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celebrations. Private events at home tend to involve more disparate activities, but frequently involve a meal with family and friends. The HumanLight
Committee recommends keeping three principles central in any event: (1) promoting the positive values of Humanism, (2) avoiding negative messages related to religions, and (3) keeping it family and children-friendly.
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Although the first HumanLight celebration was with a large group at a public location, HumanLight is also celebrated as families or individuals, and can be in public or private venues, such as homes. There are no firm requirements for HumanLight celebrations. Even the date of celebration is flexible.
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HumanLight is a secular holiday that focuses on the "positive, secular human values of reason, compassion, humanity and hope". While there are no universally accepted ways to commemorate the holiday, modern celebrations typically involve a communal meal among a family or group. The use of candles to
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Although there are no requirements, there are a wide variety of possible themes and events to include in a HumanLight ceremony or celebration. These include "science book exchanges," music, and children's activities, among others. Charitable works and donations are also common parts of HumanLight
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The HumanLight symbol was designed by a volunteer artist; the initial symbol appeared with a single figure, but was adjusted to include three figures in 2009 to reflect the "community nature" of the holiday. The current symbol "depicts the light of the sun, and human figures celebrating with arms
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There are no universal traditions, but over time the use of candles has become significant. Candles and decorations have at times used the colors blue, red, and yellow/gold, to represent both the colors of the HumanLight symbol as well as reason, compassion, and hope. There are no set colors for
538:
Celebration of the holiday has expanded since its inaugural event. By 2010, there were at least thirty known public celebrations, and multiple secular organizations—including the
American Humanist Association—had endorsed the holiday. The ceremonies themselves have also evolved. The first event
29:
498:. The inaugural event involved only the founding organization, but is now celebrated by many secular organizations and individuals across the United States and other countries. Various organizations have recognized the holiday, including the
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HumanLight's origins stem from members of the New Jersey
Humanist Network asking in the late 1990s how secular people could best participate in the December holiday season. The inaugural event occurred at the Verona Park Boathouse in
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symbolize reason, hope, compassion, and humanity has become widespread among those celebrating. Groups today also observe the holiday using charity work, gift exchanges, and other ideas associated with holidays and celebrations.
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For example, although HumanLight Day is
December 23, if that date in a particular year falls on a weekday, organizers can schedule the celebration on the previous weekend, if needed.
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emphasis on humanity with "Light" pointing to human reason. The event is designed to celebrate the "positive human values of reason, compassion, humanity and hope".
554:. This was by design, as Patrick Colucci of the HumanLight Committee has stated that "We're not out to take Christmas away from anyone who wants to celebrate it."
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celebrated annually on
December 23. HumanLight was first celebrated in 2001, and was created to provide a specifically Humanist celebration during the
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involved a meal among its participants, along with artistic performances and other activities. Over the years, additional traditions have been added.
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in 2004. The HumanLight
Committee maintains the official HumanLight webpage and engages with humanist organizations and the media about the holiday.
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924:"Hogmanay, and 12 other global festivities in December: We take a look at the different celebrations taking place on December around the world"
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candle-lighting ceremonies, and both three and four candle ceremonies have been seen, with a fourth candle representing humanity.
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people in commemorating the
December holiday season without encroaching on other adjacent events—both religious ones such as
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Candle display following a Candle
Lighting ceremony during a HumanLight celebration in Germany in 2014
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Provides humanists and secular people with an opportunity to commemorate the
December holiday season.
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outstretched. The font characters composing HumanLight are of a festive, decorative nature."
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on
December 23, 2001, and was attended by nearly 100 people, including prominent Humanist
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1162:"HumanLight 2012: Secularists Add New Holiday To Crowded December Calendar"
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486:. The New Jersey Humanist Network founded the holiday in 2001 to aid
1037:"Dec. 2010: Dr. Paul Kurtz returns to N.J. to celebrate HumanLight"
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The December 23 date allows HumanLight to connect itself to the
958:"How to Celebrate HumanLight, A December Holiday for Humanists"
1071:"How We Celebrate: What happens at a HumanLight celebration?"
1142:"Non-Believers Light Up Holidays With their Own Celebration"
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Official HumanLight Symbol used in HumanLight celebrations
1228:"Atheists Reach Out -- Just Don't Call It Proselytizing"
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Qureshi, Hira; Davidowitz, Esther (December 20, 2021).
1179:"Secularists see 'HumanLight' as new December holiday"
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1105:"Keeping Our Human Light Lit During the Holidays"
550:which many Humanists may also celebrate, such as
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598:List of multinational festivals and holidays
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1251:"HumanLight: December's Secular Holiday"
1177:Winston, Kimberly (December 20, 2012).
1160:Winston, Kimberly (December 22, 2012).
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1201:Brill, Gary; Fox, Joe (Nov–Dec 2009).
939:American Humanist Association (2004).
1226:Stephanie Simon (November 18, 2008).
1017:"An Atheist Can Believe in Christmas"
979:"HumanLight: A Holiday for Humanists"
956:Colucci, Patrick (13 December 2012).
514:The name HumanLight comes from a non-
7:
1140:Thorbourne, Ken (December 7, 2001).
1103:Speckhardt, Roy (December 9, 2012).
1015:Kennedy, Randy (December 17, 2006).
977:Colucci, Patrick (7 December 2011).
1123:Sterling, Joe (December 23, 2009).
998:Colucci, Patrick (2 January 2017).
649:American Humanist Association, 2004
329:Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands
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1249:Brad Linder (December 23, 2008).
1125:"For many, December's a dilemma"
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985:. American Humanist Association
964:. American Humanist Association
922:Aljazeera (30 December 2017).
339:Norwegian Humanist Association
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319:American Humanist Association
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1054:"FAQ: What is HumanLight?"
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1052:HumanLight.org (2017).
1035:HumanLight.org (2017).
544:December holiday season
314:Humanists International
1090:. HumanLight Committee
1073:. HumanLight Committee
1056:. HumanLight Committee
1039:. HumanLight Committee
943:. HumanLight Committee
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309:Humanist International
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548:other winter holidays
510:Etymology and meaning
403:Humanistic capitalism
398:Humanistic psychology
53:Cultural or religious
1299:Humanist observances
1294:December observances
1088:"HumanLight Symbols"
908:HumanLight.org, 2017
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805:HumanLight.org, 2017
793:HumanLight.org, 2017
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626:HumanLight.org, 2017
408:Humanistic economics
388:Religion of Humanity
167:Renaissance humanism
1235:Wall Street Journal
1146:The Montclair Times
522:Origins and history
608:World Humanist Day
603:Religious humanism
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529:Verona, New Jersey
349:Center for Inquiry
185:Humanist Manifesto
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1273:. Retrieved
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1183:. Retrieved
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1024:. Retrieved
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1004:. Retrieved
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66:Celebrations
58:Significance
926:. Aljazeera
253:Rationalist
218:Existential
148: 1490
84:December 23
1288:Categories
1164:. Huffpost
989:January 6,
916:References
579:Observance
533:Paul Kurtz
470:HumanLight
71:Compassion
22:HumanLight
552:Christmas
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288:Universal
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213:Christian
177:in France
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122:Humanism
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102:Humanism
75:Humanity
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558:Symbols
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159:History
278:Trans-
268:Super-
228:Jewish
69:Reason
1253:. NPR
1231:(PDF)
1127:. CNN
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