Why don't THOSE JEHOVAH'S DO ANYTHING. ..or even CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS???

Answer 1

Yes its true Jehovah's Witnesses don't celebrate Christmas, but let me explain WHY Witnesses don't celebrate Christmas or holidays in that matter so you can get a better understanding of where we're coming from.
First off, as Witnesses we try to follow the Bible to the best of our ability. All of our teachings and beliefs come from our deep study of the Bible. Christmas and all other holidays that people celebrate today are not Bible-based at all but quite the opposite. Many man-made holidays have pagan roots and were later adopted by ones calling themselves "Christians." Such false holidays that stems from false religion is incompatible with true worship.

A second point is that Jesus exact birthday was never given in the Bible. In the first two centuries after Jesus Christs' birth no one knew or even cared when Jesus was born. Even if his disciples knew his birthday they would not have celebrated it. The New World Encyclopedia mentions that the early Christians viewed birthday observances as pagan customs. The only birthday observances mentioned in the Bible were that of two rulers who did not worship Jehovah God. (Genesis 40:20; Mark 6:21) The Romans of the time held birthday celebrations for their gods including the sun-god Apollo. In addition birthdays are also linked with superstitution. For instance, the ancient Greeks and Romans believed that a spirit attended the birth of each human that protected it throughout life.

The third point is that according to weather conditions at that time of year in Bethlehem, the Jewish month of Chislev which corresponds to our November/December would have been too cold and rainy for the shephards and their flock to be out. References made by the Bible writer Ezra confirms just how chilly it must of been in that part of the world at that time. (Ezra 10:9,13 also note Jeremiah 36:22). For the account of the shephards to be out at night when Jesus was born to be true, this must not have taken place in December.

Christmas was really established on December 25 to coincide with the pagan festivals that took place around the winter solstice. In an effort to "convert pagans" it was later adopted by religious leaders and made to be "Christian." Although most people think that the orgins of the holidays are irrelevant today, "True" Christians are admonished to make sure of what is acceptable to the Lord. (Eph 5:10-11; 2 Cor 6:14-18) Although holidays may seem harmless or sweet like candy we wouldn't pick up that candy from the gutter. Similiarly we we don't want to pick up something from unclean places.

By no means are we against having fun, or gift-giving or spending time with the family; although most people seem to get that impression. We can do this any other time of the year instead of just one day of the year, and don't worry, we're not being "deprived" of fun. Even though there's things we can't do there's a lot of stuff we can do. If you want more information you can go to the link below.
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Actually, as a Jehovah's Witness, you will attend far more celebrations than in Christendom or Judaism. A weeding anniversary is a celebration for all, as is a wedding. Most weddings are come all events, meaning anyone who shows up, but bring food.

After the Sunday meeting, half or all of a congregation may show up at a restaurant or park for brunch or dinner.

Someone getting baptized, have a party, come all, and bring food.

They're not drunken affairs, as people are not there to down their sorrows, but to celebrate life, and the future of life everlasting.

Answer 3

They do something! Why knock them for not celebrating a pagan based holiday? I'm not even anywhere doctrinally close to them but upon further research have discovered that when it comes to most of our holidays, they are nothing more than Christianized pagan celebrations. I choose to honor God every day of the year and to remember what Jesus did for me on the cross and how he rose from the grave all year around. What's wrong with that? I think they give their children good things all year around.

Answer 4

Because we believe Christmas, Easter, and all of the world's other celebrations are pagan, which we would not take part in because we believe in only one God. Rather than picking one day of the year to be with friends and family and to give and receive small gifts, we like to do that year 'round, so when we give a gift, those who receive them know we were REALLY thinking of them :)

Answer 5

Not being a Jehovah's Witness, I'm not in a position to explain, but I wonder why it bothers people what another religious group or sect chooses not to do.
I will protest their stand on blood transfusions because other people's lives are affected. But not celebrating Christmas? no problem for me. It's their business.

Answer 6

Most so-called "holidays" derive from false religion, and so are incompatible with pure worship. For example, Easter derives from the pagan god Oestre and celebrates "rebirth" and "fertility"; Christmas celebrates the pagan Saturnalia and is months different from the actual birth date of Christ.

Even seemingly innocuous holidays may have some connection with false worship, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day (which arguably derive 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 and certainly DOES distract from actual Christian obligations.

Jehovah's Witnesses focus their attention elsewhere. In particular, they are focused 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.

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


By contrast, it's tragic that the one holiday Christ actually *DID* ask Christians to commemorate is entirely ignored by almost all of Christendom. It is, of course, the Memorial of Christ's death, 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). Christians who commemorate the Last Supper have done so on the same Jewish calendar date as Jesus did, 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", because the early Christians were well-known for this true holy day.

How would Jesus feel to learn that the holiday he commanded was widely ignored, while his so-called followers chose to celebrate a pagan false god and their own traditions of men? We don't need to wonder.

(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/