why don't jehova witnesses celebrate Christmas or birthdays?

Question

I have some JW school friends who don't celebrate birthdays or Christmas,they seem very sad and lonely at this time of year,out of sync with the rest of the school and population.Why do their parents not allow them to share?Is it fair for them to force their opinions/beliefs on their children and seperate them from their friends.I have several Muslim,sikh and hindu friends who all enjoy these celebrations,even the Christian ones!

Answer 1

Birthdays. Misunderstandings may even arise with celebrations that appear to have few, if any, religious connections. This is true of birthdays, celebrated in many schools. Although Jehovah’s Witnesses respect the right of others to celebrate birthdays, you are no doubt well aware that they choose not to share in such celebrations. But perhaps you are unaware of the reasons why they and their children have decided not to participate in these celebrations.

Le livre des religions (The Book of Religions), an encyclopedia widely distributed in France, calls this custom a ritual and lists it among “secular rites.” Although considered to be a harmless secular custom today, birthday celebrations are actually rooted in paganism.

The Encyclopedia Americana (1991 edition) states: “The ancient world of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia celebrated the birthdays of gods, kings, and nobles.” Authors Ralph and Adelin Linton reveal the underlying reason for this. In their book The Lore of Birthdays, they write: “Mesopotamia and Egypt, the cradles of civilization, were also the first lands in which men remembered and honoured their birthdays. The keeping of birthday records was important in ancient times principally because a birth date was essential for the casting of a horoscope.” This direct connection with astrology is a cause of great concern to any who avoid astrology because of what the Bible says about it.—Isaiah 47:13-15.

Not surprisingly then, we read in The World Book Encyclopedia: “The early Christians did not celebrate His (Christ’s) birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.”—Volume 3, page 416.

With the foregoing in mind, Jehovah’s Witnesses choose not to share in birthday festivities. To be sure, the birth of a child is a happy, glorious event. Naturally, all parents rejoice as their children grow and develop with each passing year. Jehovah’s Witnesses also find great joy in demonstrating their love for their family and friends by giving gifts and having good times together. However, in view of the origin of birthday celebrations, they prefer to do so at other times throughout the year.—Luke 15:22-25; Acts 20:35.

Christmas. Christmas is celebrated worldwide, even in many non-Christian countries. Since this holiday is accepted by the majority of the religions of Christendom, it may seem rather surprising that Jehovah’s Witnesses choose not to celebrate it. Why is that so?

As many encyclopedias clearly state, Jesus’ birthday was arbitrarily set as December 25 to coincide with a Roman pagan festival. Note the following declarations taken from different reference works:

“The date of Christ’s birth is not known. The Gospels indicate neither the day nor the month.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III, page 656.

“Most of the Christmas customs now prevailing in Europe, or recorded from former times, are not genuine Christian customs, but heathen customs which have been absorbed or tolerated by the Church. . . . The Saturnalia in Rome provided the model for most of the merry customs of the Christmas time.”—Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics (Edinburgh, 1910), edited by James Hastings, Volume III, pages 608-9.

“Christmas has been celebrated on December 25 in all Christian churches since the fourth century. At that time, this was the date of the pagan winter-solstice festival called the ‘Birth (Latin, natale) of the Sun,’ since the sun appeared to be reborn as the days once again became longer. In Rome, the Church adopted this extremely popular custom . . . by giving it a new meaning.”—Encyclopædia Universalis, 1968, (French) Volume 19, page 1375.

“The development of the Christmas festival was influenced by the contrast with the pagan celebrations of the Sol Invictus (Mithra). On the other hand, December 25, being the day of the winter solstice, was identified with the light that broke forth into the world through Christ, and the symbolism of the Sol Invictus was thus transferred to Christ.”—Brockhaus Enzyklopädie, (German) Volume 20, page 125.
When learning the facts about Christmas, how have some reacted? The Encyclopædia Britannica observes: “In 1644 the English puritans forbad any merriment or religious services by act of Parliament, on the ground that it [Christmas] was a heathen festival, and ordered it to be kept as a fast. Charles II revived the feast, but the Scots adhered to the Puritan view.” The early Christians did not celebrate Christmas, nor do Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrate it today or take part in activities that are associated with Christmas.

The Bible, however, speaks favorably of giving gifts or inviting family and friends for a joyful meal on other occasions. I t encourages parents to train their children to be sincerely generous, instead of giving gifts simply when socially expected to do so. (Matthew 6:2, 3.) Children of Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught to be tolerant and respectful, and this includes recognizing the right of others to celebrate Christmas. In turn, they appreciate it when their decision not to participate in Christmas celebrations is respected.

It can be very hard to be different from the majority of your peers, especially when others ridicule you for following your beliefs. Jehovah's Witnesses enjoy getting together and having fun. However, they choose not to share in so-called "Christian" celebrations which actually have pagan origins.

If you would like further information or a free home Bible study, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit http://www.watchtower.org

Answer 2

I used to be a JW and know exactly how your school friends feel when they cannot celebrate birthdays or Christmas. Sad and lonely sums it up very well. You've been given the reasons why they don't celebrate birthdays or Christmas and JW parents feel obliged to bring their children up according to their beliefs, which is understandable.

However, be aware that JW's also frown upon higher education and sending their children to University. This is because they think Armageddon is just round the corner, so it's a waste of time trying to get any qualifications. What they want is for their children to become 'pioneers', spending their time going from door to door, so it's not necessary to get a good job. Hmmm. Perhaps their real agenda is to prevent their children mixing with non-JW's and finding out stuff that might make them question what they've been taught.

My parents gave me piano lessons, but told my instructor not to put me through any examinations, because all they wanted was for me to play songs at the Kingdom Hall. My parents didn't want me to pass the 11 plus exam and go to High School. My parents actively tried to stop my big brother from going to High School after he passed his 11 plus exam. All my parents wanted was for me to leave school at 16, marry a good JW and bring up children in the JW faith. Bit short sighted, especially when (back in the 1960's) they were convinced Armageddon was round the corner but here we are, 40 years later, and it's still not come.

Don't get me wrong - JW's are decent, law-abiding, sincere people. But, boy, have they been deceived! If you want a free Bible study, I strongly recommend you go elsewhere.

Answer 3

Why is it some birds don't fly?
Why are there so many faiths?
Why has the almighty so many names?
Because variety is the spice of life, wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same and did all the same things at the same time.
Oh!. by the way I am not a JW but I have friends that are, I went out for a meal with them Christmas eve.

Answer 4

they are close to facts. they knew that it is not a birth day of Jesus as jesus was born when shepherds were out to fields and shepherds can't go fields cold,freezing december. so it is not jesus birthday and about celebration yes it is not a christian celebration, this event was added from some other nation. so all those who don't celebrate it they are more closer to facts. I know many learned christians knows all these facts and they don't celebrate it. They just enjoy it as holidays and thats it. If someone disagee then he/she has the right to explore and bring to us the real facts. by the way I am not a JW.

Answer 5

Appearantly a number of people are interested in this question this time of year. I have posted a detailed answer to searcher's question here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aku3GBZECMWVE5Ch3INQk1Psy6IX?qid=20061229003427AAB2D77

I remember once before choosing to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I was studying Latin in high school. Of course at this time of year we all created holiday cards in Latin. I remember asking my teacher, "How do you say, 'Merry Christmas'?" She kept insisting that it was "Felix Saturnalia" (which actually should have been "Io Saturnalia") -- I knew, of course, that Saturnalia was a Roman pagan holiday that had nothing to do with Christianity, and I got very frustrated because I wanted to know how to say "Merry CHRISTMAS". Well, as it turns out, my Latin teacher knew something that I did not at the time.

December 25 was indeed chosen as the date for celebrating Christ's birth, but this decision had little to do with Christ. Saturnalia was the Roman winter solstice holiday originally celebrated on December 17 and later expaned to a whole week through December 23. Saturnalia was indeed a birthday celebration -- of the unconquered sun. Later, the same customs were retained and the holiday was "Christianitized" (to coin a word) so that the holiday celebrating the birthday of the sun was simply changed to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. This was "justified" on the grounds that Jesus said, "I am the light of the world," (John 8:12), but the real reason was to unite the Roman empire in view of the tensions existing between Roman paganism and the "Christianity" of the time. The actual birth date of Jesus, which we know for a fact did NOT occur in December, is almost a moot point.

Is it acceptable to take a pagan holiday and simply "pretend" that it is Christian? Absolutely not! Consider this passage from the Bible:

"Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: 'I shall reside among them and walk among [them], and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.' '"Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves," says Jehovah, "and quit touching the unclean thing"'; 'and I will take you in.’" --2 Corinthians 6:14-17.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas or birthdays because "God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth." --John 4:24

And yes, what the children's parents are doing is perfectly fair and right. "And these words that I am commanding you today must prove to be on your heart; and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you must tie them as a sign upon your hand, and they must serve as a frontlet band between your eyes; and you must write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates." --Deuteronomy 6:6-9.

Learn more...

http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm

Answer 6

They force nothing onto anyone... they simply give plenty of warnings of coming events. And they are not sad and lonely at Xmas time. Thank goodness they have the faith to stand apart from others, and not simply engage in a popular practice just because 'ev eryone else' is doing it. Another reason why there morals are so high too.

Answer 7

I do n't know but they think that only they will survive...but this sect only started in 1872,what happened to the people before that?? It is a small sect who are misguided but I do not try to change their beliefs.The only thing I condemn about them is their stubbornness in refusing to allow even their children a life-saving
blood transfusion.God gave us the know-how and technology to do this why not be grateful and save these poor children?

Answer 8

They don't celebrate Christmas, because it has non-Christian origins. The Catholic Church made a lot of compromises to get Native Indians to join the church. This included combining some Native traditions with Christian traditions.

The Jehovah Witnesses DO celebrate a birthday of sorts, but it is the birthday that you accept Jesus into your life. They consider this a rebirth and a true beginning to your life.

No, I am not a Jehovah's Witness.

Answer 9

Becuase there is no GOOD talk of celebration/birthday celebrations in the Bible. The only time it talks about it, is when someone is killed (like John the Baptist) or when the children of Isreal are dancing around the golden calf and fornicating. In the Bible, they both are related to sin.

Answer 10

Jehovah's Witnesses believe strongly in God Jehovah and in his Son Jesus Christ.

Regarding birthday celebrations, bible students are encouraged to consider:
: 0% of faithful biblical Jews celebrated birthdays
: 0% of first century Christians celebrated birthdays
: 100% of birthdays celebrated in the bible were by debauched enemies of God (See Mark 6:17-29; Gen 40:19-22)

Bible historians (M'Clintock, Strong, and others) have noted that faithful Jews of the bible did not celebrate birthdays, and that ancient pagan birthday celebrations were at least partially intended to honor the patron gods of the particular day.

By comparison with such paganisms, the bible does not even tell us the birthdates of Jesus or ANY of his apostles!


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

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