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(11/12/15 4:24am)
When I was about four years old, I learned that Christmas was actually a two month holiday which started on the first day of November — or at least that is what all of the stores and malls that I visited made me believe.
It seems as if the jack-o-lanterns and ghosts on candy bags turn into Christmas trees and Santa Claus almost magically overnight. Stores trade “Scary Good Deals” for “Christmas Sales.” Pumpkin spice transforms into peppermint. And I cannot begin to understand why.
It is November, and all I think about is delicious Thanksgiving food, but stores are making it feel like Thanksgiving is not even relevant anymore. I have to mentally prepare myself before grocery shopping because I know I will be assaulted by the Christmas carols, Christmas decorations, Christmas smells and Christmas everything. While I understand that businesses want to get as much money as possible out of the holiday season, it seems that they have exiled Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is being pushed away from the holiday season because it is not as profitable as Christmas. No one is going out to buy hundreds of dollars in presents, tree decorations, or stocking stuffers for Thanksgiving. Instead a slightly larger than usual grocery trip is the only difference from any other week's’ expenses. Because of this lack of profitability, Thanksgiving has become more like an annual family event than a highly anticipated and exciting holiday. A perfect example of this is the sheer fact that we are constantly reminded about Black Friday sales but not very much is heard about the holiday that takes place twelve hours prior.
While Christmas is a great holiday and a very joyful time, each holiday should be given its credit when due. Many forget the time that is spent with family on Thanksgiving Day and all of the food, stories, and moments that are both created and shared.
Thanksgiving, like Christmas, is a great holiday to share with loved ones, and it should not be forgotten. Instead of listening to the thousands of renditions of “Carol of the Bells,” “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls” in November, maybe we can hold off until December, and give Thanksgiving a chance. After all, a one-month Christmas can be just as joyful and merry as two months worth of Christmas cheer.
So as you are putting up your tree, hanging up stockings and taking out that peppermint candle that you bought months ago specifically for Christmastime, remember, Thanksgiving is right around the corner.
(10/29/15 2:44am)
Halloween is here. The days are growing colder, and the faint aroma of fall leaves lingers in the air. Students might spend hours carving pumpkins and trying to find the perfect costume, but what is Halloween without a few seasonal movies? And there is no need to track down the best ones on your own because I have compiled a list of Halloween movies to please everyone—from the faint of heart to the most daring horror enthusiasts.
Anything but scary: “Halloweentown” (1998). Taking place in a cute, friendly town inhabited by a variety of monsters and ghouls, this G-rated Disney Halloween classic is perfect for those who do not appreciate being scared.
Might scare a baby: “Hocus Pocus” (1993). Another Disney classic, this movie about a family of wicked witches will send any ’90s kid on a nostalgic trip back to elementary school Halloween parties.
A little creepy: Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993). This unsettling stop-motion picture takes place in the fantasy world of Halloween Town, where Jack Skellington yearns for a life outside of Halloween.
Keep-the-lights-on scary: “Halloween” (1978). The first true “scary movie” of the list, this slasher film is a classic and an obvious choice as the movie’s events take place on and around Halloween. The murderous Michael Myers strikes fear into citizens of a small town as he hunts them down one by one. This film is sure to freak out some viewers.
Don’t-watch-alone scary: “Poltergeist” (1982). Though a remake of this classic was recently released, the original 1982 film withstands the test of time. When a family moves into a new home, spirits in the home begin to interact with them. At first, the family is convinced that the spirits are friendly, but soon the haunting is revealed to be much more twisted. Truly innovative for its time, this film still has the ability to make viewers uneasy when watching alone.
Not-sleeping-tonight scary: “The Exorcist” (1973). This film makes every “scariest movies” list out there and with good reason. Despite being made in the ’70s, this movie still leaves viewers unable to fall asleep with its diabolical depiction of a young girl who is possessed by the devil himself.
Too scary for words: “The Babadook” (2014). This Australian film is the newest film on the list, and it easily takes the title of scariest. Both viewers and critics have regarded this film as one of the scariest films in history. Its twisted psychological horror story, which focuses on a seemingly innocent children’s book, can strike fear in even the “toughest” of viewers.
(10/15/15 12:55am)
Dr. Marcus Reddick and the students of Mercer University’s percussion ensemble have been putting in long hours as they prepare for their upcoming concert October 23.
The concert will feature a variety of musical numbers across various styles, including 20’s-esque ragtime and a Caribbean style steel drum piece.
“It is very exciting to have this blend of styles and to be able to showcase all of our extremely talented students. The most interesting thing is that all of the pieces have been composed in the students’ lifetimes; they are very contemporary pieces in that sense,” Marcus Reddick, director of the percussion ensemble, said.
Students that will be performing in the percussion ensemble have also had the unique opportunity to arrange a piece themselves for the concert.
“I thought it would be interesting to let them arrange a piece on their own, and let them have that experience,” Reddick said.
The students are arranging “Afta Stuba,” originally written for a solo marimba, into a piece for the entire ensemble to play.
“It really is impressive. They have been working really hard, and it is incredible to see what they have done with the piece,” he said.
Additionally, “Afta Stuba” is part two of a musical duo. The percussion ensemble performed part one of the duo “Stubernic” six years ago, and Reddick is excited to follow up on the performance.
A piece performed on only six tambourines will also be featured, along with a “show-off” piece featuring three students on one marimba. A group of students have also been honing their skills on the steel drums in order to perform “Soul Sauce,” a contemporary piece with a Caribbean twist.
The concert will be held at Langley Hall in the McCorkle Music Building on October 23 at 7:00 p.m. For more information, please visit music.mercer.edu.