OPENING CEREMONY

Holiday Spirit

Simon Kenton Council

Personnel: 5 Cubs

Props: Log candle holder with 3 candles (12") multipurpose lighter

Cub 1: The theme for this month is "Let's Celebrate!" and we have been busy getting ready for the Holiday season. This month there are three major holidays celebrated by a different Religion or Culture, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa.

Cub 2: Hanukkah is the Jewish Feast of Lights or Feast of Dedication. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means dedication. It is a celebration of God's deliverance of the Jews in 165 BC. The Hanukkah holiday begins on the eve of the 25^th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, and lasts eight days. It usually falls in the month of December and is celebrated by lighting of candles in a special Hanukkah menorah. I light the first candle for Hanukah. (Lights the first candle)

Cub 3: Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the actual date of his birth is not known, early Church Fathers in the 4^th century fixed the day as December 25, which conveniently coincided with other pagan holidays. The Christian priests obviously saw this choice as meritorious, using the old customary and popular feasting date but changing the rough pagan ways into a more civilized commemoration.. The word Christmas is taken from old English, Christes maesse or Christ's Mass. I light the second candle for Christmas. (lights the second candle.)

Cub 4: Kwanzaa is an African American holiday based on the traditional African festival of the first harvest crops. The word Kwanzaa comes from the phrase matunda ya kwanzaa, which means first fruits in Swahili. The holiday was developed in the United States in 1966 by M. Ron Karenga, a professor of Pan African studies and a black cultural leader. It begins on December 26^th and lasts for seven days. The holiday centers around the seven principles of black culture that were developed by Karenga. These principles are: Unity; Self-determination; Collective work and responsibility; Cooperative economics; Purpose; Creativity; and Faith. I light the third candle for Kwanzaa. (Light the third candle)

Cub 5: With the spirit of the holiday candles now burning let us now begin our own celebration of our accomplishments this month.

Opening

Denver Area Council

Dear God, Today, this day, we give to You. Do within us what You want to do. Please make of our hearts Your vessel and servant. May the glorious light of the Lord of Creation find a restful home inside each of our souls. May we be no more who we used to be. We now embrace the divine child within us. May it burst forth now to bless the world. May we not be tempted to doubt the light that lights the entire world, illumine the earth and save the world. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

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