How come the JWs don't celebrate the Jewish Holidays? (page 2)

Paralipomenon

Rutherford was extremely anti-semitic and to a lesser degree so was Russel. There were numerous articles denouncing the jews. Even if scriptural basis was found for celebrating these holidays, their personal racism would have kept it from ever happening.

moomanchu

Jesus was at the temple for the festival of dedication. I don't see any reason why one couldn't celebrate the holidays if they wanted to. Celebrate Christmas by calling it Hannukah.

lavendar

I can't figure out why they don't celebrate Thanksgiving. Come on....Thanksgiving! What possible reason could they have??

Lavendar

Scully

One thing I used to tell my folks was that Jesus celebrated Jewish holidays.... so if Jesus observed them, and JWs are supposed to follow Jesus' example... why didn't we at least observe the same holidays that he would have observed?

They never did have a good answer for that.

blondie

can't figure out why they don't celebrate Thanksgiving. Come on....Thanksgiving! What possible reason could they have??

It is considered a national or political holiday like the 4th of July and Memorial Day.

*** sj p. 21 Holidays and Celebrations ***/NationalHolidays

Other holidays are somewhat different in nature. These are not so universally celebrated, but may be unique to a particular country. For example, there may be national days of thanksgiving. In some places there may also be a certain day set aside to memorialize a nation’s war dead, or a day to remember the birth of a country or certain prominent presidents, rulers or national heroes.
Jehovah’s Witnesses also respectfully refrain from participating in such national holidays. Though we respect the authorities in whatever country we may reside, for conscientious reasons we do not give them what we view as worshipful honors. We remain neutral toward all such celebrations. This is in keeping with Jesus’ words regarding his followers: "They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world."—John 17:16.

jgnat

OK, then, what's wrong with Mother's Day?

As an aside, the Witness I know prefers Valentine's over all the others. I think this is quite odd, as it probably has the most "pagan origins" of the bunch (excluding Halloween).

blondie

The WTS feels that the second day in May is a Roman/Greek holiday in honor of a pagan goddess.

*** rs p. 182 Holidays ***

What is the origin of the practice of setting aside a day to honor mothers?The EncyclopædiaBritannica says: "A festival derived from the custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Formal mother worship, with ceremonies to Cybele, or Rhea, the Great Mother of the Gods, were performed on the Ides of March throughout Asia Minor."—(1959), Vol. 15, p. 849.

Valentine's Day (so-called Christian martyr)

*** rs p. 181 - p. 182 Holidays ***

What is the origin of Valentine’s Day?

The

WorldBookEncyclopedia informs us: "Valentine’s Day comes on the feast day of two different Christian martyrs named Valentine. But the customs connected with the day . . . probably come from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia which took place every February 15. The festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature."—(1973), Vol. 20, p. 204.

Sasha

Always puzzled me. All those Festivals, they all kinda fall around the same time of year in the Bible. Don't have the list in front of me, my friend has it, but we should be celebrating those. Maybe the JW's think too much partying might be going on at the Festival of Booths.???

How come the JWs don't celebrate the Jewish Holidays?

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