How We Celebrate Thinking Day
This page was created because every year since I have been on the net I have received notes like the following (this one is a composite one - not one I actually got :) )
We came across a description of a Thinking Day Ceremony and part of it
read as follows: "New Zealanders are first to greet the light of the rising
sun. On February 22nd, Girl Guides of New Zealand climb to a mountain
top and to the first ray of sun they anchor the golden chain of friendship,
of kind thoughts and good wishes, which will be carried around the world
by the sunlight until it is seen again from that same mountain, emerging
from the sea 24 hours later".
It's a lovely sounding ceremony but is only one ceremony that was done one year in one place. Somehow it has been perpetuated into a myth that this is what all guides do here every Thinking Day.
New Zealand is the first WAGGGS member country to see the sun on Thinking Day. (In fact you may be interested to learn that the Chatham Islands - a far flung part of New Zealand - are going to be the first inhabited place in the world to see the first sunrise of the new millenium.) In some places there are traditionally hilltop dawn ceremonies - for example Auckland Province always has one on top of Mt. Eden in the city, but they hold unit / district / division / province based Thinking Day ceremonies too. Often we have a short international themed Guide's Own. However there is no set ceremony that everyone does.
Some years there is a national Thinking Day Challenge which units try and complete throughout the year. These are based around a theme, which is different every time, and a badge is earnt if the clauses are completed. In the centenary year of universal suffrage here in NZ we had one based around this theme, while in other years the theme has been peace, service etc. The challenge clauses are the same for everyone but different levels complete different numbers of clauses and to a level that is age appropriate.
Northland Guides - Thinking Days Past.
In our unit on the nearest meeting to Thinking Day we usually have a ceremony and international type evening.
Thinking day 1998
1998 was a year where we celebrated Thinking Day as a division. It was the last before West Division ceased to exist. We had an afternoon at Trelissick Park in Crofton Downs that included kite making and international activities, followed by a short Thinking Day Guides' Own and a sausage sizzle.
Thinking day 1997
In 1997 we had a Provincial event from 3-7 on Thinking Day afternoon. Basically it was a big "fair" - with lots of activities for the girls to take part in.they activities include things for all ages from our Pippins (6 year olds) to our Rangers (13-18) so there was face painting, horizontal bungy, obstacle courses, 3-legged races, line dancing and goodness knows what else!! :) After dinner which the girls either bought there or brought with them there was a short Thinking Presentation including lots of uniforms from WAGGGS members around the world. This was followed by a short campfire.
We were lucky with the weather - it wasn't sunny but it was warm and didn't rain. We all had a great time. We also discovered that our Asst Provincial Commissioner is even more multi talented than we dreamed :) She plays the bagpipes and they were used to bring everyone together to one area when we needed to hear someone speak or find out what was happening next.
Thinking Day 1996
In 1996 we had a district Thinking Day event. Each unit organised a game or activity and the girls were mixed into patrols of all ages for the evening. Following the activities we had sausages in bread (with lashings and lashings of tomato sauce for those who wanted it) and finished up with a campfire at which every unit led a song.
Thinking Day 1995
In 1995 we celebrated Thinking Day in our unit - we had an international fun and games evening (including Guiding naughts and crosses) and talked about the history of Guiding, the World Homes and our Founders and the Thinking Day fund as part of a short Thinking Day ceremony.
Thinking Day 1994
In 1994 we had our Thinking Day in our unit - we had an international evening based around Australian games / puzzles etc. We did a skit about the beginning of Guiding and had a campfire indoors. (Had a fire in a bowl using salt etc).
Thinking Day 1993
Northland Guides and Brownies had a combined Thinking Day and climbed Mt Kaukau for a picnic dinner and Thinking Day ceremony. It was rather cold and windy - so although it was a nice walk we did whizz through a ceremony which we held part way down the hill where it was more sheltered.
Thinking Day 1992
(I may be mixing up 1994, 1993 and 1992) - our programme book from this period has vanished :( )
We had a Provincial event based at a school in Wellington. Each District did items and had a little stall with items from a country on it. I can't remember much more than this except that I think it was a special fundraiser to help with the Pax Lodge project.
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