This Luminescence holiday was created by a Unitarian Universalist congregation (UU of Santa Clarita Valley, CA) as what we hope will be one in a series of dedicated Unitarian Universalist holidays. We encourage the creation of yet more dedicated UU holidays. The vision is that throughout the year, as we continue to enjoy celebrating the holidays of the world's great religions, we can also look forward to a series of dedicated annual occasions that we all celebrate together, where we simply commemorate the tenets of our own unique identity.
The holiday is called Luminescence because just as the chemical process of luminescence generates light without consuming its source, this festival seeks to create joy that endures — joy that doesn’t fade, even when the flame within us is gently shared. At this holiday, we come together to nurture the sparks within each of us — and to share those sparks with the world. As we gather, we celebrate the light each person brings — trusting that together, our illumination grows and spreads.
Through the lighting of five candles, we celebrate the nurturing of our own personal sparks along with the light that resides in all that surrounds us. We rejoice with delight in the fact that these lights do not extinguish or diminish as they’re used. Rather, we reaffirm that the light that resides within us GROWS each time we share it! Through nurturing, we cultivate the expansion of even more illumination throughout the world. We celebrate the principles that guide us to transformation. And we rejoice in the openness our faith provides toward seeking truth through both the blaze of spirit and the light of reason.
Watch a Luminescence Service (2026-12-22 at UU of SCV) (The first few minutes covered by slide to protect personal privacy of Zoom attendees who were shown during this part of the service. The live view of the service kicks in after that.) Click here:
The holiday is called Luminescence because just as the chemical process of luminescence generates light without consuming its source, this festival seeks to create joy that endures — joy that doesn’t fade, even when the flame within us is gently shared. At this holiday, we come together to nurture the sparks within each of us — and to share those sparks with the world. As we gather, we celebrate the light each person brings — trusting that together, our illumination grows and spreads.
Through the lighting of five candles, we celebrate the nurturing of our own personal sparks along with the light that resides in all that surrounds us. We rejoice with delight in the fact that these lights do not extinguish or diminish as they’re used. Rather, we reaffirm that the light that resides within us GROWS each time we share it! Through nurturing, we cultivate the expansion of even more illumination throughout the world. We celebrate the principles that guide us to transformation. And we rejoice in the openness our faith provides toward seeking truth through both the blaze of spirit and the light of reason.
Watch a Luminescence Service (2026-12-22 at UU of SCV) (The first few minutes covered by slide to protect personal privacy of Zoom attendees who were shown during this part of the service. The live view of the service kicks in after that.) Click here: