Apparently Dawkins doesn’t mind singing Christmas carols, and I can sympathize. Christmas isn’t the enemy. Which is why I find it amusing (rather than upsetting) that the Harvard Secular Society is using this image (right) for the Facebook page of a party this weekend.
Still, I’d like to move away from religious holidays, bit by bit. The two alternatives I like the most are:
- Solstice. It’s commemorating an actual, meaningful, astronomical event, so it wins the “Least Arbitrary Winter Holiday” award. (December 22nd this year, 1:08 am EST. Which is also, by the way, the time chosen for Global Orgasm Day.)
- Festivus, the Seinfeld holiday. (December 23rd.)
I’ll probably just go out with some friends for drinks for Solstice, unless I suddenly get inspired to plan a party. But I’ll probably host a low-key Festivus this year, unless I’m in NH, hitting the mean streets of Keene for Obama…
Update: Daniel Robinson has an interesting piece on atheists celebrating Christmas in the Harvard Independent.
