a sit-down meal with our kids.”

“My family and I collectively eat a large quantity of homemade cookies and pie,” sophomore Gabrielle Johnson said.

“My vision of Christmas? Candy canes,” sophomore Falen Van Pelt said.

During the two-week break from school, students are not lacking in things to do.

“I love to go sledding and hang out with my friends,” sophomore Josie Richardson said.

“I enjoy riding my horse during Christmas break and playing in the snow with friends,” Van Pelt added.

“Every year, I go to my grandmother’s house and play cards.” Johnson said. “My family and I have so much fun.”

No matter where Christmas finds you this season, remember to enjoy the time spent with family and the traditions from past generations.

Willow Colbrese, Introduction to Journalism

Revenge. Admit it, when you get mad, you want to get even.  Many students at CCHS know what seeking and receiving revenge is all about.

“I’m such a mean brother,” junior Michael Cook said. “I put Saran Wrap on my toilet at home, so when my sister went to the bathroom, it went all over the place. She made me mad, so that was the best thing I could come up with.”

Revenge converts a little right, into a great wrong. “ I sent out a huge text saying there was a party at someone’s house on a fake phone number. I sent it to someone who had started rumors about me,” senior Austin Tennant said.  “When they showed, there was not a party, and he looked like a fool. Best revenge ever.”

Getting someone back is like biting a dog, because the dog bit you.  “ When I was five years old, I hid a toy from my sister because she took my toy. When she found it, she accidently stepped on it and cut her foot open,” librarian Patty Kearnes said. “I never admitted it was me to my parents, but I think my sister knew who it was.”

“This kid always came up to me and called me mean names to my face,” said sophomore Chamberlin Peper said. “So, I typed up this letter, explaining how horrible his breath smelled, how he should brush his teeth two times a day, and how he would do a good deed to the world if he brushed his teeth.”  Peper added that he felt mean, but he had to get back at him.

“This girl blacked out my windows, so I egged her car,”  junior Dallas Erisman said. “Man, did I get her car good and her reaction was hilarious.”

So the truth is, whenever someone makes you mad, you got to get back at them somehow. No matter if it’s your ex-girlfriend, boyfriend, your best friend or even someone you really hate.

Jessica Dinan Senior Staff Writer

The vibrant lights hung ‘round the Christmas tree illuminate the room, the sweet aroma of cocoa lingers in the atmosphere, and the anticipation of present-opening fills within the youngin’s; the season of Christmas has arrived.

“12:00 a.m. on the dot, December 25, my family and I open presents,” senior Christian Garcia said, following a yearly tradition.

“My family is huge,” senior Aerianna Roth said. “Every Christmas, we draw names to buy a gag gift for someone. Then we open by age.”

“On Christmas Eve, my family opens one present,” sophomore Faith Rudland said. “I usually go for a smaller gift.”

Junior Cori McKeown and her family watches The Christmas Story numerous times each year.

“It get’s really old, really fast,” McKeown said.

Physics teacher Glenn Knapp takes Christmas dinner very seriously.

“My wife and I bring Papa Murphy’s pizza home on Christmas Eve. Then we open presents.”

Essentially, the luxury of family is the paramount of Christmas.

“I go back home to North Dakota and have Christmas with my family,” senior Travis Tweeten said.

Junior Dalton McCann often chooses between Colorado or Chicago for the holidays.

“I love Colorado,” McCann said. “I can see more of my family.”

Along with Christmas tradition, one last necessity remains in order to further accentuate the holiday mood.

“We decorate our house two weeks before Christmas,” senior Jesse Gustafason. “And put up our tree one week before.”

“We decorate right around Thanksgiving,” junior Dylan Haddix said. “After the tree is up, the lights come next.”

Decoration compliments the Christmas vibe.

“It puts me in the holiday spirit,” junior Peter Nelson said. “All the lights and presents under the tree give me a jolly feeling inside.”

Although the holiday season seems endless, it is family that truly lasts forever, and the memories that will be cherished everlastingly.

Holiday traditions are what make each family unique, and there are many interesting traditions celebrated among students at CCHS.

Decorations are a big part of celebrating Christmas.

“When I was a kid, we would have a silver tree and a little village underneath,” Spanish Teacher Renee Fritzen said, “I’ll always remember that.”

Junior Michael Morsett said, “In our family, only my siblings and I put the star on the tree and we take turns each year.”

“I only put up Christmas lights if my wife make me,” History Teacher Mark Kelting said.

One can never forget the glorious food at Christmas time and there is always that one essential treat to have around the holidays.

“We always have a turkey and pumpkin pie,” Sophomore Carly Fuller said.

 “My mom always makes delicious sugar cookies,” Senior Ty Jensen said, “I add the special touch with my signature frosting.”

“My favorite holiday food is honey baked ham and pecan pie,” Kelting added.

However, Christmas is not the only holiday celebrated at CCHS.

 “My family celebrates Ramadan,” Junior Omair Javaid said. “Ramadan is a holiday in Islam. You fast for about a month during the day, and at the end there is a big celebration. We can only eat after sunset, and we cannot eat anything with pig. ”

Special Education teacher Fred Isaack celebrates Hanukkah. “One traditional game we play, Spin the Dreidel. We also decorate a tree and call it a Hanukkah bush, which is our spin off of a Christmas tree.”

How would you like to celebrate two days of Christmas?  Foreign exchange student Senior Boudewijn Reman from Holland does just that. “We do celebrate Christmas, but our big holiday is Sinterklaas, on December 5^th.”

“Sinterklaas is celebrating the feast of St. Nicolas,” explained Boudewijn. “We set out our shoes at night, and in the morning when we wake up they’re filled with candy or little presents.”

The most sentimental tradition is the feeling people receive when the holiday season rolls around.

“It sounds cliché, but it’s really just being able to see and talk to family that I normally don’t get to see,” said junior Danny Davis.

Junior Barb Giffin is all about the giving during the holiday season, “My favorite part about helping others is the look on their faces after you give to them. “

“One time we gave to an elderly lady that lost her husband that year. When we gave her the baked goods she was so happy, it was great.”

Students at CCHS cherish their holiday traditions, and make each one special in their own way.