Why don't JWs celebrate Christmas and birthdays etc.?

Question

I know it's because they say Jesus wasn't born in December but if that's the case why don't they celebrate in September or whenever they believe it was, does it really matter about the exact date being right?
But what's wrong with birthdays and Easter?

I'm not insulting any JWs out there, just wondered.

:-)

I didn't meann Jews, I meant JWs (Jehovah's witnesses)
lol

Answer 1

I am a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I don't celebrate things, such as Christmas because of it's pagan roots.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate any holiday that has a pagan origin. Which is basically all of them. You may want to look up the origin of Christmas and Easter or any other holiday.

Birthdays would fall into the same catagory. History shows that early Christian did not celebrate birthdays. The two birthdays mentioned in the bible were being celebrated by pagans and at both someone was killled. One being John the Baptists was beheaded. (Gen. 40: 20-22; Matt 14: 6-10) Some feel that Job's children may have celebrated their birthdays. "And his sons went and held a banquet at the house of each one on his own day." Job 1:4 In verse 5, it says that Job offered up burnt sacrifices for the number of all his children for "maybe my sons have sinned and have cursed God in their heart." Job is the one who was considered "blameless" not his children. In fact, the day all his children were killed, they were having such a banquet. (Job 1:13 & 18 -19)

We feel that these examples were placed in the bible for a reason. We strive to live our life according to the bible's principles.

2 Cor. 6: 14,15 & 17 states: "Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship to righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have the an unbeliever? ..Therefore get out from among them,a nd separate yourselves, says Jehovah, 'and quit touching the unclean thing'" "'and I will take you in'".

We do not feel that God approves of mixing pagan things with Christianity.

Answer 3

When you onsider the origins of christmas, the question that comes to mind is 'why do so many "christians" celebrate it?
The same is true of easter, what has an easter bunny got to do with the death of christ? It is actually steeped in fertility rites and sex worship of pagans, as is the christmas tree, the easter egg, the may pole and other like things.
The early christians viewed thes celebrations including birthdays as pagan. It was only about the 3rd century AD that christendom adopted these unclean celebrations to appease romans and other pagans who wanted to convert.

Ladybug with7up :- You really have got too much time on your hands.Lol

Answer 4

I understand that JWs think that applying a date to Christmas and Easter is presumptuous as no exact date is mentioned in the Bible so people shouldn't just apply a date. The reason for not celebrating birthdays is that apparently - and I haven't read the whole bible, so can't say for sure - birthdays are only mentioned twice in the bible and each time something really dreadful happened, so apparently birthdays aren't very good and should not be celebrated.

Answer 5

Jehovah witness commemorate the Memorial of Christ's death, the most important religious event of the year for Jehovah's Witnesses. Throughout the year, Jehovah's Witnesses enjoy parties, picnics, and other events without feeling bound to obligations or to a fixed date. They may also celebrate special events such as weddings and anniversaries. However, Jehovah witnesses do not celebrate holidays that have non-Christian religious origins or those that promote nationalism. They are not opposed to celebrations in general or to the giving of gifts. It should be noted that Jehovah witnesses do not believe Jesus is the Messiah but only the son of God just as they believe that Satan is the son of God which makes them brothers. I had a family member that was a Jehovah witness and this person was a mess. The birthday of Jesus the Christ is not certain but was celebrated by the Bishop of Rome as early as the year 354 on the 25th of December. The celebration of our Lord Jesus' birth has turned into a materialistic holiday (Holyday) and pagan if you look at what some people do but the true celebration is in worship, praise and thankgiving for our Lord and savior who shed His precious blood so that we all might be cleansed if we truly repent of ours sins and accept Jesus as our personal savior. Remember, what you allow yourself to think, see, hear, say and do literally directs the path you will walk in this life so Lord willing if you know this, focus you mind, eyes, ears, tongue and deeds on that which is positive and good. In Jesus' Love Robert <

Answer 6

Birthdays are connection with astrology, numerology and calling up spirit daemons.
None of God's servants in the Bible celebrated birthdays. The only 2 mentioned (pharaoh's and Herod's) were pagan revelries and resulted in murders.

Christmas (Dec. 25) is Mithras' birthday and the customs from Saturnalia, winter solstice and other pagan customs. Valentine's is Lupercalia, Easter the name of a pagan fertility goddess. Eggs and rabbits are her fertility symbols.

We give gifts and have get togethers any time we want though, help out in natural disasters, do nice things for non-JW neighbors, etc. when possible.

We are fun loving, well balanced people. We simply don't teach/practice customs that go beyond what is set down in the Bible. Revelation 22:18, 19, Galatians 1:7-10.

We don't follow stuff that was "added in" later.

We know quite well that Jesus is the Messiah that is when translated Christ. Luke 1:41, John 1:29, etc. Messiah is Hebrew and Christ is Greek for "anointed".

Debbie

Answer 7

We believe in following what Bible principles state. Only two birthdays are mentioned in the Bible. Both times are not a time of joy for God's people as faithful ones are murdered on both occasions.

Neither Jesus nor his people celebrated any birthdays. They new the words at Eccles. 7:1 saying the day of one's death is better than the day of birth. This means what has anyone accomplished when they are born? At death, a man has his whole life of accomplishments and victories. Certainly better to be celebrated.

As with all things, we look to the Bible's view of things as representing God's thoughts on matters. We examine our beliefs to make sure we don't contaminate pure worship God requires. the principles we use are in part:

Galatians 5:9 "a little leaven ferments the whole lump."
Matt. 6:4 a man can not slave for 2 masters.
1Timothy 4:16 pay constant attention to ourselves and our teaching
2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for many things.
2Corinthians 6:14-17 For what sharing does righteousness and lawlessness have? What sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? ...or a faithful person with an unbeliever?

From these principles we see the need for keeping an eye on our beliefs. Keeping them free from doctrines of men, from origins in paganism.

Oh we have parties and fun, laugh a lot. We are a fun group. But the only occasion Jesus said to remember was the one he started just after Passover in 33CE. It is found in Luke ch. 22. He said in verse 19 "Keep doing this in remembrance of me." So each year, we do.

Answer 8

Judaism has many branches, same as the Christian church.
Your question on Christmas is easy enough to answer, Jews (that is a word you may use it is not forbidden)!
Believe that Jesus was a prophet and some one to be respected, the Muslims think the same.
It is only the Christians that believe Jesus was and is God.
Do you really believe that Jesus was born on Dec 25th??
Birthdays? I am pretty sure both the Jews and the Muslims celebrate birthdays, where did your idea come from?
Easter of course is pretty easy to explain this Easter once again is a Christian thing, no other religion on the planet believes Jesus died on the cross to pay for all our sins, (in advance) Then was resurrected from the dead!
I of course am atheist , I respect the Jews for not getting involved in this sort of debate.
I also respect most the other religions for the same reason, including Muslms!
Christianity? now that is a different kettle of fish altogether, I have found they know very little about their own religion, just ask your average Christian to explain the meaning of 'Holy Trinity'? Yet they insist on mocking religions ,that do not belive that Jesus was and is God who paid a visit to earth.
Ah well, happy birthday, merry Xmas and Bah Humbug ! to the lot of you!

Answer 9

They dont celebrate Christmas as its actually a pagan holiday NOT a Christian one.... Christianity took it over when in fact it has very little to do with the birth of Christ, The bible and actual scrolls show us that it is unlikely that Christ was even born in December, its thought it was actually sometime in October, although an exact date cannot be confirmed.

Christ never celebrated his Birth, but in fact said celebrate my Death, thats why they dont celebrate birthdays.
The life of Jesus was geared towards his death, it was his death that would save mankind, not his birth. All his teachings said of the world that would come about as a result of his return, in order to do this he has to first die, this is what is celebrated.

Answer 10

To them, it's strange that we do.

They see themselves as part of a religious progression that started with Adam and included Jesus. The Jews of Jesus's day did not celebrate birthdays and this is why we don't know when Jesus was born. Birthdays were celebrated by the pagans of the Roman empire. Christianity only latched onto the idea when we became the preferred religion of the Roman empire some 300 years later.