Atheists enjoy all the good stuff without the God stuff

15 holidays that Atheists enjoy, including official Atheism holidays

Valentine’s day • February 14

Valentine’s Day began as St. Valentine’s Day, a Christian holiday honoring a martyr named Valentine. But thankfully the religious aspect has fallen away so people of all beliefs and cultures can simply enjoy a holiday in the name of love and romance. What’s not to like about that?

Mardi Gras • 47 days before Easter

Mardi Gras means “fat Tuesday,” and for good reason. It’s the last day before Lent. Lent is a time when Christians fast or “give up” certain foods. But as Atheists, we get to enjoy the parties, music and “all the feast with none of the fast” that comes with Mardi Gras. 

St. Patrick’s Day • March 17

St. Patrick’s Day observes the death of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. No one’s sure if he enjoyed the occasional green beer, but people drink a lot of it in his honor. St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a secular holiday and is celebrated around the world, with a wide variety of traditions and customs. As an Atheist, you can participate in any of them, or make up your own.

Spring Equinox • Around March 21

Also called the vernal equinox or March equinox. This is when the Sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night are the same length. Many cultures around the world celebrate the spring equinox for many reasons. Ancient people used it to celebrate fertility — now all the springtime eggs and bunnies make sense, right? If you are a nature lover, it’s a great time to get outside and welcome spring. 

Atheist Day • March 23

Atheist Day is one of the official holidays for Atheists. It’s a great day to raise awareness about the rights of Atheists worldwide, and to promote understanding, diversity and acceptance among all people no matter what they believe — or don’t believe. 

Easter • Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox

Before Christians celebrated Jesus rising from the dead, and before we hunted for eggs and gorged on candy, Easter was a pagan tradition. (See March Equinox above.) Christians missionaries aligned Easter to the March equinox because they found it easier to convert people to Christianity if they adopted some aspects of their original beliefs. The same thing happened with Christmas!

National Day of Reason • First Thursday in May 

The National Day of Reason is a secular holiday that stands in protest to the National Day of Prayer in the US. It was created to "celebrate reason — a concept all Americans can support — and to raise public awareness about the persistent threat to religious liberty posed by government intrusion into the private sphere of worship.” Amen. 

Atheist Pride Day • June 6

Atheist Pride Day is reserved for Atheists to feel united in their beliefs with other Atheists. It’s also a designated day for Atheists to “come out” on social media and to their families. Many Atheists leaving religion feel very nervous about coming out. They’re afraid that their parents or friends may no longer accept them. So the rest of us must make sure to offer them support any way we can. 

Summer Solstice • Around June 21

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It has been celebrated since ancient times, and includes themes of fertility, harvest and renewal. Traditions include bonfires in Scandinavia to Sun rituals in Stonehenge, reflecting gratitude for the sun's life-giving energy. You can celebrate how you want. We try to enjoy the day outside. 

Autumnal Equinox • Around September 22

The autumnal equinox is the onset of fall, when day and night are equal lengths, just like the spring equinox. Different cultures celebrate in different ways, but many of them share themes of balance and reflection. For example, in the US there are harvest festivals. Japan has Higan, a Buddhist festival honoring ancestors.

Halloween • October 31

Halloween has its spooky roots in the ancient Celtic festival Samhain, a time when the veil between the living and the dead was believed to be thinnest. Originally celebrated to ward off ghosts, we now celebrate to dress up like our favorite characters and indulge on candy. For Atheists who feel an attachment to spirituality, Halloween offers an opportunity to explore and celebrate that aspect of their beliefs without falling on a major religious holiday. 

Thanksgiving • Fourth Thursday in November 

A day to tuck in and enjoy good food. Sure, prayers may be said at the table. But Thanksgiving is a great time for anyone to reflect and appreciate what they have. Hopefully that includes a supportive family and friends, good food, and the space to be yourself and express your individuality. 

Winter Solstice • Around December 21

The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s been celebrated for millennia, with customs varying widely. Traditions often include feasting, lighting candles or bonfires, and rituals symbolizing the rebirth of the sun and the triumph of light over darkness.

Christmas • December 25

Don’t believe those “Keep Christ in Christmas” bumper stickers — Christmas belongs to everyone. Before Jesus was born, pagans were celebrating the winter solstice, Romans were celebrating Saturnalia, and the Norse had Yule to honor their god Odin. And of course there’s Santa and his reindeer. Atheists can feel free to enjoy any and all of these customs, guilt-free.

New Year’s Eve & Day • December 31 & January 1

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are the perfect times to reflect on where you’ve been, and where you’re going. Around the world people close year with parties before enacting resolutions that’ll make the coming year even better. As an Atheist, you may want consider