Today, Brownies connected with Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the globe at World Thinking Day. Although the event was held in Palo Alto, gatherings like it occurred in many countries at the same time. The girls tasted, crafted, wrote postcards to Scouts in Ankara, Turkey and voted on the New Zealand (new) flag among other things.
They also traded S.W.A.P.S.
What are they and what do they mean? See below.
Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere orShare With A Pal |
The History
The origin of SWAPS is Native American. Potlatch is the ceremonial exchange of gifts practiced by Native Americans of Northwest Coastal tribes. The custom stems from the legend explaining why birds have colored feathers. As the story goes, two Indian girls
plucked feathers of a magic bird and distributed the multi-colored plumage to the colorless birds living in the forest. From that time on, birds have had brightly colored feathers and those gifts were remembered at potlatch ceremonies.
plucked feathers of a magic bird and distributed the multi-colored plumage to the colorless birds living in the forest. From that time on, birds have had brightly colored feathers and those gifts were remembered at potlatch ceremonies.
Families were summoned to the potlatch by a messenger carrying a bundle of sticks representing the number of people to be invited. The ceremony included speeches, songs, dances, games, races, and refreshments. The host and members of his family were costumed and enacted legends about their heritage. The gift giving came last of all, just before the guests departed. Since potlatch gifts were symbols of the families status in the village, they were often quite elaborate, often being carved boxes, canoes, dishes, jewelry, mats and baskets. The potlatch ceremony was given to commemorate the births, deaths, marriages, or coming of age of members of the group. (1)
The idea of SWAPS was started at the original National Roundup Conferences.
At that time a SWAP was a little remembrance that one Scout gave another. SWAPS are handmade, thus the girl is giving a part of herself to show friendship. Swaps are exchanged at National Conventions, Council events, Wider Ops, SU or neighborhood events, troop meetings and most frequently at day camp. They can have a tag attached with the event name and date or the Troop number, Council name or State. (2) In some countries SWAPS are called hat crafts.
Swapping promotes friendship. encourages girls to talk to other people.
SWAPS are great mementos of a good time as well as a great way to share something about where we live and what we do. (1)
