holiday – The Western Howl

Dec. 3 2025 | Abbi Duhart | News Editor

The countdown for Monmouth’s “Making Spirits Bright” has begun. This is a series of holiday-themed events that take place in Monmouth over the month of December, beginning Dec. 5 with the annual holiday parade.

To kick off the season, the Monmouth Business Association will be hosting several events Dec. 5, including free cocoa and cider, the Merry Market and the holiday parade, with activities in the Werner University Center to follow. The Merry Market will feature local businesses and artisans selling various goods, taking place in the WUC at 4 p.m. Following this, cocoa and cider will be offered next to the giant sequoia tree on campus. Along with refreshments, Western swag will be given away on a first-come, first-serve basis. This portion of the festivities is sponsored by WOU Alumni Relations and will begin at 5:30 p.m. The main event — the holiday parade — will take place at 6 p.m. for the 58th year in a row. The parade will start at the Monmouth Public Library and travel to campus along Monmouth Avenue. Following the parade, residents will hear welcome speeches from both the Monmouth and Independence mayors as well as Western’s president, Jesse Peters. The elementary school’s annual essay contest winner will also be announced, and the student will read their essay. Finally, a countdown will commence, and the sequoia tree will be lit. Following the parade, more events will take place in the WUC, such as photos with Santa in the Willamette Room and cookie decorating on the first floor.

From 5 to 9 p.m., residents can also visit local businesses downtown that offer specials and discounts during the Tree Lighting. To keep tabs on what businesses are offering, follow the Monmouth Business Association at @mbamonmouth on Instagram.

Residents can also participate in Wolfie on the Shelf all of December. To join in, travel to one of the local businesses participating and grab a passport to fill out during the event. Those who find Wolfie at 10 or more participating businesses can turn in their passport to be entered into a prize drawing. To find out which businesses are participating, visit the Monmouth Business Association website.

To get more into the giving nature of the holidays, residents can support Toys for Tots by donating toys and gifts to children in Monmouth and Independence who otherwise might not get any gifts. Running through Dec. 15, toys or donations can be dropped off at Fee Mail Depot. During the last holiday season, Polk, Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties were able to support 13,873 children.

For more holiday cheer, grab some hot cocoa and visit Main Street Park and downtown Monmouth to view Christmas lights and displays.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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The haunting history

A photo of Halloween yard decorations. | Photo from @halloweenperfection on Instagram

Oct 29, 2025 | Belen Ponce Leal | Lifestyle Editor

Halloween is known throughout the United States as the spookiest time of the year; the time when children go door-to-door wearing costumes that range from cute to scary, candy is given out and scares are plotted throughout the night. Despite its popularity, many don’t know the origins of this holiday that has developed and changed throughout the centuries.

The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which is still celebrated today by Pagans. Over 2,000 years ago, the Celts and the druids celebrated the new year Nov. 1. Samhain, which translates to “summer’s end” in Gaelic, marked the end of the harvest, meaning winter was about to begin. Winter was seen as a time of death, where the veil between the living and the dead thins to allow supernatural forces to wander the earth. The people would gather to burn crops and offer animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. Additionally, those who were thinking of their lost loved ones would use candles and bonfires to guide them to the afterlife.

Others would wear costumes to scare the bad spirits and demons away. However, some believed that doing this would allow them to be able to tell each other’s future. The Celtic priests believed that due to the presence of otherworldly beings on the earth, their predictions would hold more weight. After the festival was over, they would take flames from the bonfires and light their own hearths with them. It was believed that the fire would protect them from the incoming winter.

In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III proclaimed Nov. 1 “All Saints’ Day,” which honors not only the saints, but also the martyrs. Then, in the year 1000, the church made Nov. 2 “All Souls’ Day,” a day that honors the dead. It is believed that the church did this to replace the Celtic festival with a Christian-sanctioned holiday.

It incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain, like big bonfires, celebrations and dressing up in costumes as beings like devils, saints and angels. The night before, which was originally Samhain, began to be called “All-Hallows Eve.”

When people began immigrating to the US, which at the time was the 13 colonies, All-Hallows Eve began to change. As the customs of European ethnic groups and Native Americans clashed, “Halloween” began to emerge.

The first celebrations of the tradition were known as “play parties,” which were events held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors shared stories of the dead and would try to tell each other’s fortunes.

Trick-or-treating is based on European traditions where Americans began dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door to ask for food or money, which eventually became the trick-or-treating recognized today.

Jack-o’-lanterns come from a tradition in Ireland that came over with Irish immigrants. It is said that there was a man known as “Stingy Jack,” who would trap the devil multiple times throughout his life, keeping him captive until he promised Jack he wouldn’t go to hell. However, when the time came for Jack’s death, he found out that he wasn’t allowed to go to heaven either, so he was doomed to wander the earth forever. The devil supposedly gave Jack a burning lump of coal in a hollowed-out turnip to be his makeshift lantern.

Therefore, the locals began carving spooky faces into their own vegetables to frighten away the spirits from their homes. When immigrants moved to the U.S., the Irish brought the tradition with them. Since pumpkins are native to North America, they decided to switch from turnips to pumpkins; thus, the Jack-o’-laturns that are known today were born.

While Halloween isn’t the same as Samhain in the traditional sense, the holiday still carries that same spirit expressed by the druids and the Celts. It celebrates the time in the year where the leaves change color, the harvest comes in for the final time and everyone does their best to deal with mischievous spirits, whether it be a ghost, a demon or a roommate who wants to scare someone into a heart attack.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

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Last minute Thanksgiving appetizers

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

CREAMED CORN

Start to finish: 20 minutes

Yields: 1 quart dish or ~8 servings

⅓ cup butter

⅓ cup all-purpose flour

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 cup whole milk

¼ cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

Dash white pepper

5 cups frozen corn thawed

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and stir in flour until smooth. Slowly add cream, milk, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir for two minutes at a boil. Add corn.

Transfer to an ungreased 1-quart oven and broiler-safe dish. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Broil 5 inches from heat for 3-5 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbly. Optional: add cooked bacon on top. Cool and serve.

Recipe from Taste of Home

CRANBERRY CREAM CHEESE CRESCENT BITES

Start to finish: 45 minutes

Yields: 24 servings

4 oz cream cheese

3 tablespoons chopped dried cranberries

1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

1 can (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Dough Sheet or 1 can (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls

Heat oven to 375°F and line two cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, cranberries and chives.

Unroll the dough on a surface and create 24 squares. The easiest method would be to unroll into a large rectangle and then cut with a knife 6 rows by 4 rows.

Place 1 teaspoon of cream cheese mixture into the center of each square and connect the four corners at the top, making room for the mixture to peek out in between. Pinch and twist to seal. Place on cookie sheets.

Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Recipe from Pillsbury

WARM BRIE AND PEAR TARTLETS

Start to finish: 30 minutes

Yields: 24 tartlets

24 mini phyllo (also called fillo) tart shells

1 ripe pear diced

¼ pound ripe Brie cheese cut into 24 small chunks

2 sprigs fresh thyme

2 tablespoons honey or to taste

Preheat oven to 400°F and line a pan with parchment paper.

Arrange tartlet shells onto a pan, placing a piece of Brie cheese into each shell. Sprinkle pear and a couple of thyme leaves into each shell, finishing off with a drizzle of honey.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tartlets are golden.

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

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Coldplay’s “Everyday Life,” five years in

Written by: Kiera Roedel | Copy Editor

Content warning: this article contains references to police violence, war and suicide.

Nov. 22 was the fifth birthday of Coldplay’s 2019 album “Everyday Life.” The project sticks with Coldplay’s well-established pop-rock sound, but mixes in influences like classical, afrobeat and jazz, making it one of the band’s most experimental releases.

Lyrically, “Everyday Life” focuses on unity between people, regardless of ethnic or national barriers. This is perhaps best showcased by the fact that the only-ever live performance of the full tracklist was streamed globally from the Amman Citadel in Jordan, though Coldplay themselves are British.

The album’s 16 tracks, split into “sunrise” and “sunset” halves, have proved divisive among fans. Many proclaim certain songs as some of the band’s best ever, while dismissing others as pointless filler. So, five years on, how does “Everyday Life” stack up?

“Sunrise” — “Everyday Life’s” opener is a short instrumental track driven by calm, spare string music. It is compositionally simple and its lack of lyrics really count against it for me — not a favorite.

“Church” — Considered by many to be the true opening track, “Church” is one of the strongest on the album. Its almost four minutes are driven by a strong percussion line while lead singer Chris Martin weaves a love story that compares his significant other to a divine figure. Later in the song, Arabic vocals by guest Norah Shaqur bring the entire song together, and Martin’s sing-rapped couplet at the end over them is nothing short of incredible.

“Trouble in Town” — The first appearance of this album’s oft-discussed political themes. “Trouble in Town” condemns police violence with floaty yet strong piano-centric instrumentals and a profanity-laden recording depicting verbal abuse while a police officer detains a suspect. Not for everyone, but fantastic for those unfazed by its unique characteristics.

“BrokEn” — A divisive song due to its style — an almost a capella gospel track — and a strange choice to follow up “Trouble in Town.” Its strong religious themes and direct references to God would not be out of place if sung by a church choir. I find it catchy.

“Daddy” — This song hits some harder than others. It is sung from the perspective of a child with an absent father figure, wondering where he has been and whether he will ever return. It is slow and ethereal throughout, opening with heartbeat sound effects before a somber piano melody begins a few seconds in. The emotion in this one is bare and painful, definitely a highlight.

“WOTW / POTP” — The sound of this demo track is defined by an acoustic guitar, quiet singing and birds chirping in the background. To me, it has almost no staying power and may as well have not been included.

“Arabesque” — The title here references a style of visual art involving intricate repeating patterns covering large surfaces. Similarly “Arabesque,” one of the album’s singles, discusses unifying the people, proclaiming that we “share the same blood.” Its aggressive, percussive rhythm thumps along like a freight train, and the song is without a doubt in the top 3 best on the album.

“When I Need a Friend” — Another short, less-than-impressive track. Its slow, formless, layered vocals recall holiday carols, or more church-choir music, with a Spanish spoken-word segment inserted awkwardly at the end.

“Guns” — Aggressive and biting, “Guns” begins the “sunset” segment of the album and is perhaps the antithesis to the prior track. It is extremely political, referencing climate change, oppression of the working class, violent revolutions and the military-industrial complex. I love it for that.

“Orphans” — The other single from “Everyday Life,” “Orphans” was a breakout hit and a song that many have likely heard already. It tells the struggles of a girl and her father who become refugees during the oppressive Syrian Civil War. Thematically and musically a masterpiece, this might be the objective best on the record.

“Èkó” — Calm and relaxed, the quaint and hopeful “Èkó” shares the name of a town in southwest Nigeria. Honestly, it serves pretty well as a comfort song, but nothing special.

“Cry Cry Cry” — Angel Moon, Coldplay’s alien vocalist who is really just a digital effect, sings along with Chris Martin throughout this deceptively optimistic song. It might have been good if its themes were better developed and it had more than a verse and a half of actual lyrics.

“Old Friends” — Another slow, calm song with simple lyrics. It describes a childhood friend of Martin’s who saved him from being hit by a car when they were riding bikes as kids. While the theme is heartfelt, the song isn’t very engaging.

“بنی آدم” — The Arabic title of this song is taken from a Persian poem, pronounced “Bani Adam.” The majority of its lyrics are a verse from the poem, spoken softly in Arabic. A great idea, but it has almost two minutes of piano solo and was likely better suited to being a 90-second interlude rather than the over-3-minute full feature that “بنی آدم” purports to be.

“Champion of the World” — To be blunt, this is far and away my favorite song on the album. Its lyrics begin with short anecdotes of the failures of the lead singer, going so far as to specifically reference suicide and gravestones. As the music slowly builds, the lyrics pull away from the depression, asserting that whatever happens, we are still here, and that is a success in itself. The song climaxes when Martin and drummer Will Champion sing in duet that “giving up won’t work / Now I’m riding on my rocket ship / And I’m champion of the world.” “Champion of the World” has the overwhelmingly positive theme and grandiose musical style that are hallmarks of recent Coldplay, and to me, it’s probably their single greatest song in the past decade at least.

“Everyday Life” — The final song, bringing back earlier themes of the album like the similarities between and power vested within the people of the world. Musically spare but proud, it uses the same chord progression as the earlier “Church,” which helps tie the album together. While a little unimpressive in the shadow of the previous song, “Everyday Life” is still an excellent closing track.

Overall, “Everyday Life’s” occasional extremely strong tracks have their impact lessened somewhat by slow and underdeveloped songs that hold almost no significance to the overall styling of the record. Still, those strong tracks stand as some of the best in the history of Coldplay, and are each excellent on their own. Plus, “Everyday Life’s” aesthetic is confident, with unique lyrical themes and experimental music styles strongly contributing to the album’s identity. Lyrically and musically, Everyday Life shows what Coldplay can be when at its best, even if it is interspersed with a few less-than-amazing songs.

8/10.

Contact the author at howlcopyeditor@mail.wou.edu

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Winter resources

Written by: Hannah Field | Editor-in-Chief

It has been reported that about 10 million American adults suffer from seasonal affective disorder — SAD — from mid to late fall through the spring season. Oregon, especially, is cold and wet during the cold season, with the sun setting early and the temperature staying chilly throughout the day, even at the peak of the sun.

Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression occurring during the colder months, the timing being the only difference between SAD and typical depression. It often returns annually for those who experience SAD. Explanations for why someone might experience SAD are still relatively unknown. The trigger, however, is a lack of light. The effects can be debilitating for some, and merely exhausting or tiring for others, meaning it varies from person to person.

Doctors make multiple recommendations for those who struggle with SAD. Studies state that proper sleep will elevate energy levels. If sleeping is a problem, doctors also recommend avoiding screens or other blue light before bed and creating a nighttime routine, something that promotes mindfulness and relaxation, ideally for a few hours leading up to sleep.

On the topic of mindfulness, many may benefit from meditation, yoga, pilates or other exercise or mindfulness practices to stabilize the mind and body. The easiest way to do this is to think of the moment — what is being done and how does it feel? Consider it “grounding.”

It is recommended to find everyday movement. To be clear, this does not necessarily mean exercise as in going to the gym or pushing yourself too hard, but finding time every day to walk, jog, step or play. Finding winter activities can assist, such as snowboarding, skiing, ice skating, sledding or even indoor activities, such as baking, cooking, reading, writing, crocheting and more. Creating things is good for the brain and brings feelings of pride and accomplishment.

And, although difficult, it is recommended to leave the house in one way or another, even when it’s freezing outside. Fresh air is good for the body and brain and leaving the house can stimulate, leading to better mental health.

Surrounding yourself with friends and family is a proven way to ward off the negative feelings accompanied by winter and is highly recommended. Being intentional with plans and self-care can help propel oneself into better health. Examples of self-care include forms of mindfulness as mentioned, cleaning, eating more healthily, exploring faith, self-reflection, practicing gratitude and more.

Artificial light is an alternative as well. Individuals may use sun lamps to replicate the light of the sun and using such light first thing in the morning has been proven to have positive effects. Studies also recommend taking media breaks, such as distancing from apps and social media. News, especially, can negatively affect mental health and during such critical months, access should be limited.

Having a clean, clutter-free environment may elevate moods, although the process is technically a chore. Doing the laundry, dishes and vacuuming can create comfort and remove at least a few tasks off the stressful weekly list.

Other resources, such as therapy, are recommended and can be easy to locate. Psychologytoday.com offers therapists from the area, virtually and in-person, and can point interested folks toward the right information to get set up. It often displays insurance information and sign-up material needed.

Antidepressants can also be helpful for those who suffer majorly from SAD. Meeting with your doctor can get this process started.

There are vitamins that individuals can take to promote health and well-being, such as vitamin D supplements — easy to buy from most local stores.

Most of all, individuals should learn what they need to be healthy and prioritize their health. Western’s Student Health and Counseling Center offers resources, professionals to speak to and other help at https://wou.edu/health/. “Wellness is a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential. We view well-being as a multidimensional and holistic process. The seven wellness realms we focus on, include: social, emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, environmental and mental,” says the center.

The website also provides graphics with more advice for handling poor mental health and finding a work-life balance. It recommends volunteering, maintaining relationships and adopting daily rituals. Figuring out what stress responses there are can be incredibly helpful as well, as each method can be remedied in a different way. Those who isolate may benefit from energizing activities, while those who grow angry or emotional may need to find a quiet, relaxing activity to recover instead.

Starting small with stress can make an impact, eventually snowballing into better coping mechanisms and skills. One conversation at a time opens the door for help.

The weather will, eventually, warm; the sun will return. Nobody should suffer alone. Merely having conversations about mental health can help destigmatize the concept of “winter blues” so that others can receive help as well, and feel less isolated in the process.

Contact the author at howleditorinchief@mail.wou.edu

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Valentine’s Day origin

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

Content warning: this article contains mentions of blood, animal sacrifices and violence

Valentine’s Day was originally a pagan holiday celebrating fertility — taking place from Feb. 13–15, going back as far as the sixth century B.C. Since then, Valentine’s Day has taken a turn toward romantic celebrations and acts of kindness, when originally, in Rome, men were stripped, blood was shed and animals were sacrificed, all in hopes of warding off evil curses and keeping the Roman fertility god, Lupercus, happy.

Lupercus, as well as the she-wolf Lupa — who, according to legend, protected and raised the eventual founders of Rome — inspired the title Lupercalia: the holiday now known as Valentine’s Day. The day revolved around a feast that involved animal sacrifices and streaking men. Those same men would whip women with strips of the sacrificed goats’ hides which was believed to cause ripe fertility.

The Luperci, a group of Roman priests, would perform the goat and dog sacrifices and follow it up with touching a bloody knife on two Luperci’s foreheads, which was then wiped off with wool dipped in milk. Part of the sacrificial rituals involved the Luperci laughing — a requirement to please Lupercus.

Saint Valentine holds more mystique around the founding of the holiday. The most common theory is that Saint Valentine was executed by the Roman Emperor Claudius II for secretly marrying Christian couples, during the third century A.D., a time when Christians were being persecuted.

Another legend proposes that Valentine was in love with his jailer’s daughter while imprisoned — writing her a love letter and signing it, “From your Valentine.”

Valentine was declared a Saint by the Catholic Church well after his death when he was martyred on Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day. This later became celebrated closer to the late fifth century A.D., when Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalius with a day in honor of the Saint’s martyrdom. This first example of Valentine’s Day, although similar in title, did not become the modern day celebration of love that people now know it as.

Some characteristics remain the same between modern Valentine’s Day and Lupercalia. The white color we know today to be part of Valentine’s Day relates to the milk-dipped wool from the Luperci sacrifices; red and pink correspond with the theme of blood, despite the fact that neither are current aspects of Valentine’s Day.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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Tree lighting ceremony

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

Western’s campus will be kicking off December with the 56th annual Holiday Tree Lighting. The event will start at 6:00 p.m. outside of the historical Campbell Hall. In preparation for the occasion, the tree has been fitted with its giant decorations which will be lit at the event around 6:45 p.m..

“Our sequoia tree outside of Campbell Hall is rumored to be the second largest sequoia (in Oregon),” said Katelin Granger, the coordinator of student activities & inclusion. It was planted in 1887 by former students of Western and is the object of celebration for the Holiday Tree Lighting.

The annual event is expected to bring together the Monmouth-Independence community, alumni, students, staff and faculty at large, as it has in previous years. It begins with a few keynote speakers sharing some words for the public. Some speakers include the President Peters, parade narrators and student voices that Granger established for the sake of inputting student representation in the event.

In the past, the parade has featured around thirty floats and traverses through Monmouth. “We have the annual parade that goes from the Monmouth (Public) library to the middle of campus,” said Granger. “We see people line up down Main Street and Monmouth avenue to watch all the parade floats. It’s just a really fun time.”

After the parade, the Dean of Students, Malissa Larson, will say a few words which will be followed by speeches by the mayors of Independence and Monmouth. Local elementary schools have engaged in an essay-writing contest, where the winner will be announced on the night of the event and assist in lighting the tree alongside President Peters. Prior to the lighting, the winner of the essay contest gets to read their essay aloud to the public attending the ceremony.

The Werner University Center will host indoor activities like cookie frosting and a Santa Claus for photo opportunities and more fun.

“This year, Abby’s House is doing their silent auction and that is going to be open during the after-portion, in the Columbia room,” added Granger.

Tradition will continue on the first Friday of December as the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony commences on campus. Granger encourages students to attend the event and join in on the holiday spirit that the festive night will entail.

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

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Meaningful mementos for Mom this Mother’s Day

Inexpensive gift ideas for every mother figure

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Mother’s Day is almost upon us, which means if getting Mom a gift, it’s time to go shopping. Gifts can be very meaningful without costing too much; get inspired by these Mother’s Day gifts to present to a mother figure this holiday.

Photo album: Collect meaningful photos of the family into a photo album or slideshow. Decorate a little scrapbook with stickers and captions, buy a simple photo album to put many printed photos in or keep it digital by arranging a slideshow to share.

Pots and plants: If Mom loves gardening, buy them their favorite flowers or some herbs or vegetables to plant together. Customize a pot by painting it together, or get the whole family involved by each decorating a container for them.

Mug and coffee or tea: Cute coffee mugs can be found all over the internet for as little as $10. Get them a mug that says, “Best Mom/Aunt/Grandma/Sister Ever,” and stuff it with some of their favorite coffee or tea. Or give them new flavors to try together. Sit down with them and spend some time chatting over a hot beverage on Sunday.

Office supplies: Sticky notes, paper clips, pens — an organized person has to have it all. Buy Mom some office supplies in their favorite color or themed with their favorite flower or animal. Some notepads and journals come with motivational messages, which can be a nice mood booster for Mom for days to come.

Their favorite self-care product: Is Mom running low on their favorite lipstick, lotion, hair product or essential oil? Offer to buy them a refill of one of their favorite products, or give them a gift card to the store they most enjoy.

A nice card: Give Mom a thoughtful, funny or beautiful card with some meaningful words written inside for them to display for the coming weeks. Plenty of physical stores offer a wide variety of greeting cards, and online shops like Etsy have customizable options to give the gift an added personal touch.

Time together: Sometimes the best gifts are nice moments together. Spend some quality time with Mom on Sunday, or, if busy, plan a day soon that’s dedicated to them.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

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Two days left to enter the #SafeHolidaysOR Student PSA Contest

Governor Brown asks Oregon students to design PSAs on how to safely celebrate the holidays

Cora McClain | Editor-In-Chief

While the weather outside is frightful, the rise in Oregon COVID-19 cases is far less delightful. The easiest way to spread COVID is through large gatherings, even if those gatherings are with friends and family. The fact of the matter is, traditional ways of celebrating the holidays are less safe for everyone involved.

The Oregon Health Authority has said that people in their 20s continue to be the most likely to test positive for COVID. To raise awareness, Governor Kate Brown launched the statewide COIVD-19 #SafeHolidaysOR Public Service Announcement video contest. The contest entails any and all Oregon students to answer the question “How Do You Plan to Celebrate the Holidays Safely?” in a 30 seconds or less.

Whether a student attends a school located in Oregon or lives in Oregon while attending school out of state, any K-12 and college student is eligible to enter. Governor Brown will choose the winners of the contest, share the videos across her social media platforms and invite the winners to a video chat with her.

The deadline for these videos is Dec. 18. There’s only a couple of days left to enter; so, if you are interested, get your video in soon.

A student can enter by submitting a PSA in video format through their form. If there are any issues submitting your video, email your submission directly to Sarah Dean at Sarah.Dean@Oregon.gov along with your name, city, school, and PSA title.

Rules:

PSA Videos must:

Answer the question: “How Do You Plan to Celebrate the Holidays Safely?”
Be 30 seconds or less.
Observe proper physical distancing and other public health recommendations.
Be student created. An adult may assist with the video editing and filming, but the content must be student created.

PSA Videos must NOT:

Use music that is copyrighted. Royalty-free music websites such as freeplaymusic.com offer songs that can be used without violating copyright.
Use images of any kind that are copyrighted. Royalty-free image websites such as pixabay.com provide images that can be used without violating copyright.
Include violations of physical distancing or other COVID safety requirements.
Contain non-factual information, content promoting hate or discrimination, or other offensive content.
Include audio, images, or other footage of other people without their permission, and, if the video includes minors, without their parent/guardian’s permission.

PSAs that do not comply with contest rules will be disqualified.

By submitting, you consent to have your submission featured on Governor Brown’s social media accounts. If your video is selected, you and your parent/guardian, if applicable, may be required to sign permission form.

For more information and ideas to include in your videos, visit the official My Oregon News article on the contest.

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Some examples of the video PSA from The Western Howl staff below!

“My immediate family and I are doing all of our gift shopping online.”
– Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

“I’m going to be celebrating Christmas with my roommates by watching a ton of movies throughout the day.”
Sean Martinez | Copy Editor

“I’m staying safe this holiday season by staying home as much as I can.”
Rylie Horrall | Managing Editor

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20 classic games to play with family and friends

Board and card games to revisit this season

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

Between the stress of buying gifts for the holidays and the building excitement of the incoming new year, a classic board game can be all anyone needs to destress. Tabletop games are about coming together with family and friends to have a lively, fun and lightly competitive time together. Some games are straightforward and lighthearted, like Candy Land or Connect Four, while other games seem like they are designed to cause an all-out debate about the rules and technicalities at the table, like with Scrabble or Clue.

In any case, here’s a list of classic board games that everyone loves to play and hates to lose. Nearly all of these can be purchased online or in stores; thrift stores are also a good place to check for more unique games or neat card decks to try out. These games are ranked from the least to most likely to start a debate about the rules and who won.

Uno
Marbles
Mancala
Connect Four
Dominoes
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Candy Land
Chutes and Ladders
Operation
Don’t Break the Ice
Sorry!
Jenga
Battleship
Checkers
Chess
Twister
The Game of Life
Scrabble
Clue
Monopoly

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

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Happy holidays from The Howl

The Western Howl’s favorite holiday traditions

The Western Howl Collective

Every family celebrates the holidays differently, and the staff at The Western Howl are no exception. Though some traditions may be affected by COVID-19 this year, the memories of past celebrations can carry us through whatever this December brings. Here are our staff’s personal family traditions, and we hope this holiday season brings comfort and joy to all.

Stephanie Moschella

On every Christmas Eve, my entire family would go to my grandmother’s house to spend the day there. Afterwards, we would go home, open one singular present before going to bed. Then, on Christmas Day, my immediate family would open all of our presents, eat some fast food (usually Taco Bell or Jack in the Box) and then head over to my grandfather’s house. It is always a busy couple of days, but a great way to make it feel like you’re receiving, giving and opening a lot more presents!

Cora McClain

For my family, Christmas Eve is taken up by wrapping presents while “White Christmas” plays in the background. Come Christmas morning, all that wrapping (and stockings, which we always do first) has been undone, then it’s time for a full breakfast feast. Afterwards, we get ready and zoom down to my great aunt’s house, where the family (10 to 14 of us) gathers often. Following a potluck feast of festive foods, we move upstairs for dessert ⏤ often the grandchildren serving the grans ⏤ and open Christmas poppers. When these little wrapped cylinders pop open, a paper crown, little toy or game and joke fly out. The rest of the evening we play the games and read the jokes out loud while wearing our crowns and eating homemade apple pie.

Rylie Horrall

On Christmas Eve, my family goes up to my grandparents house (on my dad’s side) and we chat and have a big dinner with some extended family. Then we do gifts before everyone heads home to put their kids to bed. My family and I take shifts in the living room to wrap presents ⏤ since we can’t do it all at once ⏤ before going to bed. In the morning, my dad wakes us all up and gives us coffee, then we open our presents before heading to my grandparents’ (mom’s side) house to do the same thing. Then we head home, eat brunch and watch Christmas movies before heading back over there for dinner and games!

Sydney Carpenter

During the holiday season, my family has always done one of those chocolate advent calendars that count down the days ’till Christmas. Each year, my dad and I go to our local supermarket and pick one that has the numbers scattered rather than in order, because that makes it a little more challenging to find. At night, my dad and I sit in the living room and search for the hidden number. When I was younger, I was allowed to eat the entire piece of chocolate after we found it; but sharing is caring y’all, it’s the season of giving. Now, when we find it we always split the chocolate in half.

Kyle Morden

The holiday season is full of many festivities for my family — it’s our favorite season. During the first week of December, there’s a birthday for us to celebrate from Dec. 1 to Dec. 10. I’m not entirely sure how our birthdays were lined up like that, but it happened — at least we can annoy our neighbors by blasting our karaoke machine for more than a week. My family also celebrates Christmas and New Years by having parties at my grandparents’ house; once again, we blast our karaoke machine. Basically, my entire family sings throughout the holiday season — it’s the best way for us to let it all go after a long and stressful year.

Allison Vanderzanden

A few weeks before Christmas, my family goes out to cut down a tree, and we spend the day listening to Christmas CDs and decorating the entire house. On Christmas Day, my parents have always made us wait to open presents until after church and breakfast cinnamon rolls. We all spend the morning opening presents — my husky included as she loves to tear up tissue paper — then we usually spend a couple hours setting up our new electronics or playing a new game. We have ham for dinner, but usually skip dessert as my birthday is the following day and my sibling’s the next, and we know we’ll have plenty of cake to get through.

Natalie Dean

Besides the normal stockings and tree decorating, my family comes together through cooking, normally for big holiday dinners. We’ll make a bunch of dishes through the month, and normally there’s a few people helping cook by cutting vegetables or making sure the kitchen doesn’t burn down. Some staple menu items include roasts and stews, cornbread or banana bread, carrot cake and pumpkin pie, fried okra and gumbo. My mom’s birthday is mid-December and we celebrate as a family and make sure it feels special but distinct from Christmas Day. For Christmas Eve, we relax with hot cocoa and each open one gift. At some point, I make my brother help me bake cookies for Santa. We wake up early on Christmas Day to grab coffee and make breakfast, and then open presents together.

Sean Martinez

On Christmas Eve, my mom and I sit down and watch a new movie that neither of us have seen, followed by “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Then on Christmas Day, my mom and I have our own little gift exchange, before heading over to my grandma and grandpa’s house to celebrate with the family. Every year, it’s me and Mom, my grandparents, my uncle and my cousins. We always open our presents around noon, have lunch and spend the rest of the day just chatting with the TV on in the background.

Kiara Wehrenberg

The holidays usually always look a little different every year, but they always include time with the family! Every year would include me, my dad and other family members coming together at my grandmother’s house Christmas Day to eat dinner together and open presents. The Christmas season also includes plenty of movies like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” and “A Christmas Story” with a cup of hot cocoa.

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Heartfelt holiday gifts

Low and no-cost presents for this season of giving

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

The holiday season can quickly burn a hole in your pockets by the time gift shopping has been completed. But there are numerous heartfelt gifts to give that cost little to no money and still bring the holiday joy. Consider these low and no-cost thoughtful presents for friends and family this year.

Art piece: Having a knack for art — whether it be drawing, painting or crafting — can make for personalized and low-cost gifts. Depending on one’s skill set, ask loved ones for their favorite flowers, quotes, animal or character and create something special for them.

Memory jar: Use sticky notes or strips of paper to write down some favorite memories between one another. Roll or fold the notes up and place them in a jar or similar container. Decorate the jar if desired with sequins, twine, stickers or lettering.

Mixtape or playlist: Though cassette tapes are pretty outdated, the thought behind making a music mix for someone can translate to today’s era. If the gift receiver has a way to play them, make a cassette tape or CD and design a fun cover. Otherwise, create a playlist on their preferred music streaming service, and get creative by sticking to a theme. This could be the gift receiver’s favorite genre, songs that lift their spirits or songs that remind the maker of the receiver.

Offer services: Time can be one of the most useful gifts to all in our busy lives. If one has time to spare, write out a coupon book of services which the gift receiver can redeem for future use. These services could include babysitting or pet sitting, cooking meals, cleaning or yard work.

“Open when…” letters: Take some time to write personalized letters for the gift receiver to open in the future. Choose a number of specific occasions, such as “Open when you need a pep talk” or “Open when something worth celebrating has happened,” and write letters and notes to put into individual envelopes. Gather all the letters in a nice box to present to the gift receiver.

Personalized journal: Buying a journal, planner or sketchbook can be useful for many types of people. These kinds of presents can be made more personal by writing a note on the front page: give them some words of encouragement or best wishes, or draw them a picture.

Recipe cards: For families and friends who share their love through cooking, consider designing recipe cards for one another. Choose a personal favorite recipe and decorate a note card with the recipe written on it. If there are too many recipes to choose from, create multiple cards and compile them with a binder ring.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

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Resources for tough times during the holidays

What to do when the holiday blues strike

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

There’s no amount of eggnog, Hallmark movies or peppermint bark that can fully cure the holiday blues. There are great parts of the holidays, don’t get me wrong. Half the fun is in buying gifts for family and friends, drinking too much hot chocolate and cozying up in bed to sleep the day away.

The overall Christmas cheer and elaborate colorful lights around town do help ease the gloomy, cold days that have set in. There’s no denying that this year has been a whirlwind, and with everything combined, the encroaching Yuletide can sometimes feel like an emotional tsunami. The reality is that sometimes the holidays are just plain difficult, even if it can generally be a positive time. We’re only human, and everyone is just trying their best with what they’ve got. How we deal with trying times is ultimately up to us, but there are resources available to prepare for the upcoming holidays and New Year.

Financial stress and food insecurity can affect many people during their life, and extra help can be the difference between eating some nights versus not. Western has its own Food Pantry, and updates can be found on their Facebook and Instagram page, @WOUFoodPantry.

There’s also a comprehensive list of food pantries and hunger relief organizations in Marion and Polk County that can be found at https://marionpolkfoodshare.org/get-help/. Services like these are available to anyone facing any level of food insecurity. This website lists the name of the organization, as well as their address and phone number, and their hours of operation.

There are many helplines and text services that can potentially help those who need someone to listen, talk to or get additional help. It can be extremely difficult to ask for help when needed the most, and if you or someone you love could benefit from these hotlines, don’t be afraid to just check these out. If they aren’t quite what you’re looking for, that’s okay too.

SAMHSA National Helpline: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration can direct people to helpful resources, treatment facilities and support groups in the area at any time. Call 1-800-662-4357.
NEDA Helpline: National Eating Disorders Association offers confidential support for anyone coping with an eating disorder, or for concerns about disordered eating habits and actions. There’s also a chat option on their website, nationaleatingdisorders.org/. Available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (ET) Monday through Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) Friday. For their crisis support, call 1-800-931-2237 or text ‘NEDA’ to 741741.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: Confidential assistance with trained professionals for people experiencing domestic violence, or questioning if they’re in an abusive relationship. There’s also an online chat on their website, thehotline.org/. Call 1-800-799-7233 or text ‘LOVEIS’ to 22522 at any time.
Veteran Crisis Line: For veterans and service members in crisis, there are specially-trained VA responders available at any time. Call 1-800-273-8255 or text 838255.
NSPH Hotline: National Suicide Prevention connects people to local crisis centers and offers confidential support from trained staff at any time. Call 1-800-273-8255.

The holidays are stressful in general and there’s a lot going on in the world, and it’s perfectly normal to have days where you’re feeling anxious or down in the dumps. The holiday blues affect more people than we realize, but if you or someone you love is seriously struggling, please reach out to these resources and to those around you. If it is ever a true emergency, call 911. From one human being to another, just get through the day as best as you can. Acknowledge your needs for today, take care of yourself, and reach out to family and friends. Know that the sun will always rise and set, and we can try again tomorrow.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

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Take a sip of egg nog when …

The Western Howl Staff

Take a sip of egg nog when …

A family member complains about COVID-19

Someone mentions Kate Brown

A cousin wears a tail to dinner

Any family member impulse-buys off Amazon after a single recommendation

Someone tries to hit the high note in Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” and fails

If one of your younger cousins tries to hit the woah

A family member says the votes need to be recounted

A baby spits up and everyone says ‘awwww’

Your aunty shows off your baby cousin but it’s ugly :/

You film a tiktok (drink again if you post it)

You get socks as a gift

If your uncle brags way too much about the money he saved by going to Disney World during COVID

Your family still decides to invite those “family friends” you hardly know to dinner

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Navigating cuffing season under quarantine

Tips for staying sane when visiting family

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an isolating time for people; being stuck indoors and needing to quarantine after contact has negatively affected the social health of some. Those who participate in cuffing season have suffered the consequences, having to weigh the risk of in person dating against a growing need for physical touch. For those still pursuing that special someone to spend the winter with, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Video calls and chatting over direct message is the safest option for dating, but the goal of cuffing season is to find a partner to hunker down with in the cold weather. So, before meeting in person for a date, have both partners agree to quarantine for 14 days as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. Even after meeting in person, try to keep social circles small to contain the spread of COVID.

Communication is especially important to stay protected this year. Ask partners about their social distancing practices and recent exposure to large groups. Alongside this, be open and firm about personal comfort levels regarding being out in public.

Go on low-risk dates; at home activities like baking, TV binging and ordering takeout dinners are safest, but there are a few other options. Enjoy a local park by going for a walk or having a picnic — just don’t forget to bundle up. Drive around to see holiday lights or catch a drive-in movie.

Cuffing season can still go on as long as certain precautions are taken. Be mindful of the health of all those involved so that one another’s company can be enjoyed safely.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

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Navigating cuffing season under quarantine

How to snag a significant other during COVID

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

Cuffing season can still go on as long as certain precautions are taken. Be mindful of the health of all those involved so that one another’s company can be enjoyed safely.

Contact the author at avanderzanden19@mail.wou.edu

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Christmas events to rock your stockings

Celebrate the season in style

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

There’s no shortage of holiday events in Oregon that anyone can go to ⏤ including virtual and drive-thru events as well as in person events with social distancing measures.

First, is the virtual ScanFair from Nov. 29 through Dec. 6, where shoppers can find handcrafted gifts from online vendors. There will be a great variety of vendors, including Gnome Werks Toys, Swedecraft and Folk Art of Norway. Extra information on this virtual holiday event can be found at nordicnorthwest.org/scanfair.

The holiday fun doesn’t stop there; families can visit Santa at the Riverfront Carousel in Salem at “Santa’s Carousel Workshop,” where participants can snap a few pictures with ol’ Saint Nick before he returns to the North Pole. Visits are always free, and folks can look into the many photo options they have. There must be no more than six people in one group, but there are also options for virtual visits from Santa. Anyone can schedule Zoom meetings or get a custom video message from Santa, where it would be available to view on Christmas Eve.

If nothing else, make sure to send a letter to Santa this year, so he can decide if you’ve been naughty or nice. Forms for the letters are on their website or in person next to Santa’s bright red mailbox by the carousel. More information and details on reservations are located at, salemcarousel.wixsite.com/salemcarousel/santa-at-the-carousel.

Even though the holidays will look a little different this year at the Portland Zoo, that won’t stop this year’s special drive-thru experience and holiday get-together. ZooLights Drive shows off the elaborate display of 1.5 million lights that are strung throughout the zoo. Viewers can take in the eleven brilliant light displays, some of which include: fantasy lane, glowing grove and light tree lane. This event will run from Nov. 23 to Jan. 10, 2021, with the exception of Dec. 25. Tickets range in price and can be purchased up to seven days in advance on their website, shop.oregonzoo.org/#/SpecialEvents.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

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Say hey to Santa at the online 53rd annual tree lighting ceremony

Enjoy the upcoming holiday tree lighting event online

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

The holiday season and a pandemic don’t make for the most ideal of conditions, but there are still plenty of local holiday events for people to enjoy at home.

One staple of the holiday season in Monmouth is the 53rd annual tree lighting ceremony, a live broadcast of the massive Sequoia Tree that sits on the lawn of Campbell Hall. For many students at Western, especially first-years, getting bundled up and braving the cold to see the lights is essentially a rite of passage.

This year, staff and students get to enjoy the comforts of home and spread the holiday spirit since it will be an online event. It will be held on Friday, Nov. 20 from 6 to 7 p.m. and can be found at wou.edu/livestream, or on wouTV. So get a blanket, cocoa or some apple cider to settle in.

Along with the view of the lights on the tree, both of the mayors from Monmouth and Independence ⏤ along with President Rex Fuller ⏤ will be reading a winning essay by a local Monmouth elementary school student. Don’t forget to catch a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Clause who will be at the event to supervise and say hello, but it has not been confirmed if they will be riding in on the reindeer pulling the sled.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

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Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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