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Do Athiests Need a Holiday?

HumanLight

I don't know how widespread it is though.

I personally like the idea of solstice/equinox celebrations, though at first glance, it seems a little New Agey. But 'this is the longest night of the year', makes more sense as a time of celebration, than 'the chick who supposedly never had sex had a baby today'.
 
I think we should devote a day to honoring the memory of Giordano Bruno. As Good Friday is intended to observe Jesus' martyrdom for the Christian cause, so should our holiday celebrate someone who died for ours.
 
So here's my idea: M*********ing Supah Holiday for Pastafarians.

The way I see it, you gotta make up a bunch of traditions so the whole thing looks legit. Otherwise it's not a sufficient excuse to miss work. Here's a list of random traditions:

1.) No cornbread, because Robert E. Lee ate cornbread at least once in his lifetime, and he was not a pirate. Not that I'm singling him out or anything.
2.) Capn' Blackbeard breaks into your house and leaves presents inside a giant decorated cannon for all the good little girls and boys. It's like Santa Claus only way cooler, and none of those faggy little elves are involved.
3.) You gotta have pageants for this kind of thing. Historically inaccurate recreations of Captain Blackbeard's final battle with Maynard and Hyde, where Blackbeard kills Maynard and sails off the edge of the Earth by mistake. And then he is struck by lightning (sent by His Noodlyness) on the way down which proves he is a Highlander, which means Blackbeard must still be alive today to give out presents and such (unless someone cuts off his head, which is impossible because he's Blackbeard). It has little to do with changes in global climate, but it's not boring, and the true purpose of these pageant thingies are to keep people awake and give them a false sense of historicity. Although the creation story would be fun to re-enact, holidays should be about separate, unrelated events.
4.) Traditional gifts are rum, spices, and gold, but not limited to chum and bilge. Also pasta sauce.
5.) A massive spaghetti dinner for the entire family. This goes without saying.
6.) All must partake of the sacred herbs. Therefore, it is considered unholy to operate heavy machinery, ride a bike, or work in a productive manner. However philosophical discussion is encouraged, because oregano and thyme can do that for you. What, did you think I was talking about some other kind of special herb?
 
I have heard of atheists celebrating the "Winter Solstice," but that was just a snarky way to celebrate Christmas.

And of course, "atheism isn't a belief, it's a lack of a belief," so there's not so much to celebrate. I have heard of people celebrating Darwin's Birthday, which might be close enough.

Also, I'd have absolutely no problem with co-opting April Fool's Day.
 
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos said:
I agree with Manacles. Simply co-opt any existing holiday as you see fit.

~~ Paul
Click to expand...

Yeah, just look at the japanese, they celebrate Christmas like crazy and they're more atheist then a altar boy on a bad day.

But seriously, holidays are more cultural things than religious things. It so happens that religion tends to tie very closely to culture, and many holidays have religious themes, but most Christian holidays were originally pagan, and the one's created by the government or card companies certainly aren't religious.

The great thing about being an atheist is the freedom granted by not being defined by your diety. Regardless of what fundies might say, atheists generally aren't defined by their lack of belief, it's not just another faith. We should shape holidays based on our values, I would like to take the Christ out of Christmas, and make it a holiday to imbrace the wonderful glories of having stuff.

Either that or we could steal hindu holidays. I had friends that grew up in India, and they say there's a holiday like every other day and all you do is eat tons and sometimes dance or throw things at people.
 
I don't know about athiests as a whole but I could sure use a holiday...



(read holiday as vacation.)
 
CaptainManacles said:
But seriously, holidays are more cultural things than religious things.
Click to expand...

We have a winner! Though now most holidays have turned into corporate things (not including the ones that were Hallmark created altogether), drowning in commercialism and slowly losing their old cultural aspects, and eventually disenchanting a good part of the population. I'll be sad when holidays become no more than days without work. Where is Linus when we need him?
 
As far as I'm concerned, just give me paid time off from work when I want the time. Equal to the time off given to the religious folk. As long as the time off doesn't give my boss a major pain in the butt, (and I know my boss doesn't need me ALL THE TIME), I'll be happy doing what I want on my decided holiday. Just work with me, people!

:w2:

MHB
 
Be Discordian.

Every Friday partake of a hotdog in rememberence of The Original Snub. Or don't because Discordians abstain from hotdogs on Friday in rememberence of The Original Snub.

I love my religion.
 
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