A Humanist’s Guide to the

HolidaysPrepared by

Jennifer Hancock, Humanist

What Holiday do Humanists Celebrate?

The Humanist Winter Holiday is called: HumanLight.

However, we are also free to celebrate other holidays, or no holidays.

It all depends on personal preference.

Do Humanists celebrate Christmas?

Some of us do. Some of

us don’t.

Again, there are no rules.

If celebrating Christmas

makes you happy, go

ahead and celebrate it.

What other holidays do you celebrate?

My family celebrates:

• Saturnalia

• Human Light

• Christmas

• Kwanzaa

• Hanukkah

• Solstice

• Festivus

& whatever other holidays occur at this time of the year. We have yet to meet a holiday we haven’t liked.

Our motto: If there is a party and there is food involved

– we want in.

Do Humanists tell their kids about baby Jesus?

Yes.

Religious Literacy is

important to us. Literacy is

important to us.

My son knows the story of

how Jesus was born and that

the celebration of his birth is

one of the many reasons

why people celebrate during

the winter holidays.

But he also knows about Saturn & Saturnalia - and

the origins of the

Phrygian cap Santa

wears

Hanukkah – he plays the

dreidel and lights the

menorah and knows the

story of the miracle of

lights.

And that axial tilt is the

real reason for the

season.

What do you tell your child about Santa?

That depends on the Humanist.

Some of us use Santa as a way to

teach skepticism to our child – by

letting them figure it out on their

own.

Others prefer to not do Santa at

all.

We don’t have any rules.

Whatever works for you & makes

you happy is fine with us.

Is it ok to say “Merry Christmas” to a Humanist?

We prefer “Happy Holidays” – since we celebrate so many of

them.

However, as long as your “Merry Christmas” is not code for –

if you don’t celebrate Christmas I think you should be shot –

we will probably acknowledge your greeting happily and in the

spirit of peace on earth – good will to all that is the hallmark of

the holiday.

Just don’t be surprised if we shout “Io Saturnalia!” back at

you.

Do you give and accept presents?

Yes!

I can give you my

Amazon wish list if

you like.

What is your biggest wish for the holidays?

That people will stop

fighting about it, and just

enjoy it.

It’s not a competition!

Any Final Thoughts?

The motto of the season – whether you celebrate Christmas, Human

Light or Saturnalia – is this:

PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TOWARDS ALL!!!!

That’s what Humanism is all about.

A Humanist’s Guide to the Holidays

Prepared by:

Jennifer Hancock, Humanist

www.jen-hancock.com

Founder of Humanist Learning

Systems

HumanistLearning.com