In a month surrounded by families and traditional churches celebrating the light of their many faiths, it is easy to get lost among the many messages. This is why the Universal Life Church is spreading the message of our late December celebration of Humanity. We acknowledge and celebrate the light of Us, the Human Light.
This holiday officially began in 2001, although it could be argued this is the true purpose of the original late December pagan holidays. Spread into other countries now, the holiday of Human Light is most notably celebrated to coincide with the solstice on Dec 22. It should be made clear this is not an attempt to secularize any existing religious holiday, but simply to give humanists a place in this season to embrace their ideals.
There are no real set traditions surrounding this holiday. It’s a space a humanist can slide into to embrace the parties and festivities of the season and celebrate within the hope of humanity. A hope we find within ourselves. Some groups do have nights of singing and candle lighting to celebrate reason and human achievement, but to this point no true traditions are in place. The four ideals behind this holiday are the ideals behind humanist thinking: Reason, Compassion, Hope, and Humanity.
This interfaith celebration focuses on the goodness of humanity and the promise each of us has. As the new year begins, it is a time of renewal and hope.
This is a time to commit yourself to the purpose of spreading the message of Human Light by becoming an ordained minister. Whether you are an atheist or secular humanist, if you believe our interfaith energy should focus on the goodness and potential found within ourselves, consider the holiday of Human Light your time to become a minister and enter minister training for weddings and teaching.
