As the winter solstice approaches, we celebrate not only the return of light after the darkest day but also the shining beacon of freedom—the Bill of Rights, adopted on December 15, 1791. Just as the solstice symbolizes renewal, the Bill of Rights protects our most fundamental freedoms, including the vital separation of church and state.

At the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), we are the nation’s largest association of freethinkers—atheists, agnostics, and skeptics—working to promote the constitutional principle of separation between religion and government. Since 1978, FFRF has been fighting to protect civil liberties, uphold the First Amendment, and advocate for reason and science in public policy. Through litigation, education, and advocacy, we work tirelessly to ensure that our government remains free from religious entanglement.

Every winter, we’re asked how to counter religious displays on government property. The answer is through equal representation. If religious displays are allowed, the law also requires equal access for nonbelievers.

How You Can Help:

• Fill out a permit at the appropriate governmental agency and provide the display dates to us.
• Transport the 56-by-66-inch Bill of Rights display (the crated size is 72–by-60 inches) to and from the venue (e.g., have access to a flatbed or other large truck).
• Promptly take and provide a photo of the display while it is on display for use in a press release by FFRF.
• Store the display for the rest of the year (including the large crate, which we ask you to keep for future shipping needs). 

Interested in getting involved? Click here to apply for a 2024 Solstice Display.

For those who prefer private property displays, we also offer free downloadable Winter Solstice signs that you can turn into posters or yard signs.

That’s where our Bill of Rights Nativity comes in.

Created by artist Jake Fortin, this display honors the adoption of the Bill of Rights while offering a robust, secular counterpoint to religious nativity scenes. You can help bring this message of freedom and reason to your community. We’ll provide you with everything you need to set it up and make an impact.

We celebrate the winter solstice as the true “reason for the season”—a natural event observed by cultures for millennia. Before Christianity, many ancient civilizations, often called “pagans” by later religions, honored the solstice as a time of rebirth and renewal, marking the return of the sun and longer days. The celebration of light overcoming darkness was symbolically rich and significant. However, much of this ancient heritage was co-opted  by Christianity, which aligned its holiday calendar to overlap with existing pagan festivals. Christmas, as we know it, borrowed heavily from solstice traditions, transforming them into religious observances.

This Winter Solstice, help shine a light on the freedoms enshrined in our secular Constitution. Join FFRF in celebrating the Bill of Rights, and let’s ensure that reason, not religious myths, prevails.

Become a member today and stand with us in protecting the separation of church and state, for this season and beyond. Together, we can keep the flame of freedom burning bright.

If you encounter religious displays on government property, here are the general laws and rules regarding public forums and holiday displays. If you’re denied the right to place a display where a Christian nativity exists, you can fill out a form here, and FFRF attorneys will get back to you about your legal rights. Not all religious displays are public forums, and each of these situations has to be reviewed case by case according to increasingly convoluted court reasonings.