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.�Few�publications�overlook�marking�these�events�in�some�fashion�each�year.�For�some�publications,�entire�issues�may�be�built�upon�the�season�or�holiday.�For�others,�a�brief�article�may�be�sufficient.�But�for�most,�something�in�between�is�preferred.Unusual�perspectives�are�often�what�it�takes�to�get�a�reader's�attention�to�a�routine�seasonal�event.�The�Lewiston�Morning�Tribune�in�Idaho�published�a�season�feature�series�about�individuals�in�the�community�who�gave�their�time,�love,�and�energy�to�helping�others�in�the�spirit�of�the�season.�The�series�of�features�was�based�on�individuals�suggested�to�the�newspaper�by�friends�and�colleagues.�Writer�Rebecca�Huntington�(1997)�wrote�a�700�word�feature�that�took�a�unique�approach�to�the�holidays.�Here's�how�she�began�the�story:MOSCOW Abdul�Mannan�Sheikh�invited�1,000�people�to�Thanksgiving�dinner.While�only�50�actually�took�him�up�on�the�offer,�Sheikh�is�planning�a�future�Thanksgiving�celebration�that�will�fill�the�Kibbie�Dome�or�Palouse�Empire�Mall."It�won't�be�very�long�the�way�I'm�brainstorming."He�envisions�everyone�bringing�their�own�prepared�food�and�sitting�down�together�as�a�community."Where�I�come�from,�Pakistan,�on�the�holidays�people�come�out�and�do�it�together.�I�like�to�have�people�feel�the�whole�community�is�a�family."Sheikh�moved�to�Moscow�30�years�ago�after�deciding�to�complete�his�doctorate�degree�at�the�University�of�Idaho.�He�now�owns�a�tour�bus�business.�The�Sheikhs�have�been�inviting�friends�and�strangers�alike�to�Thanksgiving�dinner�since�1976.�When�the�dinners�outgrew�their�home,�they�moved�them�to�the�Latah�County�4�H�building."Thanksgiving�in�Islam�is�encouraged�to�be�done�all�the�time,�every�day,�every�month,�the�whole�year,�all�the�life.�God�has�blessed�us�with�so�many�things."Sheikh's�dream�dinner�would�bring�people�of�all�different�colors,�faiths,�genders�and�economic�backgrounds�to�one�place.�To�Sheikh,�that's�the�beginning�of�"real�justice�and�equality�for�all,"�values�Americans�pledge�daily�in�classrooms�and�at�sporting�events. Page�207"Jews,�Christians�and�Muslims�have�many�similar�beliefs.�Giving�and�sharing�is�encouraged�in�all�religion"�.�.�.�.�(p.�5A)For�a�beginning�feature�writer,�perhaps�one�of�the�more�basic�articles�to�master�is�a�seasonal�feature�article,�no�matter�what�section�or�what�time�of�the�year.�These�articles�are�necessary�throughout�the�year�and�appear�in�just�about�every�part�of�every�newspaper,�magazine,�and�newsletter,�and�there�are�ample�opportunities�to�write�them."Seasonal�articles�are�not�particularly�hard�to�write in�fact,�I�think�they�are�easier�than�general�articles,"�says�veteran�seasonal�article�writer�Clinton�Parker�(1975).�"They�do�require�a�certain�depth�of�research,�however,�and�absolute�historical�accuracy.�That's�why�it�is�best�to�specialize�in�a�particular�event�or�field.�Once�you�have�done�the�basic�reading�for�the�specialty,�the�articles�are�much�easier�to�write"�(p.�44).Whether�you�specialize�in�seasonal�articles�or�not,�you�will�find�that�much�of�your�feature�article�writing�is�controlled�by�the�calendar.�Newspapers,�magazines,�and�newsletters�run�features�to�highlight�special�events�on�the�calendar�each�year.�Readers�expect�it.�Seasonal�features�are�not�much�different�from�the�other�types�of�features.�In�fact,�you�will�probably�mix�some�of�the�different�elements�and�types�of�feature�articles�when�writing�a�seasonal�article.�There�may�be�humorous�seasonal�stories.�Or�highly�personalized�stories.�Or�stories�with�great�human�interest�elements.�Or�a�review�of�traditional�holiday�season�music,�food,�or�dance.�This�chapter�focuses,�however,�on�the�context�of�the�article�regardless�of�the�approach�taken.One�significant�point�is�that�seasonal�features�should�reflect�the�tone�and�the�theme�of�the�season.�Local�customs�and�traditions�largely�dictate�this.�A�seasonal�feature�can�be�ruined�with�the�wrong�approach.�It�would�be,�obviously,�in�poor�taste�to�write�an�irreverent�feature�about�the�military�for�Memorial�Day�or�Veteran's�Day.�Then�again,�a�newspaper�reporter�or�magazine�writer�who�does�not�try�to�be�especially�creative�and�tricky�on�April�Fool's�Day�or�Halloween�is�completely�missing�the�point�of�those�special�days.It�is�not�unusual�for�newspapers�to�run�several�seasonal�articles�at�the�beginning�and�during�a�major�holiday�season.�Chris�Reidy,�Boston�Globe�staff�writer,�and�Kathy�McCabe,�a�Globe�correspondent,�teamed�with�Globe�correspondents�Patricia�Resende�and�Jo�Ann�Johnston�to�write�about�the�first�day�of�the�holiday�shopping�season the�day�after�Thanksgiving in�the�Boston�area.�Here's�their�story: Page�208Nancy�Keating�of�Medford�is�the�kind�of�person�who�makes�retailers�nervous.On�the�traditional�first�day�of�the�holiday�shopping�season,�she�was�nowhere�near�a�mall�or�a�store
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