2008 Unitarian Universalist Holidays
(Includes Unitarian, Universalist,
Transcendentalist, Deist & Humanist Dates)
* 1/1: Day to meditate for peace throughout the world. [World Peace Day;
Universal Hour of Peace: 7:00-8:00 a.m. EST.]
* 1/4: Day ethnic discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1969); day to mourn
all manifestations of racism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination: signed/adopted 3/7/1966; entered into force 1/4/1969.]
* 1/12: Day genocide was outlawed world-wide (1951); day to mourn all victims
of genocide. [Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide: signed/adopted 12/9/1948; entered into force 1/12/1951.]
* 1/15 (Obs. 1/21): Birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929), Baptist
preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans.
[Death
day 4/4/1968]
* 1/20: World Religions Day--Day to contemplate all religions as different
paths to the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.
* 1/22: Day the Supreme Court recognized women's right to reproductive
autonomy (1973). [Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)]
* 1/29: Birthday of Thomas Paine (1737), Deist who recognized the inherent
rights of all men and women, and opposed non-democratic government. Deists
believe Deity to be consistent with Nature and reason. [Death day 6/8/1809]
[Deist] [a/k/a Common Sense Day]
* 1/31 eve to 2/4 eve: Mid-Winter/Groundhog's Day/Candlemas--Festival marking
the transformation from death to life - the beginning of the agricultural year,
awakening of hibernating animals, and return of migrating birds and fish.
Observed with a candlelight procession to bless fields and seeds, recognition of
newborns, and contemplation of life.
* 2/1 to 2/29: Ethnic Equality Month--Time to honor all peoples and their
positive traditions; time to meditate on the equality of all peoples, on the
respect due to them, and on God-Goddess manifesting as African, Asian, Oceanic,
Middle Eastern, European, Hispanic, and Native American. [Expands idea of
African-American History Month a/k/a Black History Month.]
* 2/12: Birthday of Charles Darwin (1809), biologist and evolutionary; day to
meditate on the unity of science and spirituality. [Death day 4/19/1882] [U.U./Unitarian]
* 2/15: Birthday of Susan B. Anthony (1820), non-violent advocate for the
rights of women and African Americans. [Death day 3/13/1906] [U.U.] [a/k/a Susan
B. Anthony Day]
* 2/19: Day the President ordered the internment of loyal Japanese Americans
during World War II (1942); day to mourn Asian victims of internment and
exclusion (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Asian
Americans. [Executive Order 9066 was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.]
* 3/1: Day the production and use of landmines was outlawed world-wide
(1999); day to mourn their victims. [Protocol on Prohibition or Restrictions on
the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps, and Other Devices a/k/a Convention on Landmines
a/k/a Mine Ban Treaty, amending the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or
Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed
Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects: Treaty signed/adopted
10/10/1980; entered into force 12/2/1983; Protocol signed 12/3/1997; entered
into force 3/1/1999.] [The U.S. has refused to ratify the Protocol.] [There are
between 60 and 70 million landmines in the ground of 70+ countries. Landmines
maim or kill approximately 26,000 civilians each year, including 8,000 to 10,000
children. In the name of humanity, and for love of humanity (and especially the
children), U.U.s should renounce the production and use of landmines, and should
demand removal and destruction of all existing landmines.]
* 3/1 to 3/31: Gender Equality Month--Time to honor both genders; time to
meditate on the equality of women and men, on the respect due to both women and
men, and on Goddess-God manifesting as woman and man. [Expands idea of Women's
History Month.]
* 3/8: International Women's Day--Day to mourn victims of gender-based
oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's
empowerment.
* 3/9: Day slavery was outlawed world-wide (1927); day to mourn its continued
existence. [Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery: signed/adopted
9/25/1926; entered into force 3/9/1927.]
* 3/13: Birthday of Joseph Priestley (1733), Unitarian who found Biblical
basis for belief in a unitary Deity, and recognized Jesus to be Deity's Great
Prophet. [Death day 2/6/1804] [U.U./Unitarian]
* 3/16: Palm Sunday--Christian feast marking Savior Jesus' entrance into
Jerusalem to teach love and justice for all humanity and to sacrifice Himself
for the liberation and redemption of all.
* 3/20 (1:48 a.m. EDT): Spring Equinox--Marks the beginning of Spring and
point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates first, annual, and perpetual
creation with egg hunts and exchanges.
* 3/23: Easter/Pascha--Christian celebration of Lord Jesus' resurrection by
the power of the Holy Spirit. [Eggs are blessed and distributed.]
* 3/26: Day production and use of biological weapons was outlawed world-wide
(1975); day to mourn their victims. [Convention on the Prohibition of the
Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and
Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction a/k/a Biological Weapons Convention:
signed 4/10/1972; entered into force 3/26/1975.] [A working group of signatories
has been negotiating a draft Biological Weapons Convention Protocol since 1995,
to create an enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with the Convention. The
Protocol would authorize U.N. inspectors to inspect facilities for biological
weapons. On 7/25/2001, the U.S. repudiated the draft, but did not offer an
effective alternative.] [20 countries are believed to have current or past
biological weapons programs.] [In the name of humanity, and for love of humanity
(and especially the children), U.U.s should renounce the production,
acquisition, and use of biological weapons, and should demand destruction of all
existing weapons.]
* 3/30: Day the Constitution's 15th Amendment went into effect, recognizing
the right of all ethnic peoples to vote (1870). [The 15th Amendment was approved
by Congress on 2/26/1869 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed
in effect on 3/30/1870.]
* 4/1: Day that same-sex marriage was first legally recognized (2001).
[Same-sex marriage has been legalized in the Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003),
Spain (2005), and Canada (2005). Many countries recognize same-sex civil unions
or domestic partnerships (e.g., Denmark (1989), Norway (1993), Sweden (1995),
Greenland (1996), Hungary (1996), Iceland (1996), France (1999), South Africa
(1999), Germany (2001), Portugal (2001), Finland (2002), Liechtenstein (2002),
Croatia (2003), Israel (2004), Luxembourg (2004), New Zealand (2004), the United
Kingdom (2004), Switzerland (2005), Andorra (2005), and Slovenia (2005)). In the
U.S., the state supreme courts of Hawaii (1993), Vermont (1999), and
Massachusetts (2003) ruled that the bar to same-sex marriage violates their
state constitutions. Subsequently, Hawaii adopted (1998), and the Massachusetts
legislature proposed (2004), a constitutional amendment banning same-sex
marriage. The Hawaii and Vermont legislatures were given the option of
recognizing civil unions, which Hawaii (1997) and Vermont (2000) both adopted.
California (1999), D.C. (2002), New Jersey (2004), Maine (2004), and Connecticut
(2005) have also legalized same-sex civil unions or adopted same-sex domestic
partnership laws. However, some U.S. states have passed constitutional
amendments banning same-sex marriage (e.g., Alaska, Nevada, Missouri, Louisiana,
Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Kansas), and others have statutes or judicial
decisions banning same-sex marriage. A federal statute (Defense of Marriage Act
-- 1996) bans same-sex marriage under federal law and allows states to not
recognize same-sex marriages contracted elsewhere.] [Unitarian Universalist
churches perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.]
* 4/7: World Health Day--Day to pray for healing of all those chronically and
seriously ill; day to advocate for adequate health care for all. [Day the World
Health Organization (W.H.O.) was founded in 1948.]
* 4/7: Birthday of William Ellery Channing (1780), Unitarian who believed all
concepts of Deity to be aspects of the one Deity, and preached religious
tolerance. [Death day 10/2/1842] [U.U./Unitarian]
* 4/19 eve to 4/27 eve: Passover/Pesach--Jewish festival recalling their
deliverance from slavery in Egypt and celebrating freedom from oppression.
[Observed with dietary restrictions, the Seder meal (representing their
hardships), and recitation of the Haggadah (relating the Exodus).] [a/k/a Pesah,
Feast of Unleavened Bread]
* 4/22: Earth Day--Day to honor the Earth and to meditate on Deity
manifesting as Mother Earth. [a/k/a International Earth Day, National Earth Day]
* 4/22: Day the world's nations guaranteed asylum to those persecuted in
their homelands on account of their ethnicity, religion, or political opinion
(1954). [Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: signed 7/28/1951;
entered into force 4/22/1954.]
* 4/27: Death day of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1882), Transcendentalist Unitarian
who believed in equality, self reliance, and the immanence of Deity in humans
and in all Nature. [Birthday 5/25/1803] [U.U./Unitarian/Transcendentalist]
* 4/29: Day production and use of chemical weapons was outlawed world-wide
(1997); day to mourn their victims. [Convention on the Prohibition of the
Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons a/k/a Chemical
Weapons Convention: signed 1/13/1993; entered into force 4/29/1997.] [26
countries are believed to have current or past chemical weapons programs.] [In
the name of humanity, and for love of humanity (and especially the children), U.U.s should renounce the production, acquisition, and use of chemical weapons,
and should demand destruction of all existing weapons.]
* 4/30: Birthday of Hosea Ballou (1771), Deist Universalist who preached that
all are Deity's beloved children. [He emphasized reason and spiritual piety, and
believed that Deity is eternal unchangeable love.] [Death day 6/7/1852] [U.U./Universalist
& Deist]
* 4/30 eve to 5/4 eve: Mid-Spring/May Day/Walpurgis--Celebrates sacred love
and the flowering vegetation by gathering flowers and dancing around a Maypole.
* 5/1: National Day of Prayer--Day to pray for freedom of expression, freedom
of religion, and separation of religion and government throughout the world.
* 5/2: Holocaust Remembrance Day--Day to mourn Jewish victims of genocide and
anti-Semitism, make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Jewish Americans.
[a/k/a
Yom Hashoa]
* 5/4: Birthday of Horace Mann (1796), advocate for universal nonsectarian
education. [Death day 8/2/1859] [U.U./Unitarian]
* 5/5: Cinco de Mayo--Day celebrating Mexico's struggle for independence; day
to mourn Hispanic victims of exploitation (past and present), make peace, and
celebrate empowerment of Hispanic Americans. [The Battle of Puebla occurred on
5/5/1862.]
* 5/10: Death day of Theodore Parker (1860), Unitarian slavery abolitionist
and social justice activist. [Birthday 8/24/1810] [U.U./Unitarian]
* 5/13: Day the Humanist Manifesto was published (1933). It exhorts people to
affirm life, not deny it; engage life, not flee from it; and work towards the
happiness of self and all. [The Humanist Manifesto asserts: humanity has evolved
and is part of Nature; there is no dualism separating mind and body; religious
culture has developed due to the environment; there is no distinction between
sacred and secular; the goal is complete realization of human personality in the
present life; people should focus on self-development and social work; there is
no correct religious attitude concerning belief in the supernatural; people
should learn to face life's crises as natural; people should work towards joy in
living; all institutions exist for the fulfillment of human life; the
profit-motivated society is inadequate--a socialized cooperative economic order
must be established; life should be affirmed, not denied; life should be
engaged, not fled from; people should work towards the happiness of all, not the
few.]
* 5/17: Day the Supreme Court concluded that ethnic-based segregation of
schools violates the U.S. Constitution (1954). [Brown v. Board of Education, 347
U.S. 483 (1954)]
* 5/20: Day the Supreme Court recognized that discrimination against lesbians
and gays violates the U.S. Constitution (1996). [Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620
(1996)]
* 5/21: Death day of Jane Addams (1935), social worker, feminist, and peace
advocate. [Birthday 9/6/1860] [U.U.]
* 5/23: Birthday of Margaret Fuller (1810), Transcendentalist and feminist
who argued that women, as well as men, have immortal souls. [Death day
7/19/1850] [U.U./Unitarian/Transcendentalist]
* 6/1 to 6/30: Gay and Lesbian Coming Out Month--Time to celebrate all forms
of love and family. [a/k/a Gay and Lesbian Pride Month]
* 6/5: World Environment Day--Day to mourn the harm done to Mother Earth
(past and present), make reparation, and celebrate Her beauty.
[Anniversary of
the opening of the U.N. Conference on the Human Environment on 6/5/1972]
* 6/14: Day the world's nations committed to sustainable development (1992).
[Day the Earth Summit Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development, and the Statement of Principles for the Sustainable Management of
Forests were adopted by the 1992 Rio Conference/U.N. Conference on Environment
and Development.]
* 6/18: Day Unitarian Universalists embraced spiritual teachings of
Earth-centered traditions (1995).
* 6/20 (7:59 p.m. EDT): Summer Solstice--Marks the beginning of Summer and
the longest day and shortest night of the year; celebration of the light with
dancing around a bonfire.
* 6/21: Day Unitarian Universalists adopted seven unifying Principles (1985).
U.U.'s affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence.
[adopted 6/17-6/21/1985]
* 6/25: Day the first woman was ordained a Universalist minister in the U.S.
(1863). [Rev. Olympia Brown] [U.U./Universalist]
* 6/25: Day the Supreme Court recognized that government-sponsored prayer in
public schools imposes religion on students and violates the U.S. Constitution
(1962). [Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)]
* 6/26: Day torture and extrajudicial killing were outlawed world-wide
(1987); day to mourn their continued existence. [Convention Against Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: adopted 12/10/1984;
signed on 2/4/1985; entered into force 6/26/1987.]
* 6/28: First day of the Stonewall riot (1969); day to mourn victims of
homophobia (past and present), make peace, and celebrate lesbian and gay
empowerment. [Rioting occurred June 28-29, 1969.]
* 7/1: Day the world's nations committed to stop proliferation of nuclear
weapons (1968); vigil to protest the production and use of all nuclear weapons
world-wide. [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: signed
7/1/1968; entered into force 3/5/1970.] [8 countries are known to currently
possess nuclear weapons and other countries are attempting to develop or acquire
them. The U.S. used 2 atomic bombs on Japan in 8/1945: over 270,000 civilians
died from the bombs and radiation.] [In the name of humanity, and for love of
humanity (and especially the children), U.U.s should renounce the production,
acquisition, and use of nuclear weapons, and should demand destruction of all
existing weapons.]
* 7/1: Day endangered species became internationally protected (1975); day to
celebrate all the world's creatures. [Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: signed/adopted 3/3/1973; entered
into force 7/1/1975.]
* 7/1: Day the International Criminal Court came into being to prosecute
those who commit acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, international
terrorism, and war crimes (2002). [The U.S. has refused to ratify the statute
creating this Court, even though the Court is governed by international (and
U.S.) standards of due process. Day to lobby for U.S. ratification.]
* 7/2: Day discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender, and religion was
prohibited in public accommodations and employment (1964). [The Civil Rights Act
of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson.] [Pub. L. 88-352, 78
Stat. 241, 42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.]
* 7/4: Death day of Thomas Jefferson (1826), who ensured that the U.S.
Constitution would protect basic rights and liberties. A Deist, he practiced a
religion that was based on Nature, reason, and ethics. [Birthday 4/13/1743]
[Deist]
* 7/12: Birthday of Henry David Thoreau (1817), Transcendentalist and
naturalist who believed in individualism and living simply in harmony with
Nature. [Death day 5/6/1862] [U.U./Transcendentalist]
* 7/19: Day women demanded recognition of their equality to men in the legal,
political, economic, religious, and domestic spheres (Seneca Falls, New York
1848). [Declaration of Sentiments drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia
Mott & other Founding Mothers at the Women's Rights Convention 7/19-7/20/1848.]
* 7/20: Secular Humanism Day--Day to celebrate all life-affirming humanist,
rationalist, and scientific belief systems.
* 7/28: Day the Constitution's 14th Amendment went into effect, guaranteeing
due process and equal protection of the law to all (1868). [The 14th Amendment
was approved by Congress on 6/13/1866 and, after ratification by the states, was
proclaimed in effect on 7/28/1868.]
* 7/31 eve to 8/6 eve: Mid-Summer/First Harvest/Lammas--Festival of
thanksgiving for the first of the grain harvest; celebrated by offering the
first fruits of the grain harvest and prayers for sustenance for all.
* 8/7: Gaia Consciousness Day--Day to meditate on Mother Earth as a living
planet. [Anniversary of the first photograph of Earth from Space taken on
8/7/1959.]
* 8/25: Birthday of Kenneth Patton (1911), who believed Unitarian
Universalism to encompass all world religions, not just Christianity and
humanism. U.U.'s believe reason, conscience, and experience reveal one's
spiritual path. [Death day 12/24/1994] [U.U.]
* 8/26: Day the Constitution's 19th Amendment went into effect, recognizing
women's right to vote (1920). [The 19th Amendment was approved by Congress on
6/4/1919 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on
8/26/1920.] [a/k/a Women's Equality Day]
* 8/28: Opening of the Second World Parliament of Religions (1993), attended
by members of all the world's religions. A Global Ethic was adopted that
condemns hatred, aggression, oppression, and environmental abuses committed in
the name of religion.
* 8/29: Birthday of Henry Bergh (1811), non-violent advocate for animal
rights; day to advocate for laws protecting animals from abuse.
[Death day
3/12/1888] [Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals.] [U.U.]
* 9/3: Day gender discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1981); day to mourn
all manifestations of sexism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women: adopted by U.N. General Assembly 12/18/1979;
signed 3/1/1980; entered into force 9/3/1981.]
* 9/10: Birthday of Thomas Thayer (1812), Universalist who believed Deity to
be at work in evolution and continuing creation. [Death day 2/12/1886] [U.U./Universalist]
* 9/15: Day the first woman was ordained a Congregational/Unitarian minister
in the U.S. (1853). [Rev. Antoinette Blackwell] [U.U./Congregational/Unitarian]
* 9/21: International Day of Peace--Day to demonstrate for peace with justice
throughout the world. [a/k/a U.N. International Day of Peace]
* 9/22 (11:44 a.m. EDT): Autumn Equinox--Marks the beginning of Autumn and
point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates the bounty of Mother Earth with
feasting and aiding those in need.
* 9/29 eve to 10/1 eve: Rosh Hashanah/Jewish New Year (Year
5769)--Commemorates creation of the World by the one universal Deity,
God-Goddess Elohim (Eloh-Eloah); begins 10 days of penitence for harm done.
[a/k/a Rosh Hashana]
* 9/30: Birthday of Elhanan Winchester (1751), Universalist who exhorted
people to lives of personal ethics and social reform. [Death day 4/18/1797] [U.U./Trinitarian
Baptist Universalist]
* 10/8 eve to 10/9 eve: Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement--Jewish day of fasting,
making reparation for harm done, and helping those in need.
* 10/12 (Obs. 10/13): Columbus Day--Commemorates Europeans' colonization of
America (1492); day to mourn Native American victims of conquest and oppression
(past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Native Americans.
[a/k/a Native Americans' Day, Dia de la Raza (Mexico), Thanksgiving Day
(Canada)]
* 10/18: Day the Clean Water Act was enacted (1972); day to give thanks for
the water we drink. [Pub. L. 92-500, 86 Stat. 896, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.]
* 10/24: Day the United Nations came into being to facilitate world-wide
peaceful cooperation (1945). [U.N. Charter signed 6/26/1945; entered into force
10/24/1945.]
* 10/24 to 10/30: World Disarmament Week--Time for peaceful activism to help
end the arms race.
* 10/31 eve to 11/6 eve: Mid-Autumn/Day of the Dead/Hallowmas--Festival
marking the transformation of life to death - the end of the agricultural year,
departure of migrating and hibernating animals, and decay and death of vegetal
and animal life. Observed by remembering departed ancestors and contemplating
one's own mortality.
* 11/7: World Community Day--Day for celebrating the unity behind diversity
and remembering we are all one people - all children of the one universal Deity
of many names and aspects.
* 11/10: Birthday of Martin Luther (1483), Christian reformer who rejected
blind obedience to religious authority and recognized the priesthood of all
believers. [Death day 2/18/1546]
* 11/16: Birthday of Orello Cone (1835), Universalist who believed that
divine revelation comes from many sources. [He believed science and religion
could be complementary, and recognized that the Bible was written by fallible
men.] [Death day 6/23/1905] [U.U./Universalist]
* 11/20: Fast for an Abundant World Harvest--Day to fast and commit to action
to help prevent deaths from malnourishment world-wide. [a/k/a Fast for a World
Harvest]
* 11/27: Thanksgiving Day--Day to give thanks for the abundance of our land
and for our food, clothes, shelter, and health.
* 12/1: World AIDS Day--Day to pray for healing of all those suffering with
AIDS and HIV.
* 12/10: Birthday of John Murray (1741), Trinitarian Universalist who
believed that Jesus died to save all humanity, not just Christians. [Death day
9/3/1815] [U.U./Trinitarian Christian Universalist]
* 12/10: Day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, and
fundamental rights were recognized world-wide (1948). [The U.N. General Assembly
adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.D.H.R.) in Resolution 217
A(III).] [a/k/a International Human Rights Day]
* 12/15: Day the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution, guaranteeing
fundamental rights to all (1791). [a/k/a Bill of Rights Day]
* 12/17: Day the Clean Air Act was enacted (1963); day to give thanks for the
air we breathe. [Pub. L. 88-206, 77 Stat. 392, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.]
* 12/18: Day the Constitution's 13th Amendment went into effect, outlawing
all slavery (1865). [The 13th Amendment was approved by Congress on 1/31/1865
and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 12/18/1865.]
* 12/21 (7:04 a.m. EST): Winter Solstice/Solar New Year--Marks the beginning
of Winter and the shortest day and longest night of the year; celebration of the
darkness with dancing near the hearth fire.
* 12/21 eve to 12/29 eve: Hanukkah/Festival of Lights--Jewish festival
commemorating their struggle for religious freedom and re-dedication of the
Temple of Jerusalem to God-Goddess Yod-Heh-Vau-Heh (Father, Mother, Son &
Daughter). Menorah candles are lit. [Also commemorates the end of the olive
harvest and the Winter Solstice.] [a/k/a Chanukah, Channukah]
* 12/25: Christmas--Christian celebration of Blessed Mother Mary giving birth
to Child Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
* 12/28: Day the Endangered Species Act was enacted (1973); day to mourn
those creatures already extinct. [Pub. L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.]
[The Unitarian Universalist Association was formed in the U.S.A. in 1961.
Unitarian Universalism has roots in Christian Unitarianism, Christian
Universalism, Transcendentalism, Deism, and Humanism (both Religious Humanism
and Secular Humanism). Unitarian Universalists include those who practice
Feminist Spirituality (Women's Spirituality) and Earth-centered Spirituality
(Gaia religion, Paganism, Goddess Spirituality, Pantheism, and Panentheism).
Unitarian Universalists embrace egalitarianism, feminism, multiculturalism, and
are welcoming to gays and lesbians and transgendered individuals. They recognize
the human rights of all. They also embrace environmentalism, disarmament, and
world peace. Unitarian Universalists are sometimes called "U.U.s".]
[There is no canonical holy scripture, official creed, or prescribed ritual
practice in Unitarian Universalism. Unitarian Universalists do, however,
subscribe to Seven Principles and recognize Six Sources for their living
tradition. The Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles...Unitarian Universalists
affirm and promote: the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice,
equity, and compassion in human relations; acceptance of one another and
encouragement to spiritual growth; a free and responsible search for truth and
meaning; the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process; the goal
of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; and respect for the
interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.]
[There is no official Unitarian Universalist calendar (U.U. calendar) or
official Unitarian Universalist holidays (U.U. holidays). Individual Unitarian
Universalist Churches vary in the practices and the holidays they observe. This
Unitarian Universalist calendar includes Unitarian, Universalist,
Transcendentalist, Deist, and Humanist events and notables, as well as the major
Christian and Jewish holidays. It strives to reflect the values found in the
Seven Principles as well as the teachings and holidays from the various
recognized Sources.]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial
purposes, provided the following information is included:
Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2008
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2007 Page Two, Inc.
info@WheeloftheYear.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com
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