A Letter From the Editor: What the Holidays Really Mean

Andrew Pennybacker, Editor in Chief

December 18, 2025

Sometimes the best reminder of the real meaning of the season is listening to the wisdom of kids.

The holiday season, for many, is the best time of year — minus the cold weather. When the holidays enter my mind, I envision three ideals: presents, food, and family.

There’s the anticipation of opening — or, for some, ripping open presents. There’s endless excitement of what’s behind the wrapping paper in every present you pick up.

Then, there’s the food, such as at Thanksgiving: everyone’s favorites piled onto one monstrous plate. You can’t sleep on the Christmas food, either.

All of this brings you to family. Personally, both sides of my family are on the larger side. During Thanksgiving and Christmas family meals, upwards of 40 aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins attend. There are many things to look forward to during the holiday season, although they mean something different to everyone. This may range from spending time with family that you seldom see to excitement over material items as you rip back the wrapping paper your loved ones spent hours organizing.

Our counselors here at Wheeling Park High School are no exception to this. Mrs. Jones weighs in that not every family’s Christmas is as full of cheer and happiness as most.

“Working in a school…makes you understand that the holidays can be…hard emotionally for some students. That doesn’t mean we don’t celebrate with our families, but we need to be thoughtful of others. Help, donate, and, above all, be kind,” said Jones.

Junior Joeyana Strothers also talks about what the holidays mean to her.

“[The holidays mean] spending time with family that I don’t normally see. It means showing gratitude and love to the people…I love and spend time with,” said Strothers.

Everybody celebrates the holiday season differently. Personally, I have grown up in mostly non-religious Christmas celebrations. The only religious Christmas tradition I have is at my Grandma’s house, where she has a small tabletop nativity scene. She has stored away the miniature baby Jesus until Christmas morning annually since I was a toddler, and has taken a picture of me placing Him in the nativity scene each year.

For some, the religious meaning of the holidays is deeper, as Will Medovic details in his spotlight on religious Christmas celebrations. What Claire McFadden explains in her side of Christmas celebrations is similar to the Christmases I’ve experienced. We have always hosted my dad’s side of the family at our house on Christmas Eve, where we spend time with family and open presents rather than attending church services like many. However you celebrate and whatever you celebrate, remember that the holidays mean a little something different for everyone.

We at The Park Press would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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About the Contributors

Andrew Pennybacker, Editor in Chief

Andrew is a senior at Wheeling Park High School and the Editor in Chief for the 2025-2026 school year. He was a Copy Editor for the last two years and he has been a staff member at The Park Press since the first day of freshman year. He was also Editor in Chief his 8th grade year in middle school for the Viking Voices. In fifth grade, he was a finalist for the young writers contest. Andrew is an avid golfer, and has played a few of the country’s best golf courses. He was a member of the 2022 West Virginia State Championship winning golf team. Andrew is the self proclaimed Park Press’ resident golfer. In addition to this, he became a Freshman Mentor at the start of his junior year. From Kindergarten to 5th grade, Andrew only missed 5 words on all of the spelling tests combined.

Ella Wheeler, Assistant Designer

Ella Wheeler is a sophomore staff writer for The Park Press. Ella is very skilled in talking when she is not supposed to, along with being absolutely hilarious. Previously, she has written an assortment of grocery lists throughout the years, making her extremely qualified to write for The Park Press. Outside of school, Ella has also tried almost every sport under the sun, and is still not very skilled or liked in any of them. One that she has taken a liking for is golf. She is currently sitting in the Top 6 players on the girls team. Ella also participates in the Wheeling Park Speech and Debate team which is extremely successful.

Addison Wall, Staff Writer

Addison Wall is a junior staff writer for the Park Press. She has tried out many extracurricular activities in her life, such as soccer, volleyball, cheer, and theatre…but there is nothing she enjoys more than fangirling over her favorite celebrities. Addison is a lover of many music artists, including Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, and many more. Some of her other favorite activities include driving on back roads while listening to music, playing guitar, Facetiming her friends, traveling (specifically to NYC), and shopping. Addison hopes to bring her love for consuming large amounts of information about random things into her writing this year at the Park Press.

Elliana McCabe, Copy Editor

Elliana McCabe is a junior at Wheeling Park High School and a Copy Editor for the Park Press. Elliana is a three-year member of the Press, as well as a three-year member of both the girls’ varsity swim and soccer teams. She is also a member of the American Cancer Society, the Women’s Empowerment Club, the Wheeling Park strings program, a freshman mentor, and a REAP counselor. Outside of school, you’ll find Elliana at the gym, on the soccer fields as a referee, or at Wheeling Hospital as a volunteer. She is excited to be back writing for the 2025-2026 school year.