This week's stories:
By Kelly Zientek
While some members of the St. Bonaventure community start their Christmas shopping and look forward to hauling out the Nativity scene, singing carols and decorating their trees, a few people have other plans in mind for the holidays. Anne Goergen, research coordinator for the advancement office, celebrates Hanukkah with her family and members of her temple. ÒHanukkah isnÕt a big holiday, so thereÕs no requirement, no special service for Hanukkah,Ó she said. Most non-Jewish people know of Hanukkah but donÕt know about the major Jewish holidays, including Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, in early fall; Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, ten days after Rosh Hashanah; and Passover in spring, she said. Goergen described Hanukkah as a family holiday celebrated in the home. ÒYou light the menorah every night for eight nights,Ó she said. Along with lighting the candles, Goergen said parents usually give their children a gift each day. Sometimes, the children receive ÒgeltÓ or money, although Goergen said chocolate coins can be given in place of money. In between lighting the candles at sundown and giving out the gifts or gelt, Goergen said families usually play a game, like Òspin the dreidel.Ó The dreidel, a spinning top, can be played as a childrenÕs game or a betting game, she said. She said she also prepares a special meal for her family, including Òlatkes,Ó potato pancakes. Goergen said the people at her temple get together at the end of the eight days to celebrate. ÒEach area does it different. Our temple has a party,Ó she said. ÒWe just do it to be together. ItÕs not required.Ó Goergen said she and her family will join the rest of the 14 families and approximately 20 single people in the Temple BÕNai Israel on 127 S. Barry St. in Olean at 4 p.m. on Sunday for dinner, games and good food. Besides latkes, she said they make Hanukkah cookies, much like Christmas cut outs, but in Hanukkah shapes. ÒAnybody is welcome,Ó she said. Temple BÕNai Israel has a volunteer rabbi to run the services, held every other Friday night. ÒItÕs different from Roman Catholicism because he doesnÕt need to be ordained to run a service,Ó she said. Goergen said they hire a student rabbi from New York City to lead services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. ÒWeÕre a tight community and we know everybody,Ó Goergen said. While Goergen knows a few Jewish professors on campus, she said she wasnÕt aware of any Jewish students. She said perhaps some students have not been brought up Jewish. But she encourages any student interested in coming to Temple services to contact her at x4085. ÒWe like having the students come to the services,Ó she said.
This morning, Zahid Khairullah, management professor, celebrates a major festival, or ÒeidÓ in Arabic. Called the ÒEid-ul-Fitr,Ó literally Òfestival of Fitr,Ó Muslims celebrate the end of their fasting during the month of Ramadan. Since Muslim holidays are based on the lunar calendar, the actual dates change every year. During Ramadan, Muslims practice abstinence from any food or drink, Khairullah said. From before the sunrise, to sunset, Muslims refrain from any eating or drinking, even from water, he added. ÒItÕs supposed to be a happy month, not a sad occasion,Ó he said, describing it as a month of purification when Muslims try to be Òextra goodÓ by giving to charities among other good deeds. Muslims gather to celebrate the end of their fast on the first day of the next month, Shawwal, which falls today. Muslims in this area can gather at the Masjid, the Arabic word for Mosque, on 209 Arland Ave. in Olean around 8:30 a.m. While between 70 and 80 people come to the mosque on Eids, Friday afternoon prayers at the mosque see about 25 people, Khairullah said. Most of those people are men, he explained, since men are required to go to the prayers if they are able. While still required to pray, women do not have to go to the mosque. Since Muslims must pray in Arabic, Khairullah said he had to study at home to learn the language. Since Islam does not have ordained clergy, a volunteer from the group will serve as the Imam, or leader in prayer, Khairullah said. The Imam, who can be young or old, is typically chosen to lead prayers in the mosque because of his ability to recite the Koran well, Khairullah said. A brief sermon follows the formal Eid prayer. ÒThen you have a pretty heavy breakfast, basically a lot of food to celebrate,Ó he said. The type of food varies based on the culture of the country, Khairullah said. ÒHere in Olean, weÕll have Middle East, Pakistani and Indian foods,Ó he said, Òas well as American of course, donuts.Ó Eid-ul-Fitr typically means an occasion for giving gifts, he said. ÒMost of the time in our culture, gifts come from parents to children,Ó he said. The celebration in the Masjid in Olean will probably last a few hours, being on a work-day, Khairullah said. Muslim countries, like India and Pakistan, celebrate with several days of holidays. His home country of India celebrates with one day, being mostly a Hindu country. All able Muslims are obligated to fast, he said, the only exceptions being travelers and invalids. However, those exceptions are expected to make up their fast either by fasting themselves at another time, or feeding a needy person for every day of the fast. ÒEverything is between you and God,Ó Khairullah said, explaining how Muslims decide for themselves if they are able to fast. Both Khairullah and Goergen spoke of the friendships they have formed with friars. They both spoke of the open atmosphere towards other religions they felt on campus. Inter-faith dialogues held on campus last year brought the three groups together to talk about their faiths and both Khairullah and Goergen would like to see more of that. ÒMisunderstandings and misconceptions need to be cleared because the more we understand each other, we will learn to respect each other and be more tolerant of each otherÕs views,Ó Khairullah said. ÒTo me the greatest tragedy is the misrepresentation of religion.Ó
By Erin Collins
Christmas time can be chaotic. Writing end-of-the-semester papers, worrying about finals, stressing over what to buy for loved ones and how to pay for it can all take away from Christmas time cheer. In the midst of all the commotion, take some time to sit back and enjoy the Christmas season. It only comes around once a year. Decorate your room. Find a mini-Christmas tree to put up in your residence-hall room (it has to be fake to comply with university policy) or hang a pair of stockings for you and your roommate. If you can afford it, play Santa and fill your roommateÕs stocking with candy and little gifts. Cover your door with wrapping paper and ribbon to make it look like a giant present. With a little tinsel, a few ornaments, a bit of fake snow, and some creativity, you can turn your room into a winter wonderland. Play Christmas music. Either buy a Christmas CD or download songs onto your computer. Singing along to ÒRudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerÓ will surely put anyone in the Christmas mood. Play it while youÕre decorating your room! Bake cookies. University Ministries has a kitchen facility open to students 24 hours a day. Call up mom to get the recipe for your favorite pastry and start baking. Be sure to try the recipe for Peanut Blossoms provided by landolakes.com. It might be a good idea to call ahead if you plan to bake during the day, since classes and events are sometimes scheduled there. Play in the snow. St. Bonaventure has recently seen plenty of the white fluffy stuff. Find a steep hill, like the ones leading to the soccer field or between Doyle and Hopkins halls, and go sledding. Make a snowman outside of your residence hall or gather up your friends for a good old-fashioned snowball fight. Take a ride to Holiday Valley for skiing. St. Bonaventure has a Ski and Snowboard Club with several package deals and a bus that runs from campus and back every Wednesday night. Sign up in the Office of Student Activities on the second floor of the Reilly Center, room 208. Go Christmas shopping. The Christmas spirit can be found everywhere, even in downtown Olean. Lights and decorations illuminate North Union Street and Lincoln Park has Christmas trimmings galore. Stop in a few of the shops around there, like The Paper Factory or Little Apple Enterprizes for gift ideas. Even if you donÕt have money to buy gifts, you can soak up the spirit by being in the Christmas atmosphere. The Olean Center Mall has several Christmas attractions. The annual Christmas Cookie Sale takes place this weekend to benefit several non-profit organizations. There will also be a wild reptile show, featuring alligators, snakes, and other slithery creatures. The mall also offers free gift-wrapping, though they encourage donations. Do a Secret Santa with your club, organization, or just your friends. Pick names and exchange gifts. Set a limit of a few dollars to give your wallet a break and plan a Christmas party to swap presents. Little things like candy, lip-gloss, or books make great secret Santa gifts.
By Joe Enoch
Beth HenleyÕs award-winning play, ÒCrimes of the HeartÓ opened Thursday and runs at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday in Garret Theatre. ÒIt is one of just a handful of plays written by a woman to win a Pulitzer Prize,Ó said director Stephen Gray-Lewis, associate professor of theater. ÒI saw it in New York in 1981 and was very impressed with it then.Ó Written in 1979, ÒCrimes of the HeartÓ takes place in Hazlehurst, Miss., in the late 1970s, Gray-Lewis said. Junior Tina Lavis, stage and sound manager, said, ÒThe screen door and background help set the time and place.Ó The set also has a staircase, furniture, and even appliances for the kitchen. Out the kitchen window, a southern wilderness backdrop would change its appearance during the show to suit the time of day. ÒI think the set is really cool. It has running water and a working Ôfridge,Ó Lavis said. Everything down to a squeaky screen door sets the scene nicely. The details and intriguing design of the set add much to the performance. Much work went into making this replica of a house. At first glance, this story appears to be a tragedy. However, it actually has a comedic quality said Gray-Lewis. ÒIt is about three sisters in a moment of crisis,Ó he said. Junior Nicole Moore, who plays Meg Magrath, one of the three sisters, said, ÒIt is hysterical.Ó Meg, the middle sister has a bumpy past. She moved to California to pursue her career as a singer but ended up with a history of drinking and men. The three sisters have diversely different attributes. The oldest sister, Lenny, played by freshman Megan Murray, tends to be awkward, naïve, and afraid of men. Babe, the youngest sister, played by freshman Kate Kistner, is the main character in the story. She shoots and wounds her husband and faces prosecution and possible jail time. Her situation brings the sisters together for the first time in years. The cast act this play out very well. The acting and directing make for an overall good and humorous experience. All of the actors put on a very impressive performance. The three sisters put on an especially stunning show. Junior Joanna Stanton plays Chick, a cousin. ÒShe is egotistical and thinks she is better than her cousins, so it is fun to play her,Ó Stanton said. Kistner contributes to over half of all the humor, not only in her lines, but also in her facial expressions and mannerisms. Moore also puts on an impressive show. Her character has spunk, which she plays up in her acting. To help set the era, the actors and actresses wear costumes that define the south in the late 1970s. The women wear colorful dresses and skirts while the men wear leisure suits and outdoor work clothes. The cast is rounded out by junior Matt Rohner as Doc and freshman Steven Schrader as Barnette. The overall show has plenty of laughs and would be well worth the $6 and two hours sacrificed to see it. ÒIt is funny and they will enjoy it,Ó said Gray-Lewis. Take advantage of the calm before the flurry of finals and pay a visit to Garret Theatre this weekend. Tickets cost $6 for students, $7 for Bona community members and $8 for general public.
Counting down the best holiday films
By Shane Colligan
With each new holiday season, Hollywood produces a fresh batch of movies and network-television specials. The Internet Movie DatabaseÕs Web site lists 568 television shows, network specials and full-length movies with the word Christmas in their titles. Everyone from Mr. Magoo to the Brady Bunch has had a Christmas special. Ernest, the Glo Friends and Jaclyn Smith have each saved Christmas in a moment of holiday warmth. And every major recording artist has had his very own network holiday specials. But which programs offer the most holiday cheer without all the schmaltz and cheese commonly afforded to shows of the sort? The following lists the 10 holiday programs worth taking away precious study time. 10 The half-hour ÒEmmett OtterÕs Jug-Band ChristmasÓ features Muppets Emmett Otter and his mother, Alice — two poor otters who do odd jobs for the community to make ends meet. In order to get enough money to buy his mother a Christmas gift, Emmet and his friends form a jug band and enter a talent show. Unfortunately, to do this, Emmett must punch a hole in his motherÕs washboard (which she uses to wash clothes for money). Meanwhile, Alice, attempting to earn enough money to Òbuy Emmett a real Christmas present this year,Ó hocks her dead husbandÕs old toolbox (which Emmett often uses). With the money she gets from the toolbox, she buys fabric and makes a dress which she will wear in the talent show when she sings. Will AliceÕs heartfelt song win the talent show? Will EmmettÕs jug band win the $50 prize? Or will they both lose to the evil Riverbottom Gang (a group of mean amphibians and reptiles led by Chuck, an angry grizzly) who enter the contest at the last minute? Made in 1977, this updated version of O. HenryÕs ÒGift of the MagiÓ is based on a book by Lillian and Russell Hoban. Also look for a cameo appearance by Kermit the Frog.
9 Christmas 1985 was a monumental year for fans of ÒHe-Man and the Masters of the Universe.Ó In the fall, He-Man met his twin sister, spawning the spin-off series, ÒShe-Ra: Princess of Power.Ó In December, He-Man, She-Ra and all their friends and enemies united for the first time in ÒHe-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special.Ó This half-hour animated show joins the Masters of the Universe and the Rebellion to rescue their friend Orko, who accidentally blasts himself to Earth. Meanwhile, Orko befriends two Earth kids who accidentally go back to Eternia with him. When the evil Lord Prime orders Skeletor and Hordak to capture the kids, the usual brand of ÒHe-ManÓ excitement ensues. Actor R.D. Robb lends his voice to the cast. He also plays RalphieÕs friend, Schwartz, in the holiday classic ÒA Christmas Story.Ó 8 If an editorial in the New York Sun wasnÕt convincing enough, the 1947 film ÒMiracle on 34th StreetÓ should be able to prove that, indeed, Santa Claus exists. The story centers around Doris Walker, the no-nonsense special events director for MacyÕs Department Store, and her young daughter, Susan, who rejects all ideas of fantasy. After Doris hires an old man to stand in as Santa in the MacyÕs Thanksgiving Day Parade, her impressed boss recruits him to be the storeÕs Santa. The old man, who calls himself Kris Kringle, tries to spread Christmas spirit among the out-of-control commercialism that surrounds him. When KrisÕ unrelenting certainty regarding his identity lands him in Bellvue Mental Institution, he heads to court to fight for his discharge. The court case forces everyone to reexamine their beliefs and puts the Christmas spirit to the test. This features Natalie Wood in one of her first starring roles.
7 Charles Dickens probably never intended ÒA Christmas CarolÓ to be performed by puppets when he wrote the story in 1843. However, almost 150 years later, thatÕs exactly what happened. In ÒThe Muppet Christmas CarolÓ a miser learns the err of his greedy ways when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet-to-Come visit him in the night. This film marks the first time the Muppets play characters other than themselves. Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy play poor Bob and Emily Cratchit. Michael Caine (who is not a Muppet) plays the evil Ebenezer Scrooge. This is the first feature film starring the Muppets produced after Jim HensonÕs May 1990 death. 6 A popular Christmas carol comes to life in the 1964 half-hour musical Claymation sensation ÒRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.Ó Sam the Snowman tells the story of a young reindeer excluded because of his unusual red nose. At the same time, SantaÕs elves exclude Hermey, an elf who dreams of dentistry. When the pair decide to Òbe independent together,Ó as Rudolph says, they run afoul of the Abominable Snowman, gain a friend in prospector Yukon Cornelius and discover the Island of Misfit Toys. In order to get Santa to help the toys, the pair return to the North Pole. When fog grounds SantaÕs sleigh, only Rudolph can help distribute toys, rescue the misfit toys and save Christmas. 5 ÒA Charlie Brown ChristmasÓ has been a holiday favorite for 37 seasons. Fed up with the materialism surrounding the season, Charlie Brown attempts to restore the Christmas spirit with a meager fir Christmas tree instead of a shiny, plastic one. The entire Peanuts gang learns the true meaning of Christmas with a little help from Linus. When it aired in 1965, it had the distinction of being the first animated Peanuts special ever, pre-empting ÒThe Beverly Hillbillies.Ó This special also marks the first and only time Linus lets go of his blue security blanket as he recites a Biblical passage 4 Still craving Muppets? ÒA Muppet Family ChristmasÓ is the ultimate Muppet-loversÕ program. The 1987 half-hour television special brings Fozzie Bear and all his friends from ÒThe Muppet ShowÓ to his motherÕs house, forcing her to cancel her winter vacation plans to entertain the group. The house fills even more when the gang from ÒSesame StreetÓ drop by and Kermit the Frog and his nephew Robin find a Fraggle hole in the basement. Miss Piggy fights a blizzard to get to the house to celebrate Christmas with her Muppet friends. Muppet creator Jim Henson even makes a cameo appearance. 3 George Bailey discovers ÒItÕs a Wonderful LifeÓ in this 1946 holiday classic. Based on the Philip Van Doren Stern story, ÒThe Greatest Gift,Ó the film gives George a glimpse at what life would be like had he never been born. Accompanied by the wingless angel Clarence, George learns that, ÒOne man's life touches so many others, when he's not there it leaves an awfully big hole.Ó This film was the first to use quiet snow. According to Internet Movie Database films previous to this used cornflakes painted white for snowflakes. Reportedly the crunching was so loud, dialogue had to be re-recorded in editing. Because the filmÕs director, Frank Capra, wanted to record the sound live, he used foamite (a fire-fighting chemical), soap and water to make the snow. The technique earned the film an Academy Award for special effects. 2 ÒThe Grinch hated Christmas — the whole Christmas season. Oh please donÕt ask why; no one quite knows the reason.Ó Thus begins the animated version of Dr. SeussÕ childrenÕs book, ÒHow the Grinch Stole Christmas!Ó Directed by Chuck Jones of Looney Tunes fame, the half-hour cartoon shows the GrinchÕs adventures as he tries to stop Christmas from coming to Whoville. The cartoon and the book serve as the basis of the 2000 film, directed by Ron Howard, though the cartoon is the best version of the story. 1 The best holiday show is the one with the simplest name. ÒA Christmas Story,Ó made in 1983, shows a young boyÕs struggle for the ultimate Christmas gift. All Ralphie Parker wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder 200-shot, range-model air rifle Òwith a compass and a stock and this thing which tells time,Ó he says. RalphieÕs mother; his teacher, Miss Shields; and the department-store Santa stand in his way, telling him, ÒYouÕll shoot your eye out.Ó Set in 1940Õs Indiana, this timeless classic teaches the importance of not sticking your tongue to a frozen flagpole. Many of these movies can be found at your local video-rental store.
Photos courtesy of www.google.com
Send questions and comments to The Bona Venture. |