Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate holidays or birthdays because they believe that these customs have pagan origins and reflect worldly, non-Christian values. The Bible does not explicitly authorize the commemoration of Jesus’ birth, so Witnesses consider Christmas to be a pagan-rooted festival adopted from ancient Roman religions. They point out that many Christmas customs like gift giving, decorating trees, and feasting actually stem from pre-Christian winter solstice celebrations. Similarly, Witnesses avoid Easter which they believe originated from pagan fertility rites celebrating the spring equinox and goddess worship.
What holidays do Jehovah’s Witnesses not celebrate?
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate any holidays or birthday celebrations, including:
- Christmas
- Easter
- Valentine’s Day
- Mother’s Day
- Father’s Day
- Thanksgiving
- Halloween
- Birthdays
- National holidays like Independence Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.
They believe all these occasions have pagan roots or encourage materialism, greed and immorality. However, Witnesses are allowed to take time off work for national holidays if their job requires it.
What is the basis for this belief?
Jehovah’s Witnesses base their objection to holidays and birthdays on the following points:
- No holidays are mentioned in the Bible as anniversaries to be celebrated among first century Christians.
- Early Christians did not observe birthdays or national holidays because many had pagan origins or hero worship.
- The Bible condemns greed, immorality and idolatry which are often associated with holidays.
- Christians should be “no part of the world” and so avoid customs with worldly, non-Christian roots (John 15:19).
Overall, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the Bible promotes modest Christian living rather than excessive celebrations. They want to keep separate from the world and its materialism.
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses have any celebrations?
While they avoid holidays, Jehovah’s Witnesses commemorate certain events that hold religious significance for them:
- Memorial of Christ’s Death – An annual observance on Nisan 14 according to the ancient Jewish calendar. This commemorates Jesus’ death on the cross.
- Weddings and Anniversaries – Viewed as Scriptural and appropriate if modest.
Witnesses also enjoy non-religious celebrations with family and friends as long as these don’t conflict with Bible principles. For example, they may attend a retirement party but without holiday decorations.
Conclusion
In summary, Jehovah’s Witnesses refrain from holidays and birthdays because they believe these are unscriptural traditions tainted by paganism and materialism. Their stance aims to follow Jesus’ example and Bible principles, rather than human customs. They seek to honor God and Christ through their worship and lead modest lives separated from the empty worldly traditions around them. While their practices may seem rigid to outsiders, Witnesses firmly believe they are obeying God’s Word.