I was a young "publisher" in his first year after baptism, and I went out on Christmas. Some folks mentioned being "with family" at the moment and I appreciated that this was a bad idea, this recruiting on holidays. Since then, I never went out on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and certainly not Halloween. Never again. I didn't tell others not to do it, so it didn't really hinder my climbing the JW ladder.
As an elder, I remember the service overseer encouraging an outing to the cemetary on Memorial Day. I was disgusted and just said, "NO, I won't be there." Some asked me why and I answered the individuals on how the mourning and the reflecting people need to be left totally alone in a cemetary, IN MY OPINION.
I have to work on December 25th this year. Don't cry for me. It'll be great and I get holiday pay. My non-JW family is gathering to exchange gifts on the 23rd. I am encouraging my JW wife to come along for the meal and she will hop in the car and go to the local Starbucks when we do the gift thing.