The Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid many practices found in mainstream culture. They specifically prohibit annual celebrations, such as Christmas, national holidays, and birthdays. According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, their abstinence from holidays flows out of a desire to worship Jehovah in a proper manner.
Therefore, many of Jehovah’s Witnesses take the initiative to reassure their relatives of their love, to explain tactfully the reasons for their decisions, and to visit their relatives on other occasions. Do Jehovah’s Witnesses tell others not to celebrate certain holidays?
( Proverbs 11:25; Romans 12:18) For example, the way we conduct our meetings and preach is in harmony with Jesus’ instruction: “You received free, give free .” ( Matthew 10:8) In addition, we direct attention to God’s Kingdom as the true hope for peace on earth .— Matthew 10:7. Why don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrate Christmas?
( Psalm 118:8, 9) To avoid implying that they trust humans rather than God to solve the world’s problems, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not join in Youth Day or Women’s Day celebrations that support political or social campaigns. For the same reason, they do not join in Emancipation Day or similar celebrations.
What is the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah. This is the first day of the Jewish year . In ancient times, this festival featured special sacrifices offered to God. ( Numbers 29:1-6) However, Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, caused “sacrifice and gift offering to cease,” making them invalid in God’s eyes. — Daniel 9:26, 27.
Hanukkah. This festival commemorates the rededication of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Yet, the Bible says that Jesus became High Priest of a “greater and more perfect tent [or, temple] not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.”.
The Bible states: “Christ is the end of the Law.”. ( Romans 10:4) Christians still benefit from principles of the Mosaic Law given to ancient Israel. However, they do not celebrate its festivals, especially festivals that point forward to a Messiah who Christians believe has already come.
The Bible states: “Anyone who employs divination, anyone practicing magic, anyone who looks for omens, a sorcerer, anyone binding others with a spell, anyone who consults a spirit medium or a fortune-teller, or anyone who inquires of the dead . . . is detestable to Jehovah.”. ( Deuteronomy 18:10-12) To stay clear of any occultism—including …
This celebration of the winter solstice is “definitely connected to the worship of Mithra,” the god of light, according to the book Sufism in the Secret History of Persia. It has also been suggested that the holiday may be related to the worship of the Roman and Greek sun gods. *. Thanksgiving.
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