Story Page

OPENING - CAROLS COOKIES AND THE CHRIST CHILD

EQUIPMENT: This ceremony can be done with lettered cards, candles or objects. Each Cub

responsible for reciting the meaning of one letter in the word "Christmas".

C - Carols, Cookies and the Christ Child.

H - Hurrying, Holly and Happiness.

R - Ribbons, Raisins and Reverence.

I - Icicles Ivy and Innocence.

S - Santa, Secrets, and Shepherds.

T - Trimmings, Tinsel and Trying to be good.

M - Mischief, Madonnas, and Miracles.

A - Apples, Angels, and Adoration.

S - Snowflakes, Spangles and a Star in the East.

ADVANCEMENT - THE GIFT BOX

Gift wrap 5 boxes, preferably all the same size. Wrap the lids separately so they can be removed. Attach bows on top. Place a badge of each rank in each gift box (Bobcat, Wolf Bear, Webelos, Arrow of Light). Actual badge or cardboard displays can be used. Boys awards should also be in appropriate box.

CUBMASTER: "It's Christmas time and what a great time for giving and receiving. We have some boys that gave it all and completed their badge of rank and now the pack would like to give them their award for their accomplishment." (start with Bobcat box. Have a den leader from each rank help to open boxes and show the badge or display card.) (explain the badge briefly and call boys up to receive their badges from the box).

This ceremony works well for Blue and Gold banquet as well. The boxes can be wrapped in blue paper with gold bows.

Tiger Cubs can open boxes and display badges instead of den leaders.

CLOSING - THE LAST CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE YEAR

STAGING: House lights are dimmed. Four posters with the four Cub Scouts ranks, eight candles (two by each poster).

CUBMASTER: This last ceremony of 19__ is a fine time to reconfirm our beliefs in ourselves and the Scouting program. (Lights two candles by the Bobcat poster) Will all Bobcat Cub Scouts and their parents please stand. Bobcats, do you promise in 19__ to do your best, to be true, to help other people, to obey the Law of the Pack, and to advance one rank? (They respond) We will do our best. (If there are no Bobcats present) Since we have no Bobcats, will the pack leadership please stand. Will you rededicate for yourselves and for the Bobcats of our future, to do your best, to be true, to help other people, to obey the Law of the Pack. (They respond) We will do our best. (Follow the same procedure for Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts) Will all Webelos Scouts and their parents stand. Webelos Scouts, do you in 19__ promise to do your best, to be true, to help other people, to obey the law of the Pack, and to earn the Arrow of Light award? (They respond) We will do our best. All of these eight candles are part of the light, the Light of the Spirit of Cub Scouting.

ASST. CUBMASTER: The first four candles are the four parts of the Cub Scout Promise - Duty to God, duty to country, to help other people, and to obey the Law of the Pack. The second four candles are the four parts of the Law of the Pack - the Cub Scout follows Akela, the Cub Scout helps the pack go, the pack helps the Cub Scout grow, the Cub Scout gives goodwill.

CUBMASTER: I know you will be loyal Cub Scouts in 19__. As the Spirit of Cub Scouting burns here it also burns in the hearts of Cub Scouts everywhere. May it continue to burn in your hearts during the coming year as we go upward and forward in Pack (#).