Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t celebrate Christmas because, according to their understanding of the Bible, the holiday should be about remembering Jesus’ death, not his birth. This is close to the Amish’s and Mormons’ understanding of Christmas. They disagree with those who celebrate Christmas in accordance with biblical teachings, but they acknowledge the freedom of others to observe the holiday, unlike many Jews who deeply disdain Christmas celebrations.
Reasons Why Jehovah’s Witnesses Don’t Celebrate Christmas
There are a number of biblically-based reasons why Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas. Although they don’t celebrate it, they recognize the right of others to do so instead of openly disdaining them in public.
- Instead of Jesus’ Birthday, They Commemorate His Death: Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus ordered the commemoration of his death, not his birth. This is how they understand Scriptures like Luke 22:19 and 20.
- The Date of December 25 Has No Basis in the Bible: The Bible does not provide any evidence supporting December 25 as Jesus’ birth date. Nativity celebrations began no sooner than 243 AD, according to the New Catholic Encyclopedia; this was almost a century after the death of the final apostle.
- A Pagan Celebration: Based on their understanding of 2 Corinthians 6:17, Jehovah’s Witnesses reject Christmas because they feel it has pagan origins, although it is pretty much a secular celebration now.
- Following Biblical Teachings: Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for their strict adherence to the teachings of the Bible, regardless of the social consequences. According to Romans 12:1-2, they are truth-seekers who put their “power of reason” to work.
- Secularization: For Jehovah’s Witnesses, the secularization of Christmas has diluted its religious significance. They lament that the religious essence of the day has been lost amid the holiday’s emphasis on shopping and presents.
See also: Three Wise Men: The Biblical Characters and Their Origin
What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Do at Christmas?
They are abstain from any Christmas since they believe they are pagan rituals and are thus forbidden by God. They go about their usual daily lives and religious observances. They pray, spend time with loved ones, or engage in other religious activities. They don’t celebrate Christmas themselves, but they are accepting of those who do since they appear to believe in goodwill toward men, according to their take on Proverbs 11:25 and Romans 12:18.
- Preaching: They maintain their regular worship schedules during the winter holidays. The Christmas season does not slow them down from knocking on people’s doors and preaching on the spot. They still use Christmas to spread their views.
- Family Visiting: During this time, they also choose to meet together for dinners or other social events that have nothing to do with Christmas.
- Charitable Work: They are also allowed to do volunteer work during Christmas. They help out at a charity or do other good deeds for the community, most often to spread their religion.
Why Some Jehovah’s Witnesses Still Celebrate Christmas
Jehovah’s Witnesses actually observed the Christmas until the early 1900s, even though they knew Jesus was not born on December 25. They reasoned that even if they knew the date was wrong, they could still rejoice in the spirit of the holiday. However with additional investigation explaining the origins of the date and the typical objects linked with Christmas, they ultimately discovered that Christmas was a pagan religious feast disguised as a Christian holiday.
Most Jehovah’s Witnesses adhere to the teaching that Christmas has pagan roots and is forbidden by the Bible, but some Witnesses still observe this holiday. Because not many people can resist the magical spirit of Christmas. Some of them celebrate Christmas owing to their own cultural norms, or the influence of their families, especially the interfaith ones. However, some Witnesses actually celebrate Christmas to blend in with mainstream society. They feel the need to fit in with the rest of the people, especially when their preaches are found disturbing by citizens.
Their Views on Santa Claus, Christmas Tree, and Snowman
Jehovah’s Witnesses view Santa Claus as purely secular and not religious. They’d rather not engage in Christmas-themed pursuits like seeing Santa at the mall or sending letters to him. Putting up Christmas trees and building snowman are also considered secular and they are not supported by their community.
Explanation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Religion
They are a Christian group that rejects the Trinity and believes in a future millennial kingdom. The whole Bible is considered to be Jehovah’s “inspired message” to humanity, and the followers of this religion have a strong faith in this deity.
God: According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jehovah is the one and only real God, the one who created the universe and everything in it, and the “Universal Sovereign.” According to their theology, he is the exclusive object of devotion and not one of three in a Trinity.
Jesus Christ: Jehovah’s Witnesses consider Jesus to be God’s representative and the only means by which God may forgive humanity’s sins. The followers of this group consider Jesus to be an artificial entity named Michael the Archangel. They preach that Jesus willingly submitted to God’s plan to be born of the Virgin Mary so that he might take on humanity’s sins as a substitute.
Holy Spirit: God’s operative power in the world is called the Holy Spirit in their theology.
Bible: To Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Bible is the one and final authority on matters of faith and practice. They oppose interfaith and ecumenical efforts because, in their view, the Bible explicitly forbids the mingling of faiths. In their view, only Jehovah’s Witnesses can claim to speak for all of Christendom, and all other faiths will perish because they don’t follow God’s exacting rules.
Lifestyle: Aspects of daily life unique to them include door-to-door evangelism, the distribution of publications like The Watchtower, and Awake!, and the rejection of both military duty and blood transfusions. They take part in a yearly remembrance of Christ’s death on the 14th of Nisan in the Jewish calendar (March or April in the Gregorian calendar); at this time, witnesses distribute bread and wine as emblems of Christ’s flesh and blood (!). They do not own weapons and abstain from politics because of their belief in being apart from the secular government. Divorce is frowned upon unless it is the result of adultery, which they see as a violation of the sacred nature of marriage.
Holidays and Celebrations: The Jehovah’s Witnesses do not observe the Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter, nor do they celebrate birthdays, since they consider these celebrations to have pagan roots and to be contrary to the teachings of the Bible. They participate in the yearly remembrance of Christ’s death but do not commemorate his birth.
