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510 13th St. Cullman, AL 35055
The 12 Days
Are we celebrating Christmas like the people in the past? Cole Harrison, Staff Writer
The modern-day Christmas Holiday is usually celebrated a few days before, on December 25, and a few days after. This, however, is not what people from the previous centuries would have called correct celebration. In the traditional view, there are two parts to the holiday season: Advent, then Christmas. Advent is celebrated through four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day. On each Sunday, a candle is lit. The first day of Advent is the Sunday of Hope. This year it was celebrated on December 1st. The Hope Sunday is celebrated to represent the Prophet Isaiah and the other prophets who predicted the coming of Jesus. The first purple candle is lit on this first Sunday. The second Sunday of Advent is Peace Sunday, which represents that Jesus came to be the Prince of Peace over the world. The second purple candle is lit to commemorate Peace Sunday. A pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which is the Sunday of Joy to represent the joy in the birth of Jesus, and the joy in his return. The fourth Sunday of advent is the Sunday of Love, it represents the love that God has for mankind, to come down to the world and die on the cross for all sins. The last purple candle is lit. Advent officially ends and Christmas begins on December 25th. Christmas is then celebrated for 12 days. The Day of the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings’ Day, is the last day of Christmas, which will be on January 5, 2025. The twelve days are celebrated to mark and remember the journey of the three wise men coming to see the Messiah.
Halfway There!
Winter exam tips and schedule
The Hilight
issue 04
THE CHRISTMAS EDITION
The Newspaper of Cullman High School
Decemeber 12th, 2024
A Very Merry Christmas In Cullman
A Christmas story based on our home: Cullman, Alabama. Anna Beth Burleson, Co-Editor Once upon a time, in the cozy town of Cullman, Alabama, where Southern charm meets German heritage, Christmas was just around the corner. The streets were strung with lights, and the Weihnachtspyramide, the German Christmas tower, glowed. It was a sight that made the whole town feel as though it had stepped into a holiday postcard. In the heart of Cullman lived a young girl named Ellie. Ellie was eight years old, with bright eyes and an even brighter smile. She adored Christmas, but this year, her family was struggling. Her father had recently lost his job, and her mother was working overtime just to make ends meet. Ellie understood they couldn’t afford much for Christmas this year, so she kept her holiday wishes simple: snow and time spent with her family. Ellie’s favorite place to visit during the holidays was the Christkindlmarkt. Every year, the town set up stalls where vendors sold handcrafted gifts, delicious food, and hot cocoa. She loved people watching at the ice skating rink, how the stalls gleamed, and the way everyone greeted each other with such warmth. One cool December evening, while browsing the market with her mother, Ellie spotted a beautifully carved wooden angel at Mr. Wilson’s stall. Mr. Wilson was a retired woodworker who made unique ornaments every Christmas season. The angel was delicate with wings that seemed to sparkle, and it bore a peaceful, hopeful expression. Ellie couldn’t take her eyes off of it.
“Go ahead, hold it,” Mr. Wilson said with a gentle smile, noticing Ellie’s fascination. She picked up the angel carefully, her heart full of yearning. She wished she could take it home and hang it on their tree, but when she looked at her mom, she knew it wasn’t possible this year. She handed it back to Mr. Wilson with a small smile. As the days crept towards Christmas, Ellie thought about the angel constantly. She even began visiting
Pick Up Your Trash!
How Likely is a White Christmas?
Put it in the trash can, please Blyss Murphree, Staff Writer
Mr. Wilson’s stall after school to admire it, though she never asked for it again. Mr. Wilson noticed her visits and knew her family’s situation. The angel reminded him of his own childhood, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that it belonged with Ellie. On Christmas Eve, the whole town gathered in the square for the annual lighting of the tree, a Cullman tradition. Ellie and her family bundled up and joined the crowd, their hearts
An interview with James Spann
warmed by the festive atmosphere even though the night air was crisp. Ellie looked up at the massive tree, enchanted by its beauty. The tree, adorned with hundreds of lights and ornaments, created a sense of hope for Ellie despite her family’s troubles. As the lights illuminated Depot Park, snowflakes began to descend on the crowd, a rare occurrence for Alabama. Ellie’s face lit up in pure joy, and she stretched out her hands to catch the falling flakes. Her wish for snow had come true! Just then, Mr. Wilson appeared in front of Ellie and her family. In his hands, he held a small, giftwrapped box. He handed it to Ellie with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye. “I think this is meant to be yours, Ellie,” he said softly. Ellie’s eyes widened as she opened the box and found the angel inside. Tears welled in her eyes, and she hugged Mr. Wilson tightly. “Thank you so much,” she whispered. She had never felt so grateful. That night, Ellie placed the angel on top of their modest Christmas tree at home. It was the only new ornament they had, but it brought warmth and light to their home in a way that went beyond decorations or gifts. The angel became a symbol of kindness, hope, and the strength of community—a reminder that, in Cullman, people looked out for one another. As Ellie lay in bed that night, watching the snow fall outside her window, she knew this would be a Christmas she’d remember forever. She fell asleep with her heart full, feeling as if the whole town was one big family. And in a way, in that little corner of Alabama, it was.
Sibling Superstars
An interview with Molly and Evan Wilson Mack Rudder, Co-Editor
Reilly Johnson, Staff Writer
Time to lock in! Here are some helpful tips and tricks to study for the biggest tests of the semester: 1. Start studying now: Do not wait until last minute to begin reviewing material. If you wait...
Recently there have been many staff members spotted picking up your trash that has somehow landed on the ground right beside the trash can. Please take the time out of your very important, busy day to take your trash the two extra baby steps to the trash...
With the arrival of cold weather, peppermint milkshakes and Christmas The people of Cullman dream every year of waking up to a white Chrismas; music playing everywhere you go, there however, they are never become a reality. is no mistaking it’s finally winter time. There’s one sign of winter espicially Alabama’s most beloved and respected weatherman, James Spann, answered... dear to Cullman High School...
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Claire Dossey, Staff Writer
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