Why do Jehovah's Witnesses believe that holidays are "pagan"?

Question

What does that really mean?

I still don't understand what "pagan" means, what makes them pagan?

Answer 1

When the term is used as an adjective, "pagan" literally means "pertaining to the worship or worshipers of any religion that is neither Christian, Jewish, nor Muslim". Honest students of history cannot deny that so-called "Christian holy days" originate almost entirely from non-Christian, non-Jewish religions.

Clearly, a holy day which was designed by Satan to honor some pagan god (such as Oestre, or Easter) is a slap in the face to God and Christ; true religion never authorized any fertility festival replete with bunnies and colored eggs.


A person who is sincerely interested in Christianity might seem dramatically more reasonable to advocate Jewish holidays which certainly did have God's approval for centuries. Now then... what does the bible teach about the propriety of insisting that Christians should continue to celebrate (formerly appropriate) Jewish holidays?

(Colossians 2:13-23) [God] made you alive together with him. He kindly forgave us all our trespasses 14 and blotted out the handwritten document against us [the Jewish Law and holidays], which consisted of decrees and which was in opposition to us [that is, proved our imperfections]; and He has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the torture stake. ...16 Therefore let no man judge you in [insisting on Kosher] eating and drinking or in respect of [insisting upon observing] a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath; 17 for those [formerly appropriate Jewish] things are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Christ. 18 Let no man deprive you of the prize who takes delight in a mock humility and a form of worship of the angels, “taking his stand on” the things he has seen, puffed up without proper cause by his fleshly frame of mind, 19 whereas he is not holding fast to the head, to the one from whom all the body, being supplied and harmoniously joined together by means of its joints and ligaments, goes on growing with the growth that God gives. 20 If you died together with Christ toward the elementary things of the world, why do you, as if living in the world, further subject yourselves to the [formerly appropriate Jewish] decrees: 21 “Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch,” 22 respecting things that are all destined to destruction by being used up, in accordance with the commands and teachings of men? 23 Those very things are, indeed, possessed of an appearance of wisdom in a self-imposed form of worship and mock humility, a severe treatment of the body; but they are of no value [now that Jesus has established true worship]


As the bible plainly teaches, insisting upon any holiday celebration (including even the formerly appropriate Jewish festivals and holidays) would be grossly incompatible with true Christianity. Of course, those early Christians did not work to interfere with those outside "the truth" who chose to continue worshipping their pagan gods, or who made no pretense of respecting and obeying the teachings of Christ and the apostles. Similarly, Jehovah's Witnesses do not interfere with the pagan, god-dishonoring celebrations of non-Witnesses.

Answer 2

Most holidays are taken from the Pagan celebrations.

For example: The upcoming holiday is known as Easter, taken from the Pagan celebration of the goddess Eostre. The Christians adopted it as Easter from the verse in Acts. Over the last decade they have renamed it "The Resurrection Day" and they have eliminated the placement of egg hunts and bunnies.

Like Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ. It was voted many years ago for the celebration of Jesus' birth. Yes some still put up a tree and decorate it, but many have replaced the tree and put the Nativity scene in its place.

Easter and Christmas are more for the children, to teach them to give more and receive less, on Christmas. Easter is to show them what Christ did for all mankind.

Halloween was actually started by Pagans years ago. It was called Hallow's Eve. However, those that worship Satan adopted that night to perform their evil rituals. Start taking note of how many murders and kidnappings take place on Halloween. The Christians had the All Saints Day (November 1).

Answer 3

Like Easter for instance the christian have adopted Easter but it is really a pagan holiday to eastar a pagan fertility goddess has nothing to with the real Christan holiday which is Passover not Easter so America has adapted it, that's what they mean and Christmas is the same and thank giving and even Halloween.
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Answer 4

That is because as many have said, you can do research in any encyclopedia and/or informational source and find that many common holidays today are based on pagan traditions and sources.

There is further information you can look into as well in source info below.

Pagan really means:
1. one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks.
There are other definitions also.

Answer 5

I am not a Jehovah's Witness....
but if you do 5 minutes worth of research, you will find that Easter, Christmas, Halloween, etc ARE pagan traditions.
All Christian holidays were simply pagan/wiccan celebrations that were converted to Christian following Jesus life/death.
Have you ever wondered why xmas is on Dec 25th, when the bible NEVER indicates a date? The man Jesus was, based on the climate in the area and the description of the event, born around October.
I could go on and on, but most of them are celebrated on solstice days, even including the same icons like trees, rabbits, eggs, etc.
I've never understood why millions of people blindly celebrate something they have never taken the time to understand-yet defend it wholeheartedly, to the point of anger and prejudice.

Answer 6

Well because most holidays ARE Pagan in origin.

Pagan generally refers to various Pre-Christian religions.

Answer 7

Because of the fact that the majority of holidays ARE of pagan origin. For instance, Dec 25 is actually the birthday of the pagan god "Mithra". Easter comes from a pagan god worshiped for fertility, hence the bunny rabbit association, I believe that pagan god's name was "Astarte".Halloween is drenched in pagan history. It was the Roman Catholic church that incorporated pagan tradition in with supposed Christian beliefs. It's a fact. Very easy to verify too. p.s. Pagan or heathen is described as an unconverted individual who does NOT acknowledge the God of the Bible

Answer 8

Because of the simple fact that Christmas and Easter and Holloween all have pagan origins. Look them up in an encyclopedia.

Answer 9

For one, the celebrations are not scriptural, unless celebrated by the pagans mentioned in the Bible.

Two, history and archeology shows the holidays are tainted with paganism.

God wants pure worship and wants the followers of His Son to be as pure as possibe.

Answer 10

Pagan
NOUN:
One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.
One who has no religion.
A non-Christian.
A hedonist.
A Neo-Pagan.

ADJECTIVE:
Not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish.
Professing no religion; heathen.
Neo-Pagan.


Their origins are not based in the teachings of Christ, thus they are from outside Christianity, or pagan.

If all it takes to be considered Christian is for something to be adopted, would occultic practices be considered okay if practiced by Christians?