On February 22nd each year all the members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
, called WAGGGS
for short, have a celebration. This day is called Thinking Day, and it is when the members of the aforementioned organisation think about the world guiding family, which includes Girl Guides
, Girl Scouts
, to name but a few.
This celebration is specifically on the 22nd of February as it coincides with the birthdays of the founder of the movement, Lord Baden-Powell
, and his wife, Olave, Lady Baden-Powell
. This day is also the anniversary of their marriage.
On this day, or usually the Saturday closest to the 22nd February, there are celebrations and activities in which the members participate. One type of celebration in the UK
which is organised is called a "Dabble
day". This is when each individual group in an area organises a craft activity, a food tasting or a game from a different country. These different activities are all set up in an area where the local
members can try them, and try to understand a different country's way of life.
Other activites which sometimes occur are parades, dressing up in other country's Girl Guide uniforms, parties, special ceremonies and the sending of greetings cards to girls who they have met who live in different countries. Also wreaths are laid on Lord Baden-Powell's memorial in Westminster Abbey
Another traditional Thinking Day activity is collecting money for the Thinking Day Fund
which is used to donate money to other countries which have Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, but difficulty in running activities due to political and monetary problems. It also goes to help train guiders in new areas, and to donate money to groups who have suffered because of natural disasters. In the past, a single penny is collected from each girl attending a Thinking Day event to go to this fund, but these days it is more likely to be a larger donation of around 10p.
"The Brownie Handbook" 1995 ISBN 0 85260 127 1
"The Guide Handbook" 1973