chalica

Activities for Day Four

CZ

The fourth principle is A free and responsible search for truth and meaning or We search for what is true.

Here are some activities to help you celebrate:

As a family

Have a discussion about religion. What do your children believe? Parents, be aware that children,up until the age of 12, tend to take on the beliefs of their parents. For a lively discussion about religion you may want to let your children speak first, and play devil’s advocate.

Unitarian Universalism is a very long name, and not many people know much about it. Create an elevator, or play ground, speech so you can tell people what it means to be a UU in one minute or less.

Learn some history or do a science experiment together.

As an Individual

Talk with a friend about their beliefs. How are they different than yours? Keep an open mind; who knows, you may find something that rings true for you!

Enjoy coloring some religious symbols like this one found here.

Listen to a podcast from The Pamphlet so you can learn more about UU history.

Food

Different religions have different traditions when it comes to food and the celebration of holidays.Choose one religion and explore their winter holiday through their food. For example, you may make latkes in honor of Chanukah. Just don’t forget to learn about Chanukah along the way!

Activities for Day 3

CZ

The Third Principle is Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations or We’re free to learn together.

Here are some activities to help you celebrate:

As a family
Pick up a game no one in your family has ever played before. Learn how to play it together.

Talk about your beliefs with each other and how they have changed and grown through the years.

As an Individual
Attend a lecture, go to the museum, see a play. Then, strike up a conversation with the people around you. If you go to school, offer assistance to a fellow student, and accept assistance as well.

Color some mandalas to practice mindfulness.

Meditate or pray.

Food
As a family, or with a friend, attempt to cook something you never have before. It might work out, or you might be ordering pizza. It doesn’t matter as long as you make the attempt!

 

Activities for Day 2

CZ

The second principle is about Justice, equity and compassion in human relations or Being kind in all we do.

Here are some activities to help you celebrate the day:

As a family
Try to go the whole day without arguing. Focus on putting the wants and needs of your brother/ sister/ mother/ father/ husband/ wife before your own.

Make little gift baskets for the kids or the elderly in your neighborhood. One of our neighbors made our son an Easter basket (also a Halloween and Christmas basket). It made our son, my wife and me feel great. The cost of each basket was probably $5.

Donate Toys or books.

As an individual
Through Send Kids the World you can send postcards to the siblings of seriously ill children. Siblings often don’t understand what is going on and feel left out because of all the attention and cards a sick sibling receives. (Scroll down the web page and look for the link on the left side.)

“Want me to pick something up for you?” If you know someone is overwhelmed – perhaps by a new baby, family health issues, or something else – give them a call when you’re going out to the store. Ask if they’d like you to pick something up. We’ve been the beneficiaries of this random act of kindness, and it’s great.

Food
Offer to buy someone else food.

Pay for the next person in the drive-through.

Go out to eat and tip your server double.

Activities for Day One

CZ

The first principle is  believing the inherent worth and dignity of every person or Each Person is Important.

Here are some activities that can help you celebrate the worth and dignity of everyone.

As an Individual
As the principle states, “Each person is important.” That means you too! Do something special for yourself today.

Food
Gather family or friends and plan a meal where everyone’s favorite food is represented. Spaghetti with a side of jelly beans? Why not, it’s the first night of Chalica!

Gifts
The adult version of this principle states that we believe in “the inherent worth and dignity of every person.” So, what makes the people in your life special? For each person in your circle, write down what you love most about them. Then, give each person their list.

 

Monday Starts Chalica

CZ

Chalica is a week-long celebration of our Unitarian Universalist Principles. The holiday first emerged in 2005 out of a wish to have a holiday organized around Unitarian Universalist values.

Chalica begins on the first Monday in December and lasts seven days. Each day, a chalice is lit and the day is spent reflecting on the meaning of that day’s principle and doing a good deed that honors that principle. Not all Unitarian Universalists celebrate Chalica, but it has a growing following. There is a Chalica Facebook page, blog, and many Chalica-themed videos on YouTube.

Here is an article from  UU World about it.

This year we will have two daily blog posts each day, one that will have ideas for activities for each principle and one with a devotion for the day.

 

Hope you enjoy celebrating this unique holiday with us.

Namaste,
Cricket