why jehovah witneses dont celebrate christmas?

Question

THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS

9 It was not until several hundred years after Jesus lived on the earth that people began to commemorate his birth on December 25. But that was not the date of Jesus’ birth, for it evidently took place in October. So why was December 25 chosen? Some who later claimed to be Christian likely "wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun.’" (The New Encyclopædia Britannica) In winter, when the sun seemed weakest, pagans held ceremonies to get this source of warmth and light to come back from its distant travels. December 25 was thought to be the day that the sun began its return. In an effort to convert pagans, religious leaders adopted this festival and tried to make it seem "Christian."

10 The pagan roots of Christmas have long been recognized. Because of its unscriptural origin, Christmas was banned in England and in some of the American colonies during the 17th century. Anyone who even stayed home from work on Christmas day had to pay a penalty. Soon, though, the old customs were back, and some new ones were added. Christmas once again became a big holiday, and that is what it still is in many lands. Because of the connections that Christmas has with false religion, however, those who want to please God do not celebrate it or any other holiday that has its roots in pagan worship.

Has the modern-day celebration of Christmas lost sight of Christ? Officially, December 25 has been observed since the fourth century C.E., when the Roman Catholic Church designated that day for religious observance of Jesus’ birth. But according to a recent poll taken in the United States, only 33 percent of those polled felt that the birth of Christ is the most important aspect of Christmas.

What do you think? Do you at times feel that in all the insistent advertising, the harried buying of presents, the decorating of trees, the organizing and attending of parties, the sending of cards—Jesus has somehow been left out of the picture?

Many seem to feel that one way to put Christ back into Christmas is by displaying a Nativity scene, or crèche. Likely you have seen such groupings of figurines, representing the baby Jesus in a manger surrounded by Mary, Joseph, some shepherds, "three wise men," or "three kings," some barnyard animals, and some onlookers. It is commonly felt that these crèches serve to remind people of the real meaning of Christmas. According to U.S. Catholic, "a crèche gives a more developed picture than any single gospel can give, though it also emphasizes the nonhistorical character of these narratives."

How, though, would a Nativity scene suggest that the narratives in the Gospel accounts of the Bible are nonhistorical? Well, it must be admitted that quaintly painted little sculptures lend an aura of legend or fairy tale to the birth of Christ. First popularized by a monk in the 13th century, the Nativity scene was once a fairly modest affair. Today, like so many other things associated with this holiday, Nativity scenes have become big business.

And my last thougt to leave you with in the bible it leaves you with the day and year and month and date when jesus died, but there is NO evidence of jesus being born on Dec. 25,

Maybe you feel that the origins of holidays have little to do with how they are celebrated today. Do origins really matter? Yes! To illustrate: Suppose you saw a piece of candy lying in the gutter. Would you pick up that candy and eat it? Of course not! That candy is unclean. Like that candy, holidays may seem sweet, but they have been picked up from unclean places. To take a stand for true worship, we need to have a viewpoint like that of the prophet Isaiah, who told true worshipers: "Touch nothing unclean."—Isaiah 52:11



Another disturbing question arises with regard to the nature of Christmas celebrations. If Jesus returned to the earth today, what would he think about the rank commercialism of Christmas? would he approve of it?

Answer 1

They believe that celebrating holidays and birthdays is glorification of false religion and giving glory to that which is not directly of god.

Answer 2

JWs do not celebrate Christmas because "we do not participate in pagan celebrations, and we know that Jesus was not born on December 25."

I would like to point out that the date was adopted, but not the pagan festival itself. Certain traditions were carried over and given new meaning by the pagan-turned-Christians, but it's not as if Christmas were actually a celebration of the solstice.

Yes, I do think that Christmas is overly commercialized, and I do wish people were more focused on Jesus than on Frosty the Snowman and reindeer.

Do origins matter? To some extent, I suppose, but isn't the reality of the present more important than any past? Should a good person be condemned because they have a shady family? And really, the only thing wrong with the origins of Christmas is the date. As to the candy, I must sheepishly admit that I might eat it so long as it was wrapped. This is to the utter dismay of those who know me, but, hey, I'm still alive.

Answer 3

Jesus would be disgusted with Christmas today, because he originally did not want to start a new religion with his crucifixion. It was Paul who commercially started Christianity, and eventually setting down the roots for the Church and other high officials to set up the rememberance of his birth than coincides with the Pagan holiday. Jesus was a Jew who didn't claim to be king, but was claimed to be king, which really pissed off Herod who was the king.That's it! The rest is history.
One last thing-please do not ever make your question so long that we get bored after two sentences of reading.

Answer 4

A little long winded are we?

Might I suggest you study the division between the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Christmas and Easter is what they split over. For them, it is done on January 5th for Christmas. The Russian Church is becoming a little peeved over what they call "Unnatural" beliefs of Churches that have the backing of the U.S. You can only guess what they say about JWs. They've been attempting to get other religions banned there.

Answer 5

Are you asking a question above? It looks like a statment with a question mark at the end.
Commercialization of a holiday is not the best thing that can happen with it. If you focus on family and giving, it is more important than anything else.

Answer 6

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe!

Jehovah's Witnesses love and respect and honor Christ. They do NOT celebrate so-called "Christmas" because "Christmas" does NOT celebrate Christ; "Christmas" celebrates the pagan Saturnalia. Jesus was not even born in December. Nearly all so-called Christmas customs dishonor Christ.

(Jeremiah 10:2-5) This is what Jehovah has said: "Do not learn the way of the nations at all... 3 For the customs of the peoples are just an exhalation, because it is a mere tree out of the forest that one has cut down, the work of the hands of the craftsman with the billhook. 4 With silver and with gold one makes it pretty. With nails and with hammers they fasten them down, that none may reel. ...the doing of any good is not with them."

http://watchtower.org/e/19981215/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001215/
http://watchtower.org/e/20041215/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19981215/
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.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/

Answer 7

I think if something is worth celebrating one should party.

I have given up on the Jehovah whiteness bulls**t and I tell you why.Hypocrites,nothing but.I call it, the religion that shouldn't been.

not only do they throw you out of bed on a Saturday morning and Unless your doberman doesn't get them of your property they just wont leave.Dobi is doing a good job at that.

But did you know they are not allowed blood transfusions but if they need a liver,kidney or heart transplant they are eager to receive.guess what,there is blood of the donor in that organ,you dufuses.WTF.Lets face it ,every religion just kind of make up rules as time goes on and whatever the situation presents.they happen to make up a lot of crap just to feel important.

Whatever.Jesus wouldn't like the commercialism but as a celebration, I don't think that its a bad deal if some one feels the need so whats wrong with that ?Jesus participated him self in celebrations.How well do you know the bible?

oh-could you keep your question a bit shorter MR.Dogooder,I needed two bathroom brakes while reading through that-and essentially you had no point!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Are you asking a question or making a statement?