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This calendar
includes dates commonly celebrated by Unitarian
congregations and those recommended by our Social
Responsibility Monitoring Groups as ways to bring
awareness and education to our congregations and
beyond. Our Social Responsibility Monitoring Groups
circulate information and suggestions related to those
dates in advance of the day each year. To see related
resolutions, statements, contact information and
suggestions for marking, go to the
Social
Responsibility area of our website.
January
January 6 - Epiphany;
Twelfth Night
Wassailing - an
Anglo-Saxon/Norse tradition.
February: Black History
Month
February 11 – Equal Marriage Working Group
(Gender and Sexual Diversity)
Anniversary of the first same-sex “marriage” in
Winnipeg
in 1974.
The CUC Environment Monitoring Group recommends
that every
congregation initiate a resolution for adoption of
the Earth Charter on or before Earth Day 21 April
2006.
www.earthcharter.org
March-April Easter
June 21
– Racial and First Nations Equity Monitoring
Group
National Aboriginal Rights Day
September - Ingathering/Water
Ceremony
Many of our congregations celebrate the beginning of
the new church year by having people bring water
from near or far to mingle with the water brought by
others. This marks the end of summer and our coming
together again as one religious community.
September 22 -
Alternatives to Drug Prohibition Monitoring Group
Anniversary of opening of safe injection site in
Vancouver,
BC in 2003
October 16
- World Food Day
Supported by the World Food Day sub-group of the
CUC's Economic Justice Monitoring Group
October 27 – Social Responsibility Council of
Chairs
Religious Freedom Day – Anniversary of the death of
Michael Servetus
Servetus International Society
http://www.servetus.org/
Out of the Flames, Randomhouse
http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?0767908376
European observation of the
October 27th anniversary of Servetus' death by fire
produced this powerful statement concerning his
defense of religious liberty.
http://www.miguelservet.org/servetus/manifesto.htm
November 11 - Remembrance
Day
Poetry and Readings by Canadian Unitarians
November 25 – Buy Nothing Day Working Group
(Environment)
Friday following American Thanksgiving is the peak
shopping day of the year. Perhaps Canadian
congregations would celebrate on Boxing Day as an
alternative.
http://www.adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/
Religious Education resources on Buy Nothing Day and
Voluntary Simplicity
http://cuc.ca/canuue/CANUUE_winter_2005_3.pdf
December
Many Unitarian congregations celebrate throughout the
winter holiday season. While each congregation has its
own traditions, many will have some or all of: an
Advent worship service or concert; a Children's
pageant on the Sunday before Christmas; a Winter
Solstice or Yule Ritual; a Christmas Eve Service; a
New Year's Eve "Watchnight Service". Some will
acknowledge world religions as one of our sources by
also offering celebrations, worship services or
educational events around Diwali, Ramadan, Hanukkah.
Further explanation of Unitarian connections to the
Winter Holidays can be found in the following resource
booklet:
Season and Solstice -
A
Unitarian Interpretation of the Midwinter Festival
December 21 Winter
Solstice/Yule
December 25 Christmas
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