Happy Atheist Forum

Community => Life As An Atheist => Topic started by: Pharaoh Cat on November 23, 2011, 09:25:58 AM

Title: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: Pharaoh Cat on November 23, 2011, 09:25:58 AM
What would be some good things to celebrate and when during the year would you celebrate them?

First Living Thing Day would be cool, I think, with January 6 a good date.  (I figure we'll leave New Year's Eve and New Year's Day as they are, since they're secular already.  By the 6th we should be recovered from our hangovers.)

Mass Extinction Day might be cool in late October around Hallowe'en.

Cambrian Explosion Day would be cool in early May when the spring is in full swing.

Apollo 11 Day on July 21 would be a must-do.

HMS Beagle Day on December 27 would seem mandatory too, no?

Ideas?




Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: Tank on November 23, 2011, 09:46:05 AM
Darwin Day (http://www.darwinday.org/) 12th February
Space day, 12th April. The day Yuri Gagarin made it into space.
Newton day, 25th December, celebrated by dropping apples on children's heads. (Ok it would be the 4th Jan on a technicality but WTF)
Marie Curie day, 7th November 2067 just once, celebrated by the detonation of the last working nuclear weapon on the Moon.


Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: fester30 on November 23, 2011, 11:35:29 AM
Quote from: Tank on November 23, 2011, 09:46:05 AM
Darwin Day (http://www.darwinday.org/) 12th February
Space day, 12th April. The day Yuri Gagarin made it into space.
Newton day, 25th December, celebrated by dropping apples on children's heads. (Ok it would be the 4th Jan on a technicality but WTF)
Marie Curie day, 7th November 2067 just once, celebrated by the detonation of the last working nuclear weapon on the Moon.

I thought Superman sent all the nuclear weapons to the Sun?

Let's keep in mind that currently there aren't any Federal holidays in March, April, June, or August.  It would be nice to put a couple of holidays in those places just in case we ever get enough atheist-friendly Congress persons to add one or two to the federal holiday roster.
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: The Magic Pudding on November 23, 2011, 11:36:54 AM
February 17, Heliocentric Theory Incontrovertibly Disproven Day, we can all burn  Giordano Bruno effigies in celebration.
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: DeterminedJuliet on November 23, 2011, 12:02:47 PM
Festivus for the restifus?  ;D
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: Buddy on November 23, 2011, 12:08:52 PM
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on November 23, 2011, 12:02:47 PM
Festivus for the restifus?  ;D

Not sure whats worse; the pun, or the fact that I took me a full five minutes to get it.  :D
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: DeterminedJuliet on November 23, 2011, 12:11:52 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on November 23, 2011, 12:08:52 PM
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on November 23, 2011, 12:02:47 PM
Festivus for the restifus?  ;D

Not sure whats worse; the pun, or the fact that I took me a full five minutes to get it.  :D

It's from Seinfield! It's a thing!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus)
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: Tank on November 23, 2011, 01:40:33 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on November 23, 2011, 12:08:52 PM
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on November 23, 2011, 12:02:47 PM
Festivus for the restifus?  ;D

Not sure whats worse; the pun, or the fact that I took me a full five minutes to get it.  :D
Your brain's still not recovered from the horse kick  ;D
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: Whitney on November 23, 2011, 02:35:34 PM
Earth Day
Solstice (while celebrated by pagans; it's also science related)
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: Buddy on November 23, 2011, 06:33:12 PM
Quote from: Tank on November 23, 2011, 01:40:33 PM
Quote from: Budhorse4 on November 23, 2011, 12:08:52 PM
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on November 23, 2011, 12:02:47 PM
Festivus for the restifus?  ;D

Not sure whats worse; the pun, or the fact that I took me a full five minutes to get it.  :D
Your brain's still not recovered from the horse kick  ;D

Or I'm just slow in the morning.  :P
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: keithpenrod on December 07, 2011, 06:38:09 PM
I think, since we already celebrate birthdays of famous people, that celebrating birthdays for Gauss, Riemann, Newton, Turing, Einstein, etc would be lots of fun.
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: Pharaoh Cat on December 07, 2011, 08:08:02 PM
Quote from: keithpenrod on December 07, 2011, 06:38:09 PM
I think, since we already celebrate birthdays of famous people, that celebrating birthdays for Gauss, Riemann, Newton, Turing, Einstein, etc would be lots of fun.

I agree.  Plus you made me think of something: "Wheel Day," on which we would celebrate the invention of the wheel!  8)

"Wheel Day" could be positioned near the summer solstice, so as to be associated with the wheel of the year.  June 28th might be good.  In the USA that would be right smack in the middle between the summer solstice and Independence Day (July 4th).

Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: not your typical... on December 07, 2011, 08:37:27 PM
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on November 23, 2011, 12:02:47 PM
Festivus for the restifus?  ;D
I'm getting my friend that shirt! :D
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: Buddy on December 07, 2011, 09:12:51 PM
Quote from: Pharaoh Cat on December 07, 2011, 08:08:02 PM
I agree.  Plus you made me think of something: "Wheel Day," on which we would celebrate the invention of the wheel!  8)

"Wheel Day" could be positioned near the summer solstice, so as to be associated with the wheel of the year.  June 28th might be good.  In the USA that would be right smack in the middle between the summer solstice and Independence Day (July 4th).



Wheel day... Would we have to go around riding unicycles?  ;D
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: Will on December 08, 2011, 05:40:24 AM
Newton's birthday is January 4th. We could have Newtonian Day, where we attach strings to apples and hang them from trees, and the kids get a piece of candy for every of Newton's laws they can name.

Einstein's is March 14th. Relativity Day seems a nice one, where you email nice letters to all of your relatives about gravitational time dilation or redshift.
Title: Re: Science-based Holidays?
Post by: not your typical... on December 08, 2011, 05:46:58 AM
Quote from: Will on December 08, 2011, 05:40:24 AM
Newton's birthday is January 4th. We could have Newtonian Day, where we attach strings to apples and hang them from trees, and the kids get a piece of candy for every of Newton's laws they can name.

Einstein's is March 14th. Relativity Day seems a nice one, where you email nice letters to all of your relatives about gravitational time dilation or redshift.
Let's do it! ;D *she says eagerly while wondering if she should even be allowed to post in this thread*