What is the reasoning behind Jehovah's Witness' choosing not to celebrate any holidays?

Question

Or, do they celebrate some holidays?

Answer 1

Whats the reason behind jehovahs's witness' PERIOD>.

Answer 2

The better question is what observances did Christ say to keep? Did he say to specifically not celebrate his birthday? No, but when you tell your children not to do something, do you spell out every detail? When they do something they know they shouldn't be doing, and say you didn't specifically say not to do it, do you accept that and move on?

The greatest difference between JWs and the rest of Christendom can be answered with just one question.

WHAT DAY DO YOU OBSERVE THE MEMORIAL ON?

Everyone else will falter around and perhaps come up with a day in May, but all JWs will say at sunset on Niacin 14, which falls on the first full moon after the vernal equinox, the Memorial of the Last Supper. This is the only day, aside from wedding anniversaries, that Christ said to continue keeping, yet Jehovah's Witnesses are the only Christian organization that does.

Whatever you may say about whether it is right or wrong to observe the man-made holidays created since the first congregations, the fact remains that Christendom does not observe the one day Christ said to keep. What does that say for the leaders of Christendom, that they ignore that one important day of the year, and don't even know what day it falls on?

This question gets asked a lot, yet the facts of why are clearly evident. Even the Churches of Christendom recognize that the holidays and observances are not in keeping with Bible teachings, yet they fear that doing anything about it will jeopardize their positions and power. Check any religious encyclopeia about the holidays and their history.

So the question is not why don't witnesses celebrate the holidays, but why do you celebrate something not taught in the Bible? Further, why don't you know what day Christ said to observe and why don't you observe it on that day?

Whatever you may think of any of the other beliefs of JWs, you have to ask yourself is the need to observe these holidays more important than observing the day Christ said to keep?

Answer 3

Holiday's that exalt humans or human organization are not acceptable to Jehovah. (Jeremiah 17:5-7; Acts10:25,26. Also we must bear in mind, too, that origin of religious celebrations has a bearing whether they please God or not. (Isaiah 52:11; Revelation 18:4)
Even
The World Book Encyclopedia says, the early Christians considered the celebration of anyone's birth to be a pagan custom. The only birthday observances mentioned in the Bible are those of two rulers who did not worship Jehovah. (Genesis 40:20; Mark 6:21) Birthday celebrations were also held in honor of pagan deities. For example, on May 24 the Romans celebrated the birthday of the goddess Diana. On the following day, they observed the birthday of their sun-god, Apollo. Hence, birthday celebrations were associated with paganism, not with Christianity.

Answer 4

The answer is that they dont celebrate the holidays because of thie pagan origins and as True Christians they follow the Bibles exortation in John 4:23,24 that God must be worshipped in SPIRIT AND TRUTH thus if a holiday that purports it self to be christian is in reality a pagan holiday that would be a lie also the principles as stated in Eph 5:10,11 and 2nd Cor 4 :14-18 John 18:36,John 15:19, 1st John 5:19 they follow the teachings of Jesus and the principles outlined in Gods word the Bible not what is the custom of man ...... for more info go to www.Watchtower.Org hope this helps you Gorbalizer

Answer 5

It depends on the holiday.
Christmas - They don't believe it is Jesus' birthday.

Birthdays - only 2 birthdays are stated in the bible and 2 people got beheaded.

Halloween - Devil's night.

July 4th - they don't have any ties or anything with the govt. They pay taxes and follow the laws as long as the laws don't prohibit any dealings with the religion.

Valentine's Day - St. Valentine was a mean or evil man, I think (I'm not totally sure about that one)

Easter - They celebrate Jesus' resurrection on Nisan 14 which usually happens a few days before Easter.

Not sure about Thanksgiving

Answer 6

Almost all encyclopedias will inform people that the major holidays all had pagan influences. As Christians we r only obligated to celebrate the Lord's Evening meal, which we do gladly, cause this allowed for our redemption to be son's of God like Adam originally was. Romans chapter 5 gives the explanation for this.
Also at 1 Corinthians 10 ; 20 , 21 it says " No, but I say that the things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not want you to become shareers with the demons. You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and and the cup of demons....."

Answer 7

in the previous asking why JW's do no longer that's nicely worth discovering the origins of the celebrations . in case you project to examine then consistent with threat the query could be if i'm Christian why could I have fun ? a sprint examine is going a protracted way.

Answer 8

I am not JW so no exert. I did work with a JW once though who told me that they don't celebrate holidays because they recognize that the Christian holidays were all based on pagan holidays in order to faciltiate their conversion. Thus, they feel it is unChristian to celebrate essentially pagan traditions.

Answer 9

I think the question has been answered to satisfaction by persons who are J.Ws. We are the ones to know for sure! However I would like that "spiritwalker" backs up his ideas about what Jehovahs Wittnesses believe in with Biblical references or be quit! (the one about "Jesus Christ being God " incarnate , where does it say that , I would really want to know!!!!) And I am sure so would my fellow brothers!

Answer 10

Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate every single holiday that Christ Jesus originated; the Scriptures describe exactly one such holy day for Christians. Ironically, Christendom almost universally chooses *NOT* to celebrate that yearly commemoration.

That holy day is, of course, the Memorial of Christ's death. It is sometimes called "the Last Supper" or "the Lord's Evening Meal".

(1 Corinthians 11:23-25, NWT) The Lord Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” 25 He did likewise respecting the cup.. Keep doing this... in remembrance of me.”

(1 Cor 11:24, 25, NEB) "Do this as a memorial of me.”


Christ Jesus himself personally celebrated and explained the significance of that Last Supper to his followers (see Matthew 26:26-29). Apparently Jesus Christ established the occasion to supercede the Jewish Passover, which occurs after sunset on the 14th of Nisan (a month of the Jewish calendar).

(Luke 22:14-16) At length when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 And [Jesus] said to them: “I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it becomes fulfilled in the kingdom of God.


Sadly, it is only a minority of professed Christians who follow the BIBLICAL pattern for the Last Supper which was established by Christ himself. Sadly, most of Christendom ignores Christ's celebration and instead follow unrelated human traditions which purport to honor Christ, but in ways unconnected with what Jesus Christ established.

Like the former Passover, those Christians who commemorate the Last Supper have also done so on the date corresponding to Nisan 14, which generally falls between late March and mid-April. Interestingly, Christians in the centuries immediately after Christ's impalement were sometimes called "Quartodecimans" which literally mean "fourteen-ers"


There are fundamental differences between the Memorial which Christ Jesus instituted and the so-called "Easter" which Christendom adopted from pagan worship of the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre (or Oestre). While most Easter celebrations merely repackage pagan fertility festivals and concentrate on eating, decorating, and frivolity, the Last Supper focuses on the value of Christ's sacrifice and the sober obligation of Christianity.

(Matthew 15:6-9) You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you when he said, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’”

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20041215/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20011115/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/

Answer 11

They do not celebrate holidays because they recognize that holidays are rooted in Pagan traditions and not the Bible.