Why don't Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate any holidays?

Question

Or am I over-stepping? Are there holidays that JW's celebrate?

Not looking to be malicious. I genuinely want to know.

Pedi: I agree. Unfortunately, many people in the R&S section automatically get their guard up when they see a question like this. It was my attempt to make sure people know I have no intention of being malicious.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses believe strongly in God Jehovah and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in working to please them.

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.


By contrast, it's tragic that the one holiday Christ actually *DID* ask Christians to commemorate is entirely ignored by almost all of Christendom. It is, of course, the Memorial of Christ's death, sometimes called "the Last Supper" or "the Lord's Evening Meal".

(1 Corinthians 11:23-25, NWT) The Lord Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” 25 He did likewise respecting the cup.. Keep doing this... in remembrance of me.”

(1 Cor 11:24, 25, NEB) "Do this as a memorial of me.”


Christ Jesus himself personally celebrated and explained the significance of that Last Supper to his followers (see Matthew 26:26-29). Christians who commemorate the Last Supper have done so on the same Jewish calendar date as Jesus did, Nisan 14, which generally falls between late March and mid-April. Interestingly, Christians in the centuries immediately after Christ's impalement were sometimes called "Quartodecimans" which literally mean "Fourteen-ers", because the early Christians were well-known for this true holy day.

How would Jesus feel to learn that the holiday he commanded was widely ignored, while his so-called followers chose to celebrate a pagan false god and their own traditions of men? We don't need to wonder.

(Matthew 15:6-9) You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you when he said, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’”

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

The Bible warns true Christians to stay away from all false religion. Even a brief look at where holidays come from or what is involved shows pagan origin. Christmas from the Druids and Romans as an example. In fact, neither Jesus nor his apostles ever celebrated his birthday.

The only day Jesus ordered observed is the Memorial of his death started just after his last Passover, after dismissing Judas.

There is nothing wrong with get togethers, a party, joy, laughter, or presents and gift giving. We do these all the time. We do not wait for special "days" to do this. Our kids learn easily parents' love is not depending on holidays but can be shown at anytime.

Answer 3

Because the bible connects celebration holidays with paganism. The only day the bible condones celebrating is the last supper.

Answer 4

First, understand the the beliefs of the Watch Tower Society are like a revolving door. You wait long enough and they are likely to have a belief 180° from earlier. Back in the early days of "Judge" Rutherford, they not only celebrated Christmas, they claimed it was right and holy to do so and not to do so was shameful.

Answer 5

JWs celebrate nothing but their own financial gain...they are not a viable religion, but a cult, they operate the same way, getting other members by separating them from friends and family and eventually gaining anything of value they own.

Answer 6

why is everyone always pussyfooting when they ask a JW question? "this is an honest question" "not trying to be malicious." guess they're so sensitive people feel they have to apologize in advance to ask them anything.

anyway, to answer your question; they only celebrate something they call the memorial. that's it.

they will cook large meals and have big family gatherings on holidays but won't call it a thanksgiving or christmas celebration. Some will put clear lights on a ficus tree but their fellow parishoners will turn them into the elders for putting up a christmas tree. happened to my sister in law. LOL

she thought she was being trendy. got reprimanded instead. cracks me up in retrospect.

Answer 7

not to worship false idols.