Why don't Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate birthdays or accept gifts on holidays?

Question

Did jesus drive a car? Use the internet? etc.. Did he eat celery?

Answer 1

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/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001215/article_01.htm

Answer 2

I am always so amazed by the responses to these questions. Here we have a question directed, presumably, at Jehovah's Witnesses. The responses from non-Witnesses outnumber the ones from Witnesses, hands down. And so often they are replete with inaccuracies and outright untruths.

Here's a strawman I found quite interesting from one respondent: " Short answer is that they believe that it takes away from worshiping god. The problem with the logic behind saying birthdays takes away from worshiping God is twofold. 1) is that it doesn't agree within the context of the book (Bible) they are using to base this supposed law. 2) anything that takes away from God is therefore bad and thus you cannot buy name brand clothes since the logos could be considered idolatry."

Were you able to pick out the strawman in this argument?

Perhaps this would be a viable argument if Jehovah's Witnesses really did refrain from celebrating birthdays because "it takes away from worshiping god." But Jehovah's Witnesses don't really think that.

In truth, there are a number of things which give Jehovah's Witnesses ample reason to refrain from celebrating birthdays and holidays. And there is precedent to be found in the practices of first century Christians as well as the ancient Jews. And by the way, since Jesus was a Jew, he would not have celebrated his birthday either, contrary to the post of one respondent.

Finally, Jehovah's Witnesses have absolutely no problem with others celebrating birthdays and holidays. We neither interfere with their celebrations nor cast aspersions against them in the midst of same. We certainly do not call them names or suggest they belong to a cult. Yet, others do exactly that when it comes to Jehovah's Witnesses. I find that very curious. Don't you?

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

First, as for celery, not sure as I don't know what areas of the world celery is found:D

The reason I choose to not involve myself with birthdays is in part because of the fact that the ONLY 2 examples of birthdays that I am aware of in the Bible involved pagan activities and murder.

As for "holidays" there are numerous days of this nature. If you narrow it down I could probably answer easier. I will tell you that holidays such as Christmas and Halloween have pagan roots and in my opinion are unChristian and not for me.

As for giving or accepting gifts, it is a time by time, item by item thing. If someone gives me a gift and as far as I can tell there is no connection or strings attached, to anything I view as going against my beliefs than I see no problem accepting it, the same goes for giving.

Answer 4

As celebrations go, the principle of being no part of the world applies. Nearly all holiday celebrations have political or false religious meanings that we simply find unacceptable. Instead of celebrating certain holidays simply because it is expected that everyone should, we celebrate more personal occasions.

As for cars, I am unaware of any motor vehicle prior to the 1880s unless you are refering to the flintstone car? LoL.

Answer 5

Short answer is that they believe that it takes away from worshiping god.

They're wrong, because you CAN celebrate holidays and birthdays. the word holiday is like HOLY - DAY. so, I suppose they might get confused with that. However, the Jews had appropriate holidays or days of feasts. Jesus Christ himself celebrated the passover. He also met with publicans and he went to a wedding feast. I'm sure in his 30 years he celebrated something.

The problem with the logic behind saying birthdays takes away from worshiping God is twofold. 1) is that it doesn't agree within the context of the book (Bible) they are using to base this supposed law. 2) anything that takes away from God is therefore bad and thus you cannot buy name brand clothes since the logos could be considered idolatry.

In the 10 commandments it says the Sabbath Day is the day of the Lord. Six days are for working and being with your family and having fun, etc. How many people, however, become so involved in their work they have family problems are are simply stressed and they have physical problems. So, one could argue that too much work is taking away from God and therefore there should be a limit to how many hours you are allowed to work. Work can easily eat away at someone's family time or can cause health problems (it's a commandment to keep our bodies well as they are considered "temples".)

If they really thought it was so important to not take away from God, then they wouldn't become so selfinvolved with their false sense of sacrifice and overzealous study of the Bible. They've twisted so much of the Bible that their doctrine is absurd which makes the followers so hardened. The are hardened because of the false sense of sacrifice; they believe they are right. They are hardened because of the intensity of study and THEIR interpretation of the Bible which is so different from the truth; they believe they know the truth. Note, sacrifice is good and so is intense study of truth, but this particular combination causes a problem because the doctrine is false. The sacrifice is of the wrong things for the wrong reasons and the study is of half-truths and false doctrine.

They have no guidance so they are forced to make up doctrine. (blood transfusions, celebrating birthdays, 144,000 elders (which are only men, by the way), the role of Jesus Christ as someone other than Jehovah).

Do the research yourself. I'm not a JW so don't just take my word for it.

Answer 6

Someone here claimed that Jesus never celebrated his birthday. The Bible does not give us any information concerning whether or not Jesus celebrated it. This we know, when Christ was born, even the angels celebrated his birthday.

I have enough Jehovah Witness friends to know that they really care about such things as their birthday. Very often they will let a non-Jehovah Witness friend know that it is their birthday, just so that they can hear someone say Happy Birthday!

Answer 7

Because Jesus never celebrated his birthdays and we follow his example. Pagan holidays that worship ancient gods are offensive to the almighty, I wont take that chance to offend him.

Jesus went to parties, (wedding) , funeral, share we people but the bible never record in his 33 years that he celebrated birthday, Why?

Christmas (Jesus´s birthday) never were celebrated by his followers and we try to follow their example.

We do celebrate when a child born but after that look like the bible discourage that practice, only two are mentioned in the bible and both had negative connotations.

Have you notice how silenced lamb hates Jehovah´s witnesses check her Qs. she blocked me .

By the way JWs don´t request 10% of the gross salary is antibiblical, that was required for Jews but Christ abolished the old covenant. (Ephesians 2:15) it is a shame than more than 60 millions people in this country still haven´t read that verse in the bible, can you guess how much money they would save?

By the way I forgot Jesus Knew this verse of the bible Eclessiastes 7:1-2 " A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one’s being born."

notice the day of death is better than the day of been born, that is why the date most important in the whole mankind is Jesus´s death, do you know that all JWs know that exact date that is in the bible? do you know that the majority of people who claim that Jesus is his lord don´t know that important date, Why?

Answer 8

Besides all the actual reasons given, it is also very economical not celebrate these occasions. Money saved from buying presents during these festivals can actually be put aside for a rainy day or treating your family to something else.
For your information, contributions given to our society is strictly voluntary, no force, no blackmail, no cutting from our salary. If you have, you give; if none, then don't. No questions asked.

Answer 9

"It is thought that the large-scale celebration of birthdays in Europe began with the cult of Mithras ("a Hellenistic and Roman GOD"; "the central GOD of Mithraism") which originated in Persia but was spread by soldiers throughout the Roman Empire. Before this, such celebrations were not common;" -Wikipedia; Topic: "Birthday"; Heading: "History of celebration of birthdays in the West"

The Jews "regarded birthday celebrations as parts of IDOLATROUS worship . . . , and this probably on account of the IDOLATROUS rites with which they were observed in honor of those who were regarded as the patron GODS of the day on which the party was born." -M'Clintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia (1882, Vol. I, p. 817)

Notice how exclusive the worship of the only true God must be: "Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips." - Exodus 23:13, NIVSB.

So, if pagan ceremonies or customs are really mixed in with ceremonies or customs that we use today, they are not merely unacceptable - - - they are detestable to God. We must completely get away from these unclean things and not even "touch" them. "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." - 2 Cor. 6:17.

If a holiday or custom is being deliberately participated in by a Christian, it must have absolutely no known pagan religion associations.

Answer 10

AFTM, Always Follow The Money...
Holidays and birthdays take up money,
which the JW cult wants to be given to their
Watchtower Society in order to perpetuate
the tall stories which have been a gold mine
for those "worthies" in positions of power in
the JW. Many of their members actually
allow their paychecks to be signed over to
the Watchtower...presumably so they might
get to be "picked" for the mystery 144,000
who will be allowed to live in their "New
World", while everybody else who didn't
measure up gets annihilated. What a
colossal LOAD!!!