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Places to See Christmas Lights/Decorations
Submitted by Ruthie Suarez “Glowing Parols and Holiday Joy: My Magical Christmas Break in the Philippines” The Philippines is known for its vibrant and festive Christmas celebrations, and one of the most prominent aspects is a dazzling display of lights everywhere, especially the iconic parols. A parol is a traditional Filipino Christmas lantern, typically star-shaped, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. They are made of bamboo and colorful paper and come in various sizes, from small and simple to big and intricate designs. When I visited the Philippines over the winter break to celebrate Christmas and New Year with my family, the sight of parols glowing brightly along the streets, homes,…
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Seeing Climate Change in Action: Where are the Blizzards?
Submitted by Will Chen Winter is one of my favorite seasons of the year to experience. I love the cold air and brisk morning winds. Most of all, I love playing in the snow and watching snowflakes drift down. On winter days, looking out my window and seeing piles of pearly white snow brings me so much joy. However, as each year passes by, the Earth is getting warmer. More specifically, the amount of snowfall in the Northeast has dramatically decreased over the past few years. Many of my happiest memories consisted of snow days, staying indoors, and shoveling the pavement. Nowadays, I only remember sprinkles of snow each winter.…
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How to Decorate the Perfect Gingerbread House
Submitted by Angelina Ng Building and decorating a gingerbread house is a fun activity to do during the holiday season. However, creating the perfect one might be challenging. From the frosting to the gingerbread to the candies for decorating, many aspects can drastically change your house and design. Here are some rookie tips for decorating gingerbread houses! 1. Give your frosting a warm-up The frosting is the main appeal and view of your whole house. It is used to assemble the walls and roof, in addition to outlining and decorating. As you take out a pack of frosting, it tends to be stiff. For smoother application, put the frosting in…