The winter solstice is an important annual event that marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. While it has traditionally been associated with religious celebrations, such as Christmas, it is important to understand the reality of the solstice from an atheist perspective. Many ancient societies held celebrations around the time of the solstice, but these were not necessarily tied to the solstice itself. In modern times, some atheists celebrate the solstice as a time to embrace reason, science, and humanist values, while others may simply enjoy the secular traditions of the holiday season.