Thinking Day Ceremonies
WORLD TREFOIL PIN CEREMONY FOR THINKING DAY
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
February 22nd is an important date for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. It is the birthday of both Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting Movement, and his wife, Lady Olave Baden-Powell. In 1926, February 22 became known as Thinking Day. On Thinking Day, more than 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, living in 145 countries take time to reflect on the World Association (WAGGGS) and their sisters around the world. The Girl Scouts in your Troop (registered adults included) should have the World Trefoil Pin. It is worn above the Girl Scout Membership Pin (Daisy, Brownie, or Girl Scout Pin) and may be presented at the end of this ceremony.
MATERIALS FOR THIS CEREMONY: For visual effect, borrow the WAGGGS Flannel graph (flannel board pin with pieces to assemble) from the Resource Room or make one with your troop and assemble it as the meaning of the parts are read. A simple alternative is to display an enlargement of the World Trefoil Pin, and point to the parts of the pin as they are described in the ceremony.
PROCEDURE: The Troop stands in a horseshoe formation. World Pin is displayed or flannelgraph is assembled on a wall or table.
LEADER: This horseshoe in which we stand symbolizes the open friendship circle. In the open end stand our sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from around the world. We can not see them, but they are here in spirit with thoughts of friendship for all of us. The pin you are about to receive is a symbol of this worldwide bond. Its purpose is to encourage friendship between girls of all nations. As you receive your pin, remember millions of girls all over the world will be receiving and wearing it also.
GIRL SCOUT 1: The World Association pin has a blue background. The blue stands for the sky above all of us, all over the world.
GIRL SCOUT 2: The gold trefoil stands for the sun shining on all of us. Its shape represents the three parts of the Promise.
GIRL SCOUT 3: The stars in the trefoil remind us of our Promise and Law, a basic philosophy of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world.
GIRL SCOUT 4: The upward pointing vein is the compass needle that guides us.
GIRL SCOUT 5: The base of the trefoil is shaped like a flame, which represents the love of humanity and the flame that burns in the hearts of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world.
LEADER (presents pin): Wear the World Trefoil Pin over your heart and above your Girl Scout Membership Pin. It is a symbol of your membership in the World Association and the friendship and unity of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world.
THINKING DAY FRIENDSHIP FLAME CEREMONY
MATERIALS:
1 tall candle (multicolored, if possible)
7 candles - all shapes, colors and sizes; candle log or candle holders
PROCEDURE: The first candle is placed in the holder and lighted by an adult. Girls hold the other candles, light them from the first candle, and place them in the holder.*
*Note: Girls should have hair tied back and be supervised closely.
FIRST CANDLE: Stars that shine together form a galaxy. Flowers that grow together create a garden. Buildings that stand together begin a city. People who work together make a difference. This is what valuing differences is all about. I light this candle for valuing differences.
SECOND CANDLE: I light this candle in friendship for all of the people who are older or younger, taller or smaller, richer or poorer than I.
THIRD CANDLE: I light this candle in friendship for all people who worship differently than I.
FOURTH CANDLE: I light this candle in friendship for all people of a different nationality or ethnicity than I.
FIFTH CANDLE: I light this candle in friendship for all people who are of a different color than I.
SIXTH CANDLE: I light this candle in friendship for all people who come from other countries than I.
SEVENTH CANDLE: I light this candle in friendship for all people who don't run, walk, see, hear, or learn the same as I.
EIGHTH CANDLE: I light this candle for me, for I am unique and special. Watch the flames closely. Please notice the light from each candle is the same as the others even though the outside of each is different. So, too, are all of us in the world. We wear different clothes, speak different languages, follow different religions or beliefs, like different foods and sing different songs. And yet, we all belong to the same human race. Inside we are all the same. We all wish to be recognized, we all wish to be called by name, we all wish to be loved, we all wish for friends and we all wish for peace. In the spirit of International understanding, we pledge ourselves to world friendship. In the spirit of International understanding, we pledge ourselves to peacemaking. Look wide! and, when you think you are looking wide, look wider still!
ALL: In the spirit of International understanding, we pledge ourselves to accept the challenge to look wider still.
