I am trying to prepare a position paper regarding the history of watchtower bans on holidays and could really use assistance.
I am trying to nail down the earliest instance of each of the following holidays being 'discouraged' (aka verboten) by the WTS through any channel at its disposal.
Here's what I have thus far
Jan 1st New Year’s Day – mentioned in: w60 11/15 p. 704 QFR
Strong stand against in: w67 12/15 pp. 767-768 QFR
Feb 2nd, Groundhog Day
Feb 14th Valentine’s Day – mentioned in: w60 11/15 p. 704 QFR
Strong stand against in: w68 9/15 pp. 570-574 “The Seriousness of it”
March 17th St Patrick’s Day
March 22nd-April 25th Easter - 1894 Watchtower p79 “resurrection of Christ”
April 1st April Fool’s Day
May, second Sunday. Mother’s Day -- Vindication, 1931, (book 1), pages 158-59.
May, last Monday. Memorial Day
June, Third Sunday.Father’s Day -
w68 2/15 pp. 114-120 “Working What Is Good Toward Those in the Faith”
July 4th. Independence Day
October 31st Halloween – mentioned in: w60 11/15 p. 704 QFR
Strong stand against in: w60 11/1 pp. 669-671 What does Haloween mean to you?
November, Fourth Thursday, Thanksgiving –
mentioned in: w60 11/15 p. 704 QFR
I need a scan or pdf of November 8, 1969, Awake! since I believe it to be the first full-court press against Thanksgiving
Tho they hit it hard in g76 11/22 pp. 9-13 “A National “Day of Thanks”—The Dream and the Reality”
December 25th Christmas
The Golden Age #241 1928
Birthdaysw51 10/1 p. 607 QFR
There's what I have thus far, I sure would appreciate if anyone could fill in any details for me.
Thanks,
RD