For Immediate Release

(Washington, D.C., December 14, 2009) The holiday season is in full-swing, and humanists across the country are joining the merriment and revelry with their own, secular holiday: HumanLight. Celebrated on or about December 23, HumanLight is a time for celebration and community for those who wish to affirm the positive values of humanism during the time period of the “traditional” winter holidays.

“Humanist families enjoy the holiday season in many of the same ways that other people do,” said Roy Speckhardt, American Humanist Association (AHA) executive director and father of two. “Many people are under the false assumption that humanists are a bunch of Scrooges who don’t celebrate the winter holidays, but actually, we humanists appreciate and enjoy the season in ways that reflect and promote the humanist values of reason, hope, community and compassion.”

“Because humanists shy away from rigid rituals, the specific elements of HumanLight celebrations will differ from region to region, and even year to year,” continued Speckhardt. “But they often include a meal with friends and family, dance, song, gift exchange, and short talks, discussions or readings. Some aspects are similar to religious observances while others are different.”

In 2001 humanists in New Jersey inaugurated HumanLight as a specifically humanist observance. Since then it has spread to dozens of cities around the United States.



The American Humanist Association (www.americanhumanist.org) advocates for the rights and viewpoints of humanists. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., its work is extended through more than 100 local chapters and affiliates across America.

Humanism is the idea that you can be good without a belief in God.

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For more information contact:

E-mail: info@humanlight.org

Write to:

HumanLight

PO Box 8212

Somerville, NJ 08876

Joe Fox

Phone: 215-794-8548(cell)

E-mail:joe.fox2@verizon.net