An ancient tradition with a modern twist: for thousands of years, many cultures around the world have used the astronomical event of the solstices to celebrate festivals. For several decades now, a growing number of non-religious people have also been using the summer solstice as an opportunity to renew the dialog about their beliefs and experiences on the “longest day of the year” and to meet, reconnect and exchange ideas at joint celebrations.
Humanists can celebrate progress worldwide
What was once pure science fiction is now an everyday reality: millions of people around the world who live their lives according to the central humanist principle of “freedom in social responsibility” are now directly connected with each other. Not only in the countries of the Western cultural area, but also in other regions, more and more people who lead their lives without religious ideas are connecting with the help of the Internet and social networks. In Asia, South America and Africa, too, they are joining together online and offline in groups to speak, think and work together for freedom of thought and positive change in the world. And more and more people are coming to the realization that real alternatives to religion are needed and that merely rejecting traditional beliefs on an individual basis will not bring real progress. Today, we can therefore rejoice at the emergence of the first secular and humanist schools in some African countries. There are also numerous encouraging developments in Germany: Not only in the virtual space, but also locally, a variety of small and large associations are continuously developing, which address people with education, practical offers and alternatives. In this way, they are helping to ensure that the many facets of the humanist world view can be experienced in a tangible and positive way. Since the drastic break-up of the secular humanist movement in Germany due to the persecution and oppression of the Nazi dictatorship and the bans in the GDR, there have not been so many people in this country whose lives have been enriched day after day by cultural, educational and social commitment based on humanist convictions. The international humanist holiday on June 21, 2014 therefore offers an opportunity to celebrate these achievements and hopeful developments. It is true that such celebrations have also been taking place in individual locations in German-speaking countries for some years now. However, June 21 is still too little known as a humanist holiday, as a glance at the intercultural calendar published by the city of Berlin shows.
What can we do on this special day of the year?
- the adoption of declarations to the public by democratically elected interest groups on the occasion of the holiday
- a matinee, a picnic or a party
- solemn ceremonies that reflect and emphasize the special significance of the day (“brightness” and “darkness”)
- High-profile activities, panel discussions and film screenings
These are just some of the ways in which the international holiday can be celebrated in a dignified and unifying way – and to draw new strength together, look back and develop new perspectives together. Because despite the many advances that are taking place on a small scale, humanist attitudes, convictions and ideas are not taken for granted in almost any part of the world. Profound economic and other crises in Europe, widespread radically egoistic and often purely economically oriented thinking and extremist sentiment are just as common today as the flourishing of esoteric, fundamentalist, anti-democratic and right-wing populist voices or organizations in our society. The general achievements of an open, democratic, peaceful community guided by enlightenment and reason require constant renewal. The annual World Humanist Day also provides an excellent opportunity for us to come together and consider our options for action.
Publicize your own events
Wherever humanists invite people to their own activities and events on this important holiday, these should be publicized as much as possible! That is why this year we are offering to advertise all events on a separate page on the Internet in a clear and well-organized form. After all, as many people as possible should be able to find out about an event in their area in a simple way, so that they have the opportunity to meet like-minded people, get to know them and celebrate with them on this day.
Background: History of the origins of World Humanist Day
Starting with associations of non-denominational people in the United States, the celebrations of non-religious people on the occasion of the summer solstice have spread to other countries over time. At an international conference in the Norwegian capital Oslo on June 21, 1986, this day was finally declared World Humanist Day – an international holiday for people who live their lives without religious beliefs and on the basis of secular humanist ideas. The holiday is intended to serve as a reminder of the central values and principles of a humanist world view: reason-oriented and rational thinking, self-determination, individuality, solidarity and compassion, as well as the certainty that all people have only one life.
