Celebrate the upcoming festivities
We've got a range of badges to help you celebrate different faiths
Lots of winter celebrations are coming up and we’ve got a range of badges to help you celebrate.
These bright and sparkly badges represent significant celebrations from different traditions and religions. They’re a great way to mark the occasion and talk to girls about these holidays, especially with Diwali coming up on 4 November, Hanukkah starting on 28 November and Christmas in late December.
Ways to celebrate
Don’t worry if it’s not a holiday you’re familiar with or celebrate yourself – ask girls in your unit if it’s a holiday for them or their families and see if they’d like to share how they celebrate.
Look out for groups in your community that might be running events around these dates – get in touch and see if you can go along or invite them to come and talk about how they celebrate. This would be a great way to learn more about festivals that aren’t a part of your own tradition.
Food often plays a big part in festivals and celebrations – talk to the girls in your unit who celebrate the occasion about the foods that are special to them and share some favourite family recipes.
Remember it’s important to take care when talking to your unit about culture and religion – not everyone will have the same experiences and traditions. Check our advice on including all beliefs and none in guiding.
Diwali
Diwali is a Hindu festival known as the festival of lights, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness. It’s a festival with celebrations that include firework displays and giving gifts. This year Diwali will be on the 4 November.
Find out more about the story of Diwali. Buy Diwali badges in our online shop.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival, celebrating a miracle that happened over 2,000 years ago. It lasts for eight days and this year begins on 28 November. Hanukkah is celebrated with the lighting of a nine-branched candle stick called a Hanukiah.
Find out more about Hanukkah. This badge is now available in our shop.
Christmas
Christmas is a Christian festival that marks the birth of Jesus, who Christians believe to be the Son of God. It celebrated by most people of Christian faith on 25 December.
Find out more about Christmas. You can buy Christmas badges in our shop.
Get ready to celebrate 2022 festivities
Lunar New Year
Chinese New Year marks the start of the lunar new year – a lunar calendar has months that follow the cycles of the moon. In 2022, the lunar new year starts on 1 February. In Chinese tradition each year is named after one of 12 animals that feature in the Chinese Zodiac. 2021 is the year the ox and 2022 will be the year of tiger.
Find out more about Chinese New Year. You can buy this badge in our shop.
Easter
Easter is a Christian festival that marks the resurrection of Jesus. Easter Sunday is the last day of Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. In 2022, Easter Sunday falls on the 17 April.
Find out more about Easter celebrations. Head to our shop to buy Easter badges.
Eid
Eid is an Arabic word that translates as festival or celebration. There are two festivals of Eid. Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr over three days at the end of Ramadan – a holy month. Eid ul-Adha takes place in the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
The Eid badge is available in our online shop. Find out about the two Eid festivals.
