Why do Jehovah's witnesses believe that it is wrong to celebrate most holidays?

Question

I know that they don't do it because they're "pagan", but dont see why that would make it wrong

Answer 1

It is clear that Almighty God allows humans to make a wide range of decisions regarding whatever they personally prefer.
However, a Christian will always prefer to look to the bible and learn from God's reasoning as the bible's Divine Author.

For example, rather than advocating pagan holidays, it 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.


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=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 2

Jehovah's Witnesses aren't pagan they are Christians who try to emulate Christ as perfectly as they can
Birthdays - It is not a Biblical practice. Jesus never celebrated his birthday the only birthdays mentioned in the Bible are Pharoh's - who had the Jews as slaves(Genesis 40), Herod - who wanted to kill Jesus(Matt 14). And they do not follow spiritism and magic which is where birthdays have there origins. Did you know that the hip hip horray was actually a battle cry used in the crusades that means - "Jerusalem is fallen and we are on the way to paradise"?
CHRISTMAS - Christmas was originally the day of dies natalis Solis Invicti - Birthday of the invincible sun. Jesus' birthday is sometime around October not December.
EASTER - They do believe in Easter but they do not celebrate ir in the way that is "traditional" to the rest of society. It is a more solemn occasional held on the day that Jesus died by using the moon cycles to figure out the actual date..

None of the above holidays are celebrated by JW's as they all have origins ini paganism, spiritism and or magic to which they do not believe.

Answer 3

Well watch what you know, because I don't think you can consider Jehovah's pagans. Their religion is certainly an offshoot of the Jews, Muslims and Christians which would not make them pagans the way I understand it. Jehovah's mostly preach fear and such, celebrating holidays made by people they don't agree with and that they think are going to burn in a fire perhaps just wouldn't make sense for them. They believe in Jesus, so I wouldn't call them pagan.

Answer 4

Christians were commanded by the apostle Paul to not mix their cup with that of demons. In other words, pagan practices that worshipped false or demonic deities were forbidden for followers of Christ. By partaking of holiday celebrations, that is the same as partaking of the rites of other religions other than our own. Jesus himself only gave one commandment to observe , and that was the memorial of his death which this year is going to be observed at sundown , monday night on April 2.

Answer 5

Because, repeatedly in the Bible, there are examples showing that Christians should not "blend" faiths, ie, Celebrate unChristian things. If we are going to try to avoid being unChristian then we dont want to celebrate pagan celebrations. Another reason, for me personally, is I hate being lied to. When people come to me and say, Christmas is "Christian" it makes me feel sad and annoyed as it is clearly unChristian. Hope this helps.

Lauren J's comment is a complete and total LIE. I happen to know MANY Witnesses who give/receive gifts (that are unattached to religous celebrations we feel are wrong)
Unless you talk to EVERY Witness about whether or not he/she decides to donate something to charity, which would be really Crass as it is supposed to be charity, not guilt, and not broadcast, you should not say we cannot/willnot donate to one.

Answer 6

Seriously I think its all for economic reasons. They don't celebrate birthdays or Christmas because they don't want to spend money on gifts. Jehovah's Witnesses also wont be members of a Trade Union, they are willing to work union jobs for the higher pay but they wont pay union dues, they also refuse the charity donation option instead of paying union dues.

Answer 7

I don't think it does.I f you want to celebrate Jesus Birth there isn't anything wrong. The Apostle Paul even warns us not to judge others for the Holy Days= Holidays that they keep or don't keep. Its your Heart that matters. We aren't saved or justified by keeping the Law and if we ask God to judge us by our outward works we all fail.

Answer 8

I think most think that things like patriotism is idol worship.

Answer 9

they dont partake in halloween because they dont like strangers coming to their doors and bothering them.

All joking aside, a daughter of my parent's friends converted to jw because her husband was. Their belief is that nothing should have more importance than god.

Answer 10

I have asked them this many times, and they simply insist on giving those days to satan. Their reasoning varies, but it all comes down to stealling those days away from God and giving them to satan.