Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Christmas?

Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Christmas? Understanding Their Beliefs with an Open Heart

A Season of Joy, A Question of Faith

for so many wonderful Christians all across this beautiful world, the Christmas season is truly a blessed time! It’s a time that just overflows with warmth, isn’t it? Sparkling lights everywhere you look, precious moments with family gathered close, and those joyful songs that lift our spirits, all celebrating the amazing birth of Jesus Christ. It’s a season when our hearts often feel wider, generosity flows like a river, and that powerful message of peace on earth touches us deeply.

But you know, right in the midst of all this celebration, there’s a group of sincere believers, our neighbors Jehovah’s Witnesses, who see this season in a different light. They have a powerful respect for Jesus Christ, and they build their whole lives on the Bible, just like so many others.¹ Yet, they choose not to join in the Christmas festivities.¹ And sometimes, that can leave their Christian family, and neighbors feeling a little puzzled. You might wonder, “Why would people so devoted to Christ choose not to celebrate His birth?”

This message today is all about building bridges of understanding. It’s about sharing insights into the beliefs and the heart-reasons behind why Jehovah’s Witnesses view Christmas the way they do. It’s not about finding fault, it’s about gaining clarity, respectfully looking at the information they themselves share about their faith.¹ When we look closely at the scriptures they point to and the history they consider, we can get a much clearer picture of where they’re coming from. Let’s approach this with open hearts, ready to understand the questions many Christians have: Why don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrate Christmas? How do they see the Bible and history on this? And how do they walk through this festive time of year?

Why don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrate Christmas, even though they believe in Jesus?

It’s easy to misunderstand and think that Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t celebrate Christmas because maybe they don’t believe in Jesus.¹ But let me tell you, that couldn’t be further from the truth! They stand up boldly and say, “We are Christians. We believe that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ”.¹ Their faith is built on worshipping Jehovah as the Almighty God, holding the Bible as His inspired Word, and honoring Jesus as God’s own Son and our Savior.⁴ In addition to Christmas, there are other holidays that Jehovah’s Witnesses abstain from celebrating, including New Year’s. Many might wonder why Jehovah’s Witnesses skip New Year’s, as they focus on maintaining their spiritual integrity and avoiding practices they believe are rooted in pagan traditions. Instead, they choose to commemorate events that align with their beliefs, such as memorializing the death of Jesus, which strengthens their faith and community bonds.

So, their choice not to celebrate Christmas doesn’t come from a lack of faith in Jesus at all. It comes from specific conclusions they’ve drawn from digging deep into the Bible and looking at history.¹ You see, before they decide to join in any holiday, they go straight to the Bible. If they feel a celebration doesn’t line up with Bible principles, they lovingly choose to step aside.³

Their reasons for not celebrating Christmas really come down to these key points:

• They believe Jesus gave a clear instruction for his followers to remember his death, not his birth.¹
• They point out that Jesus’ very own apostles and the earliest Christians didn’t celebrate Christmas.¹
• They find no proof in the Bible that Jesus was actually born on December 25th.¹
• They believe Christmas itself, and many traditions tied to it, started with ancient pagan ways that they feel God doesn’t approve of.¹

Essentially, their decision reflects a deep desire to stick closely to what they understand the Bible clearly teaches or commands. They prioritize obeying what they see as God’s specific requirements over following traditions that almost everyone else accepts.³ This really shows a key difference in how they approach faith compared to many other Christian groups. Jehovah’s Witnesses put a very high value on having a direct command from scripture for their worship practices. Since Jesus commanded them to remember his death (which they call the Memorial) but gave no command about his birth, they focus only on the observance He instructed.¹ This is different from the view many in mainstream Christianity hold, where traditions like Christmas are often welcomed if they seem to fit with scripture, even without a direct command.⁷ This difference – prioritizing clear commands versus accepting traditions that seem supportive – is really key to understanding their perspective.

By strongly declaring they are Christians while stepping away from a practice so central to mainstream Christian culture, Jehovah’s Witnesses are, in a way, challenging the idea that being “Christian” is mainly about joining in cultural traditions. Their actions suggest they define being a Christian more by holding fast to specific beliefs and commands they find in their reading of the Bible, rather than fitting in with broader Christian cultural norms.¹ Their focus is on what they see as biblical truth and obedience, even if that means walking a path different from the majority.¹

What specific Bible reasons do Jehovah’s Witnesses give for not celebrating Christmas?

Jehovah’s Witnesses build their decision not to celebrate Christmas on a foundation of specific Bible reasons and principles they hold dear.

• The Command to Remember Death, Not Birth: Their number one reason is that Jesus Christ Himself gave a clear instruction to remember his death. He started the Lord’s Evening Meal (what they call the Memorial) for exactly this purpose.¹ They look to Luke 22:19-20, where Jesus, after sharing the bread and wine that symbolized his body and blood, said, “Keep doing this in remembrance of me”.¹ On the flip side, they stress that nowhere in the Bible is there a command or instruction to celebrate Jesus’ birth.¹ They see the Bible’s silence on celebrating his birth, compared to the clear command about his death, as very meaningful. This “argument from silence” is important to them; they reason that if God wanted Jesus’ birth celebrated, He would have commanded it or made sure the date was written down.⁶
• The Principle of Staying Separate from Paganism: Jehovah’s Witnesses often point to 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, which encourages believers: “‘Get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing'”.¹ They apply this principle to steer clear of practices they believe started in pagan worship.¹¹ Since they’ve concluded that Christmas and its customs have roots in ancient pagan festivals (we’ll talk more about that next), they feel the Bible requires them to keep separate from it.¹ This shows a core belief for them: keeping their worship pure, free from anything they see as non-biblical or pagan, is incredibly important—more important than fitting in with culture or following tradition.⁵
• Worship Must Please God: They emphasize how important it is to worship God “with spirit and truth,” just as Jesus said in John 4:23-24.¹ They also refer to Ephesians 5:10, which encourages Christians to “keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord”.⁵ From their viewpoint, a celebration based on what they see as untruths—like an incorrect birth date and customs borrowed from paganism—can’t be truthful worship that pleases God.¹
• No Example from Early Christians: They argue that because Jesus’ apostles and the very first disciples didn’t celebrate Christmas, it shows it’s not a practice God intended for Christians.¹ They even cite sources like the New Catholic Encyclopedia, which mentions that the celebration of the Nativity didn’t start until centuries after Christ, long after the apostles were gone.¹
• The Warning of the Golden Calf: Jehovah’s Witnesses often bring up the story in Exodus 32.⁵ Remember that? The Israelites made a golden calf but then said their festival was “a festival to Jehovah.” Even though they said they were honoring God, Jehovah saw their actions—mixing true worship with pagan idolatry—as a terrible sin, and the consequences were severe.⁵ For them, this story is a powerful warning: having good intentions doesn’t make it okay to use practices or symbols God disapproves of, especially if they’re linked to false worship.

These Bible reasons, taken together, form the bedrock of their conviction that celebrating Christmas goes against God’s will as they understand it from the scriptures.

If JWs don’t celebrate Christmas, what do they celebrate regarding Jesus?

While Jehovah’s Witnesses choose not to celebrate Christmas or other traditional holidays, they place tremendous importance on one special annual event concerning Jesus Christ: The Memorial of his death.⁹ This gathering, which they also call the Lord’s Evening Meal or the Lord’s Supper, is the single most major meeting of their year. They believe it’s the only observance Jesus clearly commanded his followers to keep.⁹

• The Bible Command: They base this practice directly on what Jesus said, as recorded in the Gospels and by the Apostle Paul. On the night before he died, after the Passover meal, Jesus started this new meal with his apostles. He used bread and wine as symbols and commanded them: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).⁹
• Once a Year: Following the pattern of the Jewish Passover, which Jesus’ meal took the place of, Jehovah’s Witnesses observe the Memorial just once each year.⁹ They figure out the date using the biblical lunar calendar, holding the meeting on Nisan 14 after the sun goes down—the very same date Jesus started it.⁹ This date marks the anniversary of his death, not his birth. This careful practice of observing it annually, just like Passover, shows their commitment to following what they see as the exact pattern Jesus set.⁹
• Purpose and Meaning: The main reason for the Memorial is to remember Jesus Christ and show deep gratitude for his sacrifice—his death.¹â° They believe his death provided the ransom needed to free humankind from sin and death, opening the door to forgiveness and the hope of everlasting life.¹â° It’s a serious, respectful remembrance of this incredible act of love from both Jehovah God and Jesus Christ.⁵⁴ They see it as a memorial, not as a sacrament that gives grace or forgiveness itself.⁵³
• Symbolic Bread and Wine: During the Memorial meeting, they use unleavened bread (like flatbread without yeast) and plain red wine, just like Jesus did.⁹ They understand these items purely as symbols:
• The unleavened bread represents Jesus’ perfect, sin-free human body that he offered up.⁹
• The red wine represents his blood that was shed, which confirmed the “new covenant” and makes forgiveness of sins possible.⁹
• Who Attends and Who Partakes: Jehovah’s Witnesses invite everyone, all around the world, to come and attend the Memorial observance.⁵⁴ But the act of actually eating the bread and drinking the wine is usually only for those Witnesses who believe they are part of the “new covenant” Jesus mentioned and who feel they have a hope of going to heaven—a group they understand from their reading of Revelation to be 144,000 people.⁹ This distinction is based on scriptures like Romans 8:15-17, which talks about God’s spirit confirming with a person’s spirit that they are God’s child with a heavenly calling.⁵⁸ Everyone else attends respectfully as observers without partaking.

This singular focus on the yearly Memorial of Christ’s death highlights a key theological point for Jehovah’s Witnesses. While mainstream Christianity celebrates the Incarnation (Christmas) and the Resurrection (Easter) as hugely major events, the Witnesses’ main religious observance centers almost entirely on the saving act of Jesus’ death—the ransom sacrifice—as the primary event commanded to be remembered.¹â°

How do Jehovah’s Witnesses handle Christmas time with family and friends who do celebrate?

Navigating the Christmas season means Jehovah’s Witnesses need to balance their strong religious beliefs with their love for family and friends who do celebrate. Their approach is guided by principles of respect, personal conscience, and setting clear, kind boundaries.

• Respecting Others’ Choices: A core principle is showing respect for what others choose to believe and do. While Jehovah’s Witnesses personally don’t join in Christmas celebrations because of how they understand the Bible, they make it clear that they respect the right of others to celebrate and they don’t try to stop anyone’s festivities.¹
• Family Get-Togethers: The holiday season often means families get together because people have time off work or school.⁵⁹ Jehovah’s Witnesses might choose to go to family gatherings during this time, especially if it’s mainly about sharing a meal together.⁵⁹ But their participation has limits:
• Not Joining Holiday Activities: They will politely refrain from specific Christmas activities, like saying “Merry Christmas,” singing carols, taking part in Christmas gift exchanges, or joining in toasts or rituals they see as part of the holiday celebration.¹¹
• Conscience and Talking it Through: Deciding whether to attend such a gathering is a personal choice, guided by their conscience.⁵⁹ It often involves thinking things through carefully and maybe talking with family members beforehand to set expectations and avoid hurt feelings or confusion when the Witness doesn’t participate in certain things.⁵⁹ Their goal is to be there as loving family members without compromising their religious principles. This shows a real effort to handle the tension between their commitment to their faith and the social or family expectations of the season.⁵⁹
• Handling Gifts: Gift-giving can be a bit tricky:
• No Christmas Gift Exchanges: They don’t take part in the tradition of exchanging gifts specifically for Christmas.¹¹
• Receiving Gifts: If a friend or relative who isn’t a Witness, and knows their beliefs, offers a gift during the holiday time, a Witness might accept it if their conscience allows.⁵⁹ Often, the key factor is whether the gift seems like a simple expression of kindness from the giver, separate from the holiday itself.⁵⁹ If they accept it, they would thank the person for their generosity without mentioning Christmas.⁵⁹ But some Witnesses might feel uncomfortable accepting any gift that seems clearly tied to the holiday.⁶¹
• Giving Gifts: Jehovah’s Witnesses love the joy of giving gifts spontaneously throughout the year, whenever their heart moves them out of love and generosity. They prefer this over feeling tied to specific dates or obligated by holiday traditions.⁵ They often contrast this year-round, voluntary giving with what they might see as the sometimes pressured or commercialized nature of Christmas gift-giving.⁶²
• Work Bonuses: Christmas bonuses from work are often seen differently. If the bonus is given to all employees, no matter their religion, and seems more like a thank-you for their work, a Witness might accept it.⁵⁹
• Focusing on Year-Round Relationships: Jehovah’s Witnesses are encouraged to keep strong family bonds through regular calls, visits, and communication all year long, not just during holidays.⁶⁰ Staying connected throughout the year can help smooth over potential awkwardness that might come up because of different beliefs about holidays.⁶⁰

In short, their approach is about staying true to their understanding of Bible principles while still showing love and respect to family members who believe differently. It takes careful personal judgment and good communication to navigate social situations without going against their conscience.⁵⁹

A Moment of Reflection: Understanding Different Paths

After exploring the different reasons why Jehovah’s Witnesses choose not to celebrate Christmas, it becomes clear that their decision comes from a unique way of understanding the Bible, worship, and history. Their main motivations revolve around wanting to stick strictly to what they see as direct commands in the Bible (like remembering Jesus’ death, not his birth), keeping their worship pure by avoiding practices with pagan roots, and holding onto the truth as they understand it from the Scriptures.¹ Additionally, their principles extend beyond Christmas, influencing other aspects of their lives, such as why Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid Halloween. This choice stems from their belief that many Halloween traditions are linked to superstitions and pagan customs, which conflict with their desire to maintain a worship practice that aligns closely with Biblical teachings. Ultimately, their decisions reflect a commitment to living in accordance with their interpretation of God’s will as outlined in the Scriptures.

On the other hand, mainstream Christian views often highlight the incredible theological importance of the Incarnation. They might see the historical arguments about pagan origins differently, perhaps as less important than the meaning the holiday holds today. They often operate within a framework that allows for Christian freedom and the development of traditions that help support core beliefs.⁷

Let’s summarize the key differences in a simple way:

Table 1: Comparing Perspectives on Christmas

This comparison really shows that the differences come from deeply held beliefs about the best way to worship God and understand His Word.

Conclusion: Focusing on What Unites

Understanding why Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t celebrate Christmas means appreciating their sincere heart-desire to worship God in a way they truly believe He approves of, based on their dedicated study of the Bible.² Their focus on clear commands, keeping worship pure, and staying separate from practices they see as having non-Christian roots leads them down a path that looks different from many other Christians during the holiday season. Additionally, their commitment to maintaining a form of worship that aligns with their interpretation of Scripture influences their views on other holidays as well. For instance, understanding why Jehovah’s Witnesses shun Thanksgiving reveals their belief that such celebrations may divert focus from their worship of God and encourage practices they view as contrary to their faith. This dedication to aligning their lifestyle with their beliefs results in a unique observance of the holiday season, distinguishing them further from mainstream celebrations. This same dedication to scriptural adherence explains why Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid Good Friday, viewing the traditions surrounding it as inconsistent with their understanding of biblical teachings. They emphasize the importance of commemorating Jesus’s death on the designated date observed in their calendar rather than participating in widely recognized holiday traditions. Consequently, their approach to these occasions is characterized by a desire for biblical integrity, setting them apart further from mainstream practices.

At the same time, it’s so important to recognize the historical complexities and the different ways people interpret things within the wider Christian family. Many Christians find powerful theological reasons and historical support for celebrating the Incarnation at Christmas. They focus on the powerful meaning of God becoming human and the freedom they believe Christians have to observe days in honor of the Lord.⁷

Even though there are differences in how we practice our faith, there’s still a shared foundation: belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and our Savior, and a common trust in the Bible as God’s Word.¹ Showing respect for the different conclusions people reach through sincere faith and study is so important. God looks at our hearts and our desire to honor Him according to our conscience.