A new UU holiday.
This idea originally came from a 2007 Facebook event invitation by Daylene Marshall that was passed around among UU Facebook users (you'll need a username and password though to view the invite directly on Facebook). The original text of the invite is included here for ease of viewing:
Contributed by: Daylene Marshall
Overview: Chalica is seven days long and
runs from the first Monday in December through to Sunday. Each day represents a
different Unitarian Principle, a chalice is lit each day and gift(s) are given
and received. Gifts can be made, bought, verbal, written, acts, shared/personal
celebrations. One can have seven different chalices or one common
chalice.
Theme: Chalica - Celebration of the Flame
Materials:
Varies, please see the Detailed Description
Details: The days are as
follows:
Monday: We light our chalice for the inherent worth and dignity
of every person.
- Give gift(s) to honour those you do not understand / agree
with / like. Examples:
- a thank-you card celebrating differences
-
words of forgiveness / apology
- a peace offering such as inviting someone to
diner
- help someone in need
Tuesday: We light our chalice for
justice, equity and compassion in human relations.
- Give gift(s) to honour
those in your local community that are less fortunate.
Examples:
- spend
time in a soup kitchen
- donate clothes to a worthy organization
- display
kindness and care to those around you
- take part in a political
demonstration at city hall
Wednesday: We light our chalice foracceptance
of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
-
Give gift(s) to honour fellow Unitarians and their spiritual
journey.
Examples:
- a chalice / book / hymnal
- extend words of peace
or forgiveness to a fellow Unitarian with whom you may have hurt / not
understood in the past
- offer / take part in an event at your church / with
your congregation
- church potluck
Thursday: We light our chalice for
a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
- Give gift(s) to honour
another tradition, to honour education
Examples:
- offer / take part in an
event that celebrates another religion / tradition
- teach someone something
you know and love
- learn something new from someone else
- give a book /
read a book
Friday: We light our chalice for the right of conscious and
the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at
large.
- Give gift(s) to honour democracy
Examples:
- help a political
party
- write your government
- help a committee at church
- host a
dinner / party to celebrate democracy
Saturday: We light our chalice for
the goal of world peace, liberty and justice for all.
- Give gift(s) to
honour our global community
Examples:
- volunteer with an organization
that has global influence
- write a letter for amnesty international
-
help your social justice committee hold a fundraiser
- donate to a cause such
as UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, etc.
Sunday: We light our chalice for
respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
-
Give gift(s) to our earth and/or its creatures
Examples:
- start a
compost
- recycle bottles and cans and donate the money to an environmental /
animal aid society
- rescue an animal from a shelter
- hold an outdoor
worship service (dress warm/bonfire)