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In 2005, Chalica emerged out of a well-intentioned desire to have a new winter holiday organized around Unitarian Universalist principles. In the years that followed, however, UUs began voicing discomfort that this created holiday—celebrated over the course of seven days—felt like a harmful appropriation of holidays like Kwanzaa and Hanukkah.

In anti-oppression spaces, it's often said that "When you know better, you do better." Out of respect for faith traditions and people who have been historically marginalized, we encourage Unitarian Universalists to refrain from engaging in Chalica-related activities—and to use these new understandings to help us recognize appropriation.

Unitarian Universalist Perspectives

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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4

  • In the dark, swoops of evergreen garland with small white lights decorate an outdoor fence.
    As December opens up before us, we welcome in the gift of reflection.
    Affirmation | By Gwen Matthews | December 20, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, Chalica, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Earth-Centered, Hanukkah, Hope, IllUUmination, Judaism, Love, Mystery, Paganism, Reverence, Tradition, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule
  • December first, "Over The River And Through The Woods" (1844). The song "Over The River And Through The Woods" is based on a poem by Unitarian author and human rights champion Lidia Maria Child. Inspiration for the poem came from her own childhood mem
    December first, "Over The River And Through The Woods" (1844). The song "Over the River and Through The Woods" is based on a poem by Unitarian author and human rights champion Lydia Maria Child. Inspiration for the poem came from her own childhood memories of Thanksgiving at her grandparents’...
    Image | By Ralph Yeager Roberts | November 11, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Advent, Chalica, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, IllUUmination, Unitarianism, Winter, Winter Solstice / Yule
  • An unlit chalice on a church altart.
    When we take fire from our chalice, it does not become less. It becomes more. And so we extinguish our chalice, but we take its light and warmth with us, multiplying their power by all of our lives, and sharing it with the world.
    Chalice Extinguishing | By Amy Zucker Morgenstern | May 28, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Abundance, Activism, Calling, Chalica, Christianity, Community, Generosity, IllUUmination, Imbolc / Brighid's Day / Candlemas, New Year, Paganism, Seven Principles, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb
  • Bare trees reach to a grey sky
    Now is the moment of magic, when the whole, round earth turns again toward the sun....
    Meditation | By Victoria Safford | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Chalica, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Connections, Earth-Centered, Gratitude, Hanukkah, IllUUmination, Kwanzaa, Love, Winter Solstice / Yule, Wonder