Since Quaker worship is open to the leadings of the Spirit, it is possible that the Meeting will be led to remembrance of particular events at any time of the year - not just times such as Christmas and Easter. Some meetings now hold meeting for worship on Christmas Day, or hold a party or other social occasion in the Christmas season. The biggest annual Quaker event is the Yearly Meeting which is attended by as much as one tenth of the membership. Though this is a serious business meeting, the renewal of friendships and the many surrounding events make it a type of 'festival'. In recent years British Quakers have also held a summer gathering which allows Quakers of all ages to worship, celebrate, study and have fun together.
Every community marks the stages in the journey through life with some kind of ritual or ceremony.
The most common stages to be highlighted by the world faiths are Birth, Initiation, Marriage and Death. Quakers have developed our own ways of celebrating these stages, but since we have a very simple style of worship with no outward symbols or ceremonies our 'Rites of Passage' are very plain compared with those of other faith communities. Birth and childhood Since Quakers do not use outward forms in our worship, we do not have baptism by water, either for infants or for adults. In recent years, some meetings have begun to recognise and celebrate the birth of a baby - perhaps by welcoming her or him at the end of a meeting for worship when the other children are present, or by giving a suitable book to the child. Some Quaker parents ask to have their children admitted into membership, believing that it is important for them to have a sense of belonging.