Why don't JW's celebrate birthdays or holidays?

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

The majority of it is true. Though there are some things that are basically personal decisions. But um...why would I want to willingly dabble in spiritism? I hate wars, so I don't care for it. I tend to steer clear from political matters within a country (causes arguments), premarital sex - wrong in all religions just accepted by society. Wearing a cross - my school uniform had a cross on it and I wore it everyday for 2 years. Don't make mountains out of molehills.

Answer 3

There are only two occasions in the bible of birthday celebrations. And on both occasions someone was murdered (John the baptist being one). Also I believe that when one blows out the candles on a BD cake it's represents warting off evil spirits.

All modern holidays stem from a pagan beginning. Most which represent worship of pagan gods. You can go to your local library and look it up yourself.

So even though birthdays and holidays seem innocent and fun. Their origins are tied up in false and pagan worship. So think about that (if you claim to be christian) next time you go to open that Xmas gift. Or pass out candy to those cute Little kids for halloween. Or blow out those candles on that delicious BD cake.

Ask yourself just because it's fun and very innocent looking, and "heck everybody does it". Is it really pleasing to God?

Remember Satan appears as an angel of light,making things appear as "innocent enough". All the while succeeding at distracting you from pure worship of God.

Answer 4

"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 5

Not a Biblical custom

Christians have abandoned Christianity.

Their answer to everything is, "There's nothing wrong with it." "It's just a little fun!"

Jesus didn't celebrate his - it is a pagan custom adopted by the Christians as they coverted the pagans.

Answer 6

Simple , Jesus never did it, you never see Jesus celebrating his birthday, he went to wedding , funerals, dinners but not birthdays, before Jesus God´s servants also didn´t do it.

als o the maojrity of holydays are borrowed from pagans

Answer 7

Pagan origins.

Answer 8

Becuse they think that b-days celebrate self (they can not be selfish) and the way that x-mas and oter holladays terned out to be, selfish, greedy and all about people that just whant things for themselfs.

Answer 9

Man, the life of a JW is sounding less and less fun.

Answer 10

please go to WWW.Watchtower.org and you will find in detail the answer to this question and more questions.