This ceremony, which we used at Thinking Day, is a nice way to explain the meaning of the WAGGGS pin. To do this ceremony, you need a felt cutout of the WAGGGS pin, which you can make from blue and yellow felt. You'll need a large yellow circle, and then a slightly smaller blue circle (so that when you put the blue circle on top of the yellow circle, there's the yellow border outside of it). Then you need yellow felt cutouts of the trefoil and the fire symbol at the base of the trefoil, the two stars and the compass needle. When I made my cutouts, I found it easier to duplicate the traditional WAGGGS pin than the newer one that is currently available in the US.

To start: All participants stand in a horseshoe. Somewhere, have a table or felt board available for the construction of the pin as the ceremony proceeds.

Leader: The horseshoe formation symbolizes the open friendship circle. In the open end of the horseshoe stand our sister Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. If they were actually here, our horseshoe would become a completed circle, having no beginning or end.

[Then come a series of questions and answers, which you can divide up in any practical way. We had the people who asked the questions come forward to place the part of the pin they asked about on the felt board while someone else read the answer.]

What is the world pin?

It is the pin of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. We are going to construct such a pin. As we do, let us consider very carefully the reason for its color and design. Then we will know how deep a feeling of international friendship it can inspire in it.

What does the gold circle around the edge stand for?

The gold band surrounding our pin symbolizes the sun that shines on children all over the world.

Why is the world pin blue?

The blue background symbolizes the sky above us, all over the world.

Why do we have a trefoil in the World pin?

The gold trefoil is the sign of Girl Scouting and Girl Guiding around the world. The 3 parts of the trefoil stand for the 3 parts of the Promise.

There are 2 stars on the World pin. What does the left star stand for?

The star on the left, the same side as our heart, stands for the pledge that all Girl Scouts and Girl Guides try, on their honor, to keep: the Promise.

What does the other star stand for?

The right star, on the side of a helping hand, stands for the Girl Guide and Girl Scout code of conduct--the GG/GS Law.

What does the pointer in the middle stand for?

We place a compass needle in the center, to serve as a guide pointing towards the right way in life.

What does the base of the trefoil mean?

At the base of the trefoil we place the flame. Its burning represents love for humanity and international friendship.

[At this point we presented world pins to the girls who didn't yet have them--we had older girls present them to the younger girls, and we ended with the Promise.]