Hipster Names, Home Church & Fruit: 5 More Fun Facts About Unificationists
Last week we gave you some fun facts about our community. Here are five more things you may not know about us…
Hipster Names: we gave our kids weird names before it was cool…
Unificationists like to get creative with baby names! Many follow the tradition of combining the names of the parents to create a new name. With so many multi-cultural marriages, the names often come out quite unique! Because of the significance of Korean culture, it’s also not uncommon to meet a Unificationist who looks completely Caucasian but has a Korean name.
Fruit…lots and lots of fruit!
If you’re ever invited to participate in the celebration of a Unificationist Holy Day, your first reaction may be: “Wow! That’s a lot of fruit!” For every Holy Day, a table is dressed in white linen and packed with towers of fruit and decorative bowls of candy. The tradition of an “offering table” is a symbolic gesture of offering the first and best of all that we have to God. It serves a practical purpose too. After the prayers, the offering table is shared and provides refreshment for all those gathered!
Not Your Average New Year’s Eve
On January 1st, we celebrate “New Year’s Day” according to the solar calendar, but on the first day of the lunar calendar, we celebrate “God’s Day”. For this second New Year, instead of a big blowout party, Unificationists gather at midnight to bow their heads in prayer, offering the first moments of the New Year to God. “God’s Day” is one of the most significant Holy Days for Unificationists…and yes, there’s an offering table!
We Don’t Even Need to Leave Home to Go to Church!
In some places, Unificationists gather together in someone’s home on Sunday to read scripture, have fellowship, and share a meal. “Home Church” is a great way to invite friends or neighbors to learn more about the faith in a relaxed and personal environment while extending friendship and building relationships with those in the community. Home Church often leads to creation of hobby-oriented small groups.
One Big Family!
Speaking of homes…many Unificationists choose to live in three-generation households, with grandparents, parents, and children, all in one house. It has roots in Asian tradition, as well as former Western culture, but is also spiritually significant as the family is seen as the center of God’s love and the key to creating a harmonious society and world. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and providing a nurturing environment surrounded by extended family sets the stage for all members of the family to reach their fullest potential. Built-in babysitting is a nice perk too!