Many are surprised to learn that Jehovah’s Witnesses, who come under the grouping of Christian religions, reject holidays that have Christian undertones—Easter and Christmas included. Why?
The main argument of the Witnesses is that the far majority of these holidays—as well as birthdays—have pagan origins, or roots that are not Bible-based or based in Christian teachings. They base their organization around the structure and doctrines of the first-century Christian congregation, a group that also rejected many similar customs.
For instance, the World Book Encyclopedia notes that “the early Christians did not celebrate [Jesus’s] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.” Various scholars and authors have also connected the Christmas tree and such customs as gift giving, putting up Christmas lights, and the use of mistletoe with Roman festivals and Druid practices. It is also a recognized fact that the date of Christ’s birth is not known. December 25 actually correlates to a celebration of the infant god of light by the Cult of Mithras. (See full discussion on Christmas in this Blog)
Examination of such holidays as Easter, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween also reveal similar origins. The Witnesses claim that practices and customs that are directly disapproved by God—or are practiced by people that He does not approve of—merit censure. Thus, even though it has been hundreds or thousands of years since these un-Christian practices originated or mixed in with popular holidays and celebrations, Jehovah’s Witnesses feel that these would displease the God of the Bible.
