History

by Sophia Rose (Chalice Palace)

CHALICA is an unofficial holiday originally conceived by Daylene Marshall of Vancouver, BC as a way to celebrate and put into intentional practice the Seven Principles of the Unitarian Universalist tradition - one a night, for seven nights. The celebration begins on the first Monday of December, and is marked by the lighting of a chalice each day (or evening). Gifts that reflect the particular day's Principle may be given, but the focus tends to be more on mindfulness and action. The idea has being spread by a small but dedicated group starting around 2007 with the Chalica! facepage, designed and maintained by evan austin. In 2008 I found the page and celebrated my first Chalica after contacting evan. I decided to join evan in promoting the holiday by creating this blog in 2009.

The holiday had 3 specifically dedicated songs in 2009, thanks to evan austin and Dan Flores.  By, 2011 there were many songs.

There's a booklet for the children. Another UU Sharon Camerell has made up a sheet on how to make your own recycled chalice.

Sophia Rose of Chalice Palace not only has the great flaming chalice clipart used above but lots of wonderful gift items for Unitarian Universalists. My personal favorite are the flaming Chalice Cookie cutters, the project ideas, earrings and the free items and...well you just need to explore this site yourself!

History
"Chalica was invented in 2005 by Daylene Marshall from New Mexico, as a Facebook Event with her friends. In 2008 evan austin of California made a new Event for it on Facebook and invited me to Chalica!, which is where I found it. This our 3rd year."

So what is it?

CHALICA! is an unofficial holiday in the Unitarian Universalist tradition that celebrates each of the faith's Seven Principles - one a night, for seven nights. The celebration begins on the first Monday of December, and is marked by the lighting of a chalice each day (or evening).

You can light the same chalice each night or  have 7 different chalices; or  one for each member of the family or one chalice with seven lights or ....

Remember each day represents a different Unitarian Principle: a chalice is lit each day or evening.

To me doing actions or volunteering in ways that express the day's Principle is the most important part of Chalica. But you can also give gifts that expresses the day's Principle - See Days of the Week for ideas.

One young woman wrote that she and her sister like writing things they appreciate and putting them in a bowl and then one by one they pick out the papers and read them out loud. They then sing, dance and blow out the candle.

So I urge you to join me in this new movement of creating your own UU holiday Tradition.

And let me know how you celebrate this new Tradition.