Why does Jehovah witnesses not celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas?

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses practice strict political and nationalistic neutrality, so they do not celebrate nationalistic holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day.

Objections to Thanksgiving are less severe; primarily Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the government cannot designate a date or manner in which worshippers should thank their Creator. Religion is a private matter which is completely beyond the supervision of secular governments.

Other holidays derive from false religion, and so are incompatible with pure worship as adulterating interfaith. For example, Easter derives from the pagan god Oestre and celebrates "rebirth" and "fertility" instead of commemorating Christ's Last Supper and death as Jesus commanded:
(Luke 22:1-22) [Jesus] dispatched Peter and John, saying: “Go and get the passover ready for us to eat.” ...14 At length when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he 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.” ... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”

Seemingly innocuous holidays may have only a tangential connection with false worship, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day (although arguably derived from ancestor worship). Understated observance of these is not generally considered interfaith by Jehovah's Witnesses, but it is too easily misunderstood in some cultures.

Since such celebrations are not required in true worship, and can easily become a distraction, so Jehovah's Witnesses focus their attention elsewhere. In particular, they are focussed on the preaching work which *IS* a requirement for Christians:

(Luke 10:1-17) [Jesus] the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/rq/article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Only daft Americans celebrate Thanksgiving

Answer 3

Nope they don't celebrate ANYTHING! Especially Christmas! They don't believe that Jesus is the Messiah, so they definately wouldn't celebrate his birthday if they don't even celebrate their own birthdays... which is really sad for the children of that religion... in my opinion.

Answer 4

From what I can gather they don't believe that we have the correct date and they feel that it is offensive to celebrate the birth of Christ on the wrong day.

Answer 5

From what I have heard, they believe that every day should be seen as special because it is a day God made and no day is any more special than others. They don't even celebrate birthdays.

Answer 6

Those are worldly things that detract their attention from "Jehova". They are also based on Pagan traditions. Their whole lives are supposed to be devoted to God.

Answer 7

I really couldn't say, I've investigated several religions, but that one has always scared me off...

Answer 8

too uptight