Why don't Jehovah witnesses believe in celebrating holidays/birthdays?

Answer 1

Hi there!

Here is an article that tells you why we don't celebrate some of them... Enjoy! :)

http://www.watchtower.org/library/rq/article_11.htm

Learn More!
www.watchtower.org

Answer 2

The celebration of birthday is NOT a Biblical practice. They have pagan origins.
What is the origin of popular customs associated with birthday celebrations?

“The various customs with which people today celebrate their birthdays have a long history. Their origins lie in the realm of magic and religion. The customs of offering congratulations, presenting gifts and celebrating—complete with lighted candles—in ancient times were meant to protect the birthday celebrant from the demons and to ensure his security for the coming year. . . . Down to the fourth century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom.”—Schwäbische Zeitung (magazine supplement Zeit und Welt), April 3/4, 1981, p. 4.

“The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or daemon who attended his birth and watched over him in life. This spirit had a mystic relation with the god on whose birthday the individual was born. The Romans also subscribed to this idea. . . . This notion was carried down in human belief and is reflected in the guardian angel, the fairy godmother and the patron saint. . . . The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks. . . . Honey cakes round as the moon and lit with tapers were placed on the temple altars of [Artemis]. . . . Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes. . . . Lighted tapers and sacrificial fires have had a special mystic significance ever since man first set up altars to his gods. The birthday candles are thus an honor and tribute to the birthday child and bring good fortune. . . . Birthday greetings and wishes for happiness are an intrinsic part of this holiday. . . . Originally the idea was rooted in magic. . . . Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day.”—The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952), Ralph and Adelin Linton, pp. 8, 18-20.
Wholesome gatherings of family and friends at other times to eat, drink, and rejoice are not objectionable.

Eccl. 3:12, 13: “There is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good during one’s life; and also that every man should eat and indeed drink and see good for all his hard work. It is the gift of God.”

---------------

The Bible is not the source of popular religious and secular holidays that are celebrated in many parts of the world today. What, then, is the origin of such celebrations? If you have access to a library, you will find it interesting to note what reference books say about holidays that are popular where you live. Consider a few examples.

It is not possible to discuss all the observances held throughout the world. However, holidays that exalt humans or human organizations are not acceptable to Jehovah. (Jeremiah 17:5-7; Acts 10:25, 26.) Keep in mind, too, that the origin of religious celebrations has a bearing on whether they please God or not. (Isaiah 52:11; Revelation 18:4) The Bible principles mentioned here will help you to determine how God views participation in holidays of a secular nature.

There are many holidays which have pagan origins. Not all can be discussed here. But the historical information provided above gives indications as to what to look for in connection with any holiday, and the Bible principles already discussed supply ample guidance for those whose foremost desire is to do what is pleasing to Jehovah God.

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 3

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

Answer 4

Because, Easter originally started with Astarted (get it, Easter = Astarte) Astarte was the sex goddess who's symbol was "rebirth" and the rabbit and eggs were her symbols. Rabbits and eggs are fertility symbols.

Christmas was originally celebrated as far back as Ham's (Noah's great-great grand-son) great grandson, Nimrod and his wife, Semiramis. Semiramis (after her husband was killed) had herself declared a Virgin Mother of Heaven (sound familiar?) and sacrificed her son to the Sun God, Dummuz(i) or Tammuz whose symbol was a Cross or "T". So as far back as within 250 years of Noah, they were celebrating the Virgin Mother and a holiday on December 25th that had to do with the birth of the sun.

ALL of the other holidays from Halloween to Saints days are also of Pagan origin. ALL. The churches instituted them to bring pagans into the Catholic (Universal) fold. God said to be "no part of this world," however by celebrating these holidays, you are not keeping PURE the worship of God, who is a JEALOUS GOD. He has the RIGHT to expect to be worshipped in truth and will settle for nothing less, nor SHOULD HE.

The ONLY 2 birthdays in the Bible, someone died on BOTH DAYS. The Baker died on the one in the Old Testament, John the Baptist died on the one in the New Testament. Salome danced a sensual, sexual dance FOR HER FATHER to claim the head of John the Baptist, Jesus' OWN COUSIN.

Also, God said in the Bible, "better is the day of your death than of your birth, because you have made yourself known to your god." Meaning that by dying at birth God doesn't know you yet and can't judge you. However, by dying old (older) and grown, we've had time to accept or reject his love and claim for love and he knows our heart and what is in it. He knows whether we are acceptable or not.

As for anniversaries - there are NO PROBLEMS celebrating anniversaries, so long as it is done with reason. The only other holiday to celebrate is the Last Supper. And Christ himself instituted it and said, "keep doing this in rememberance of me."

Answer 5

Actually, the one you should be challenging about this is Christ himself. Demand to know why did didn't do these things? If you can prove that he was wrong in this matter, than it would be easy to prove anyone following his example must also be wrong.

If you cannot do this, than ask yourself what did he observe? Did he say anything about whether all Christians should also observe it, and if so, why does most of Christendom not only refuse to do so, but denies most of their followers any knowledge about it? Do they fear it will interfere with with secular holidays that generate large amounts of donations?

Answer 6

holidays, birthdays or anniversaries? no longer particular about all holidays, i imagine they does no longer merchandise moms Day and Fathers Day. yet on birthdays, Chirstmass (supposely to rejoice Jesus birthday in spite of the undeniable fact that He become no longer born in December yet it really is yet another question/answer), Presidents Day (chosen to rejoice the birthday of the presidents), and aniversaries: They base their position on a verse that announces theat the time of the shortcoming of life is more effective significant than the time of delivery. and that i consider what the verse says. someone's courting with God on the on the spot of lack of life determines his/her destiny's eternity. that factor is crusial and honestly more effective significant than the time of delivery. in spite of the undeniable fact that, i do no longer see in that verse a prohibition to rejoice the delivery of a sparkling toddler in a kinfolk or the each year conmemoration of that perfectly satisfied experience. Even God despatched a chorus of angels to rejoice the delivery of Jesus. --- Why do they decline to face up and say the Pledge of Alligence to the yankee flag? They do not ignore that nationwide symbols like flags, antem, and the nationwide seal are equivalent to idols. similar because the jews considered the roman military golden eagle emblems.

Answer 7

WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYDAY IS WORTHY OF CELEBRATING AND GIVING THANKS. WE GIVE GIFTS WHEN WE DESIRE TO EXPRESS OURSELVES IN THAT WAY. TWO OCCASIONS WE PARTICULARLY ENJOY CELEBRATING ARE WEDDINGS AND ANNIVERSARIES. FOR MANY J.W.'S THEIR ANNIVERSARIES ARE LONG AND HAPPY ONES. MINE IS COMING ON 25 YEARS THIS YEAR. AND ALTHOUGH WE DON'T CELEBRATE WITH CAKE AND FANFARE BIRTHDAYS, I AS A PARENT CAN TELL YOU THAT NOT ONE OF MY CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAYS HAVE PASSED WITHOUT MY WAKING THEM UP WITH A KISS AND TELLING THEM HOW BLESSED I WAS THE DAY THEY WERE BORN. THAT DAY IS VERY SPECIAL.
YOU DO REALIZE TOO THAT NOT ALL RELIGIONS OR CULTURES CELEBRATE THE SAME OCCASIONS YOU DO.
p.s. PAPA BEAR MAKES A REALLY GOOD POINT. WHY DIDN'T JESUS CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS YOU ARE REFERRING TO?

Answer 8

It basically has to do with origins.
Birthdays and most holidays have a non-biblical origin.
Most actually stem from paganism.
JW's are serious enough to let it matter.

Answer 9

WHERE IN BIBLE DO PROPHETS AND APOSTLES ESTEEM ONE DAY ABOVE ANOTHER?

Where do prophets and apostles and disciples honor each other or self?

Rom.14:5-12; Philip.2:5,9-12;