The winter holiday season is a joyous time for many people around the world. Families gather, gifts are exchanged, and cherished traditions are carried out. However, not everyone takes part in the festivities associated with Christmas and other winter holidays. There are several major religions that do not observe Christmas or other seasonal celebrations due to theological reasons or cultural traditions.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
One of the most well-known groups that does not celebrate Christmas are Jehovah’s Witnesses. This Christian denomination has about 8.6 million members worldwide. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas or other holidays because they believe there is no scriptural basis for celebrating birthdays or national holidays. They point out that early Christians did not observe birthdays or national holidays. Instead, Jehovah’s Witnesses commemorate the death of Jesus Christ each year on the date they believe corresponds to the Passover, which is after sunset on Nisan 14 according to the ancient Jewish calendar. This observance is known as the Memorial of Christ’s Death or the Lord’s Evening Meal.
Jehovah’s Witnesses refrain from Christmas celebrations for the following reasons:
- They believe Christmas has pagan roots and is not approved by God.
- They do not celebrate birthdays, including Jesus’ birthday.
- They do not use images such as Christmas trees or Santa Claus in their worship.
- They believe the holiday materialism overshadows Christ.
Instead of celebrating on December 25th, Jehovah’s Witnesses spend time reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice for humankind. They focus on Bible study and evangelizing on Christmastime rather than participating in holiday festivities.
Jehovah’s Witness Population
| Continent | Estimated Membership |
|---|---|
| Africa | 1,349,000 |
| Asia | 1,944,000 |
| Europe | 650,000 |
| Latin America | 1,854,000 |
| North America | 1,218,000 |
| Oceania | 83,810 |
| Global Total | 8,579,910 |
Orthodox Jews
Orthodox Jews, who adhere closely to traditional interpretations of Jewish law, do not celebrate Christmas or other Christian holidays. This is because Christianity is considered avodah zarah, meaning “foreign worship” or idolatry. Observant Jews seek to avoid the worship of Jesus Christ or endorsement of Christian holidays.
Orthodox Jews celebrate Jewish holidays laid out in the Torah such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, and Hanukkah. Hanukkah typically occurs around the same time as Christmas, but it is not considered the Jewish alternative to Christmas. The two holidays are not related historically or religiously. While Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus.
Customs during Christmas Season
There are some accommodations Orthodox Jews make during the Christmas season:
- They may accept time off from work or school on December 25th to be with family.
- Gifts can be given to children so they do not feel excluded from their peers.
- Secular Christmas music, trees, Santa Claus, etc. may be tolerated.
- Food and other entertainment may be enjoyed if it does not have religious significance.
However, Orthodox Jews still avoid any religious observances attached to Christmas and celebrations intended to honor Jesus’ birth. Their observance of Hanukkah during this time focuses on traditional food, prayers, and customs.
Hinduism
The majority of Hindus do not celebrate Christmas as it has no religious significance in Hinduism. Hinduism is actually not a single religion, but rather a diverse range of philosophies, beliefs, and rituals. There are some common traditions among various Hindu sects, but views on Christmas vary:
- Some observe Christmas in a secular way, especially those living among Christians.
- Others reject it completely as a Christian holiday with no meaning in Hinduism.
- Many know little about Christmas or it holds no meaning to them.
Hindus focus on Hindu festivals and holidays such as Diwali, Holi, Navaratri, and more rather than observing Christian celebrations. However, there is diversity among Hindu views. Some may reject all aspects of Christmas, while others may enjoy the festivities in a cultural sense without religious observance.
Hinduism Around the World
| Country | Hindu Population |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 12.6 million |
| India | 966 million |
| Indonesia | 4.1 million |
| Malaysia | 1.9 million |
| Nepal | 23.1 million |
| Sri Lanka | 2.8 million |
| USA | 2.4 million |
Buddhism
Most Buddhists do not celebrate Christmas as it is viewed as a Christian religious holiday. Buddhism ultimately does not include the worship of gods or deities, so Christian holidays centered around Jesus Christ hold no religious significance for Buddhists.
There is a lot of diversity among Buddhists, so some may incorporate secular Christmas traditions into their December celebrations. Buddhist leaders, like the Dalai Lama, have even madeChristmas messages discussing values like compassion that align with Buddhist beliefs. But Christmas is still considered a cultural holiday rather than a religious observance in Buddhism.
Buddhist Population Statistics
| Country | Buddhist Population |
|---|---|
| Cambodia | 14 million |
| China | 300 – 400 million |
| Japan | 87 million |
| South Korea | 12 million |
| Sri Lanka | 15 million |
| Thailand | 67 million |
| Vietnam | 54 million |
Islam
Islam has no connection to Christmas traditions or celebrations. Muslims do not observe Christmas or other Christian holidays because they believe Jesus was a prophet, not God. Thus, Christmas has no religious significance in Islam.
Muslims focus on Islamic holidays ordained by Allah such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. They may refer to Christmas as Isa’s birthday (Jesus’ name in Arabic). Some secular Christmas traditions have become more common in Islamic cultures due to globalization, but religious aspects are rejected.
Here are some key reasons why Muslims do not celebrate Christmas:
- Christmas has pagan origins unacceptable in Islam.
- The prophet Muhammad is the last prophet, not Jesus.
- Jesus is not the son of God in Islamic belief.
- Participation indicates approving forbidden shirk (idolatry).
While Muslims avoid Christmas Day religious rituals, some do enjoy the cultural festivities, gift exchanges, decorations, and time with family.
Muslim Population Statistics
| Country | Muslim Population |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | 209 million |
| India | 195 million |
| Pakistan | 184 million |
| Bangladesh | 145 million |
| Nigeria | 87 million |
| Egypt | 80 million |
| Iran | 73 million |
Sikhism
Sikhism rejects the Christian concept of God and therefore does not observe Christmas or other Christian holidays. Sikhs focus on their own religious celebrations such as Gurpurbs, which mark the birth or death anniversaries of their 10 gurus.
Some Sikhs adopt secular Christmas traditions depending on their personal preferences and the culture they live in, but Christmas is not a recognized religious occasion. Participation in any rituals centered around the worship of Jesus Christ would violate core Sikh beliefs.
Here are some key reasons Christmas is shunned in Sikhism:
- Belief in one formless God, not the Christian Trinity.
- Rejection of incarnations or human forms of God.
- No religious figures except for Sikh Gurus.
- Jesus was a spiritual teacher, not a divine being.
The Sikh population is estimated at 30 million worldwide, with large populations in India and North America. But the majority do not accept religious Christmas observances.
Atheists/Agnostics
Atheism involves not believing in any gods or spiritual beings. Agnosticism is the view that the existence of God or other religious truths cannot be known. So for both atheists and agnostics, Christmas holds no religious significance. However, many non-religious people still enjoy celebrating Christmas in a cultural, secular way.
Secular Christmas traditions often adopted include:
- Exchanging gifts
- Spending time with family
- Eating festive meals and treats
- Enjoying holiday entertainment and music
- Decorating homes with trees, lights, etc.
One survey found that 25% of atheists in America celebrate Christmas in some form, mainly for cultural reasons rather than religious ones. So while Christmas may be shunned as a religious ritual, many atheists/agnostics embrace the secular traditions during this time of year.
Religious Affiliation of U.S. Adults
| Religious Group | Estimated Percentage |
|---|---|
| Christian | 63% |
| Unaffiliated | 29% |
| Jewish | 2% |
| Muslim | 1% |
| Buddhist | 1% |
| Hindu | 1% |
| Other faiths | 1% |
The unaffiliated category includes atheists, agnostics, and those with no religious affiliation. About 3% specifically identify as atheists.
Conclusion
Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated global holidays, but several major faith groups and belief systems do not observe it for theological reasons. Groups that typically shun Christmas celebrations include Jehovah’s Witnesses, Orthodox Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, atheists, and agnostics. Individual practices vary, but religious aspects of Christmas are rejected.
However, some secular Christmas traditions have been adopted to different extents, often for cultural rather than religious purposes. So while Christmas religious rituals are avoided, some enjoy holiday festivities in a cultural sense with gifts, parties, decorations, and family gatherings.