Scouts' Day
Scouts' Day is a generic term for special days observed by members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement throughout the year. Some of these days have religious significance, while others may be a simple celebration of Scouting.
Founders' Days
Worldwide in nearly all Scout associations, Founders' Day is celebrated on 22 February, the anniversary of Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell (born in 1857), the founder of Scouting, and coincidentally also of his wife Olave Baden-Powell (born in 1889).
Individual Groups and Councils also celebrate their own Founding at various times of the year, although these are generally restricted to "major" anniversaries, such as a decennial.
St. George's Day
St. George is the patron saint of The Scout Association and the nearest Sunday to April 23 is observed as a celebration.
The day is celebrated usually with parades, scouting awards and church services where Scouts re-affirm the Scout Promise.
Scout Sunday or Scout Sabbath
The Boy Scouts of America have designated the Sunday preceding February 8 as Scout Sunday and the following Saturday is designated as Scout Sabbath.
The day is meant to mark the founding of the Scouts in the United States. Observation varies by unit and locale. Scouts go to their places of worship in uniform and help with the service.
In the Girl Scouts of the USA, the equivalent holiday is Girl Scout Sunday or Girl Scout Sabbath, celebrated in the week that includes March 12, the day the GSUSA was founded by Juliette Gordon Low [1].
World Thinking Day
Among Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, and some boy-oriented associations (i.e. Greece, where it is called Imera Skepseos), Thinking Day is celebrated each February 22, chosen as it was the birthday of Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell and of Olave Baden-Powell.
Dates celebrated by country
| Date | English name | Location/local name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Scouts' Day | Burma | |
| February 22 | Thinking Day | Worldwide | Marks birthday of Scouting's founders |
| April 23 | St. George's Day | United Kingdom
Finland / Pyhän Yrjön Päivä |
Parade of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle
National/District Parades, Church |
See also
- Religion in Scouting
- Scout Law - A Scout is reverent.
- Scouting 2007 Centenary - celebrations for 100 years of Scouting
External links
- Scout Sunday
- A Scout Is Reverent: Scout Sunday Observance
- St George Day
- St George Day
- Scout Sunday in the United States
Notes
- ↑ "Girl Scout Days". GSUSA. http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/gs_days/. Retrieved 2006-12-06.