Why dont jehovahs celebrate holidays or birthdays?

Question

My ex married some chick who is a jehovahs witness and now he has "converted" but he wont celebrate our daughters birthday anymore, which i think is BS.

I dont see how a birthday is religious. It is a celebration of ones birth. so it doesnt make sense to me.

Answer 1

I never understood that either, I had an aunt who rejected vital medical attention. Almost killed her. I don't know why but in all honesty it sounds a little silly to me, but if that's the way they want to live then who are we to tell them otherwise. I wonder if deep down inside they are truly happy.

Answer 2

The first reason is that JWs follow Christ examples, both written and unwritten. If Jesus says to go out and preach about his father's government then they will do so. If Jesus does not partake in certain customs then they will follow his lead.

Another reason is the pagan background of the practice:

“The later Hebrews looked on the celebration of birthdays as a part of idolatrous worship, a view which would be abundantly confirmed by what they saw of the common observances associated with these days.”—The Imperial Bible-Dictionary (London, 1874), edited by Patrick Fairbairn, Vol. I, p. 225.

Origen of Alexandria, in 245 A.D., wrote in a dissertation on Leviticus:

“. . . none of the saints can be found who ever held a feast or a banquet upon his birthday, or rejoiced on the day when his son or daughter was born. But sinners rejoice and make merry on such days.

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.

Answer 3

The only two birthdays the Bible does mention were for rulers who were enemies of God. Each celebration included an execution, so that the guests could gloat over the death of one who had displeased the king. In the first instance, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, executed his chief baker. (Genesis 40:2, 3, 20, 22) The Egyptian ruler did so during the feast because he had grown indignant with his servant. In the second instance, Herod, the immoral ruler of Galilee, beheaded John the Baptizer as a favor to a girl whose dancing at the party had pleased him. What repulsive scenes!—Matthew 14:6-11.
There is No evidence that Jesus or any of the Disciples ever engaged in any of this..
and Art above is Delusional. No Jehovah's Witness I know gets " converted" ...they turn Apostate.

Answer 4

Most of the answers here are false if they are not scripturally based. Jehovah's witnesses are not an evil cult who twist Bible Scripture, what they do however is follow Bible scripture as it is plainly written. Holiday's are not Bible based practices just like Birthdays.They are traditions. Therefore Jehovah's witnesses do not take part in them. Now i'm no Bible Scholar but if there are any Jehovah's Witnesses in the house who can recall Bible Scripture help me out with this one... some where in the Bible God speaks against the "Traditions of man" A birthday is a tradition, it has nothing to do with the Bible and in fact at many b-day celebrations people participate in behaviors not becoming of a christian person. Also just because Jehovah's witness people don't participate in holiday's doesn't mean they wont participate in the giving of gifts. I don't know about you but i'd rather recieve a present year round randomly from my family out of genuine kindness rather than twice a year (xmas and b-day's) out of people feelings of obligation to buy me something. Believe me Just because your ex wont but your daughter present on her birthday doesn't mean he won't buy her gifts at other times throughout the year. I'm pretty sure if you ask your daughter she'd rather get many gifts sporadically throughout the year rather than one lame Barbie doll or a 5 dollar bill once a year.

Answer 5

How long ago did they start celebrateing one's birthday?
Definition: The day of one’s birth or the anniversary of that day. In some places the anniversary of one’s birth, especially that of a child, is celebrated with a party and the giving of gifts. Not a Biblical practice.
Do Bible references to birthday celebrations put them in a favorable light? The Bible makes only two references to such celebrations:
Gen. 40:20-22: “Now on the third day it turned out to be Pharaoh’s birthday, and he proceeded to make a feast . . . Accordingly he returned the chief of the cupbearers to his post of cupbearer . . . But the chief of the bakers he hung up.”
Matt. 14:6-10: “When Herod’s birthday was being celebrated the daughter of Herodias danced at it and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Then she, under her mother’s coaching, said: ‘Give me here upon a platter the head of John the Baptist.’ . . . He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.”
Everything that is in the Bible is there for a reason.
So we can in all good conscience determine that pagans celebrated their birthdays while true christians did not.
There is no indication in the bible that Jesus celebrated his birthday or anyone else's. He felt a marriage ceremony was a good time to celebrate that was recorded.
maybe that is why he is your X husband it sounds like to me all you care about is yourself and your children.
If that is what he wants can't you be a little suportive?

Answer 6

Witnesses
Their view of morality often reflects conservative Christian views. Homosexuality and premarital sex are considered sins.[90] Abortion is considered murder.[91] Modesty is heavily encouraged in dress and grooming. Gambling is strictly forbidden.[92] The family structure is patriarchal. The husband is considered the final authority on family decisions, but is strongly encouraged to solicit his wife's thoughts and feelings. Marriages are required to be monogamous.[93] They are widely criticized for their literal interpretation of the scriptures that prohibit eating or storing blood. (Leviticus 17:13,14; Acts 15:28,29) This interpretation leads to the controversial conclusion that blood should not be transfused. [94] Practices that connote nationalism or false religion are avoided. Weddings, anniversaries, and funerals are typically observed; however, common celebrations and religious or national holidays such as birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are regarded as unchristian and are not celebrated.[95] Witnesses are perhaps best known for the vigorous efforts by all members to spread their beliefs throughout the world. They do this mainly by visiting people house to house,[96] [97] but also in a variety of other ways. They use Watchtower publications to explain their beliefs. Literature is published in many languages through a wide variety of books, magazines and other publications, with a small number being available in as many as 410 languages.

Jehovah's Witnesses are politically neutral.[98] They feel that their allegiance belongs to God's Kingdom, which is viewed as an actual government. Thus they refrain from saluting the flag of any country or singing nationalistic songs.[99] They believe that such an act would be tantamount to worshipping an idol. Members are expected to obey all laws, including the paying of taxes, of the country in which they reside, so long as these do not violate what they view as God's law.[100] The political neutrality of Jehovah's Witnesses is also expressed by their refusal to participate in military service, even when such is of a compulsory nature, and by their detachment from secular politics. Before 1996, Jehovah's Witnesses also refused alternatives to military service.

Answer 7

For an example, Christmas, is a Pagan celebration. You are correct, something simply not being in the Bible, doesn't make it inherently bad/wrong. However, while not always easy, it is usually possible to apply Bible principles to current activities. Example, guns weren't around back then either, but most/all people realize the Bible's stance on murder. So while one could kill someone with the gun, and say Guns aren't mentioned in the Bible, the principle of NOT committing murder IS in the Bible.

Answer 8

We base our lives and beliefs solely on the direction given in the Bible. Nowhere in the Bible are we told to celebrate the day of our birth. On the contrary, the only two mentions made of celebrating birthdays were of those of pagans who did not worship Jehovah.

Another reason we do not celebrate birthdays is that they seem to promote pride in oneself and greed.

Answer 9

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!

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


Incidentally, "Jehovah" is the personal name of Almighty God, the Sovereign of the Universe, the Creator. An adherent among Jehovah's Witnesses is most certainly not "a Jehovah" but rather is "a Witness".

(Deuteronomy 6:4) Jehovah our God is one Jehovah

Answer 10

i think if i were not studying to be one of jehovah'switnesses i would still not celebrate a birthday. it seems really arrogant to me............."Look at me and come celebrate! For this is the anniversary of MY birth!! How fantastic! and let us eat and drink and bestow me with gifts for this is the day I was born!!"

it seems strange. i would think the mother would get the party. i have two children and when thier birthdays roll around,i am reminded of my hospital stay and birthing experiences. my mother bore 7 children. i think that's a little more commendable than simply being born.


are you really married to a martian now?

Answer 11

I have to agree with the one who said "as a grown man he should be able to choose some things for himself."
Maybe you don't believe that way. Maybe you feel it is wrong.
You are entitled to your own opinion.
But is it necessary to force your X husband to do what you want?
As an adult does he get to make some choices for himself?
You didn't say he wanted you to believe that way?
He just made a choice, perhaps for the first time in his life?