Marking the day is a way to spread information and combat misinformation about the positive aspects of Humanism as a philosophical life stance and means to effect change in the world.
The origin was in the 1980s, when several state chapters of the American Humanist Association (AHA) began celebrating World Humanist Day. Different chapters had different ideas as to when that day should be. Some chapters, for example, preferred the anniversary of the founding of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), while other chapters celebrated a Humanist Day on different dates of significance. In the late 1980s-early 1990s, the AHA and then the IHEU passed resolutions declaring the Summer Solstice to be World Humanist Day. In both cases it was done as twin resolutions: the first to decide that there should actually be a World Humanist Day, the second to decide when that day should be.
At present, World Humanist Day isn't widely celebrated although several other groups and organizations are beginning to recognize the holiday and plan events and activities. The Campus Freethought Alliance, for instance, holds its annual conference on World Humanist Day.
Summer Solstice, northern hemisphere
Winter Solstice, southern hemisphere
(Source: IHEU)
And what about us ? - Matariki 
The Humanist Society of New Zealand has for more than 20 years marked the Winter Solstice in New Zealand with a get together and meal in Wellington and at times in other centres.
This year, 2008, Matariki, the Māori New Year will fall on June 5 according to many traditional calculations. This is the new moon after the first appearance above the horizon of Matariki which is the constellation Pleiades. Some iwi (Māori tribes) celebrate the full moon as the beginning of the year. Interestingly this manner of marking the new year is very similar to the European one in that the year begins in the middle of winter, is marked off by lunar months, but by using Matariki as the starting point, avoids the problem experienced in historic Europe of the calender slowly wandering through the year due to miscalculations of year length.
The solstice usually said to be 21st June internationally, often falls on 22 June in New Zealand because of our postion close to the International Date Line which puts us ahead in time. However following a leap day, this year winter solstice which is really a moment and not a day is close to midday on June 21.
So enjoy your mid-winter days no matter how many or when you celebrate them.
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