Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas. In what year did they begin teaching that it was wrong to do so?

According to the following the JWs celebrated Christmas until after 1928. Below is a picture of the JW's Christmas dinner in 1926.

Also here is a quote showing that they did indeed practice Christmas at one time:

"Even though Christmas is not the real anniversary of our Lord's birth, but more properly the annunciation day or the date of his human begetting (Luke 1:28), nevertheless, since the celebration of our Lord's birth is not a matter of divine appointment or injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to him, it is not necessary for us to quibble particularly about the date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate - "Christmas day."" Zion's Watch Tower 1904 Dec 1 p.364

The following quote highlights why they stopped celebrating Christmas in 1928:

"What caused the Bible Students to stop celebrating Christmas? Richard H. Barber gave this answer: "I was asked to give an hour talk over a [radio] hookup on the subject of Christmas. It was given December 12, 1928, and published in The Golden Age #241 and again a year later in #268. That talk pointed out the pagan origin of Christmas. After that, the brothers at Bethel never celebrated Christmas again."

- 1975 Yearbook

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/celebrations.php

What Year Did Christmas Begin

Dude, I haven't celebrated Christmas in thirty years. My kids grew up without a Christmas tree. I asked them when they were sitting on the divan looking like they were in trouble Imean wtf right.

A woman came to the door night before last saying there was a stolen tablet pinging her app or whatever so I said, "Go look in our other friend's room b!***." So she said she didn't have to because it would be sending an audible signal. " So I go well let the other little bi*** bring her ears.." Then I noticed one of the children had snuck out from behind the mother and was now "parked in the threshold of" my friend's "bedroom."

So they went and got their father dressed up in a policeman's uniform

anyway long story short turns out it wasn't a phone app after all it was a scanner because she kept saying it was only off by 30 ft so I Bing "what is the effective range of a scanner" and like it came back saying that.

My friend got out of bed this morning finally and after my rant and some sympathetic grunts I didn't get high with her so she doesn't give a you know what and anyway she had to go to work.

She suggested I get high.

The last time they celebrated Christmas at their Brooklyn Bethel HQ was in December 1926. I have a photo of that celebration as printed in the JW "Proclaimers" (history) book, page 200. The copy alongside the photo reads:

"This Christmas celebration at Brooklyn Bethel in 1926 was their last. The Bible Students gradually came to appreciate that neither the origin of this holiday nor the practices associated with it honoured God."

Page 199 of the Proclaimers book adds:

"R.H. Barber, a member of the headquarters staff who made a thorough investigation of the origin of Christmas customs and the fruitage that these were yielding, presented the results in a radio broadcast. That information was also published in The Golden Age of December 12, 1928. It was a thorough expose of the God-dishonouring roots of Christmas. Since then, the pagan roots of Christmas customs have become general public knowledge".

Well, that last claim is dishonest! Back in 1644 Parliament in England started passing laws to ban Christmas. The Puritans objected to the binge-drinking and the debauchery that accompanied the traditional revelries of Christmas week.

One noted that “more mischief is committed at that week than in all the year besides” – a sentiment with which many will agree today. He added, “What eating and drinking, what feasting, and all to the great dishonour of God and the impoverishment of the realm.”

The Puritans also objected to the Catholic name – “Christ’s mass” so they changed it to “Christ-tide” and made the one day a day of fasting. For 18 years, England was officially devoid of Christmas. Come back Oliver Cromwell – all is forgiven!

What year did they start to celebrate Christmas?

"The earliest mention of December 25 as Jesus’ birthday comes from a mid-fourth-century Roman almanac that lists the death dates of various Christian bishops and martyrs. The first date listed, December 25, is marked: natus Christus in Betleem Judeae: “Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea.”3 In about 400 C.E., Augustine of Hippo mentions a local dissident Christian group, the Donatists, who apparently kept Christmas festivals on December 25, but refused to celebrate the Epiphany on January 6, regarding it as an innovation. Since the Donatist group only emerged during the persecution under Diocletian in 312 C.E. and then remained stubbornly attached to the practices of that moment in time, they seem to represent an older North African Christian tradition.

In the East, January 6 was at first not associated with the magi alone, but with the Christmas story as a whole.

So, almost 300 years after Jesus was born, we finally find people observing his birth in mid-winter."

I deliberately chose a source of information outside of that provided by Jehovah's Witnesses to show that they did not celebrate this pagan Holiday for the first 300 years of Christianity. In the modern day history of Jehovah's Witnesses some did celebrate this holiday for awhile, but the practice was ended like many others as they, as a group, learned more about what the Bible teaches and sought to bring themselves more into harmony with what they were learning. This is different from most religions which refuse to study the Bible and live by what it says. In fact, if you have been following the news and trends among Churches you should be able to see that they are drawing farther away from what the Bible teaches.

Chi girl - WHY is it a good question? We answer this every day on the doorsteps this time of year and you know, many people agree with us that Jehovah God is insulted by christendom celebrating a pagan holiday in his sons name.

Moreover, those who are active in christendom will actually stand there and say "Of course its not Jesus' birthday but it doesnt matter. We have to celebrate the Lords birthday at some time of the year and this is a good time". We will say, why do we need to do that? The Bible never tells us his birthday because Jehovah didnt want us to know it. Nor does Jesus say to us to remember his birthday. He tells us to remember his death.

So much for them putting the word of God first, they are choosing to celebrate a pagan festival because they want a bit of fun. Remember how the Israelites did that too, when they left Egypt? And they made a golden calf to lead them and then had a celebration calling it A day for Jehovah. Was Jehovah pleased that they did that? Of course not. So do you think he is pleased about the madness of the 25th December?

So why bother to ask this question? We say over and over that we constantly read and study the scriptures "as if looking for treasure". We are prepared to change and adapt, just as the friends of Jehovah throughout the Bible were. We dont go on acting out a mistake and expanding on it, when we know its a lie and an insult to our Father.

So a better question would be - WHY do you ignore the wishes of our Almighty God?

NB For Thecla's information. Charles Taze Russell died in 1916. If you cant even research something so well documented, how on earth do you manage with bible study. And any right minded person would agree that if you find something is wrong, you change it. The apostles spent a lot of time changing the traditional beliefs of the jewish converts. But you fail to understand that that is a good thing.

"This Christmas celebration at Brooklyn Bethel in 1926 was their last. The Bible Students gradually came to appreciate that neither the origin of this holiday nor the practices associated with it honoured God."

1975 - it is recorded that russell greeted them Merry Christmas.. so I guess after russell died, there was reorganization or so called new lite and WTS changed their mind

...But you could greet any JW Merry Christmas as their leader C Russell does great them 'Merry Christmas, All'. The 1975 yearbook recounts:

"Yes, in those earlier days, dedicated Christians commemorated birthdays. Well, then, why not celebrate the supposed birthday of Jesus? This they also did for many years. In Pastor Russell's day, Christmas was celebrated at the old Bible House in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Ora Sullivan Wakefield recalls that Brother Russell gave members of the Bible House family five or ten dollar gold pieces at Christmas. Mabel P. M. Philbrick remarks: "A custom that certainly would not be carried on today was the celebration of Christmas with a Christmas tree in the Bethel dining room. Brother Russell's usual `Good morning, all' was changed to `Merry Christmas, all." (1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, p.147)

LOL.. I still read JW's belief that Christmas is pagan. Now, whom do we credit this 90degree u-turn. I guess the discreet slaves.

Actually it was jesus Christ that said to his apostles..

When you go into the city you will see them celebrating the festival of putting lights on trees

Do not concern yourself with them but instead go about your bussines no command for or against. Just leave them alone and get your work done

Most of what Annsan wrote is correct. When she was a Jehovah's WItness she learned a few things, which perhaps she is drawing from, or her archive., we can only guess.

Many references have been made in past articles regarding the 1920's and what happened back then. To me it really does not matter when. What matters is, as time goes on these sorts of issues become clearer to us. And I really appreciate how we can see what is a "conscience matter, and what is more serious in nature". Even now when we try to explain to someone new perhaps too many things, without their appreciation there. Naturally, they just don't see it (a few will). We are not surprised though, Satan does blind people's minds.What I do appreciate about being one of Jehovah's Witnesses is how the brothers WILL admit where they did not have an understanding of something. If I was in a "Church" or "Organization" that was at a "stalemate" and dogma and tradition meant more than discovering truths, I would start questioning that attitude more. It is fair to say that many will take the "Popular" religion just because they cannot stand up to others. If JW's on Yahoo seem a bit too bold, it is because they love Jehovah with their whole heart, mind and soul. They follow scripture and "Principles" found in scripture.

A lot of people have Jesus on their mind this time of year, so this is worth mentioning.

~Learn From God’s Word~

Why Did God Send Jesus to Earth?

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp2012...

Edit: Recently saw this posted. It can be found at the site called Hebrew For Christians... The part about "one's death" I find especially interesting. We as JW's see that and I have not heard it said in the Jewish religion or any other. Doubtful that many people admit this, but here it is in quotes.

"Regardless of your conviction regarding the date of Yeshua's birth, the most important thing to remember is that He was born to die (Heb. 10:5-7). The story of his birth is only significant in relation to His sacrificial death (Mark 8:27-33). The "manger" scene leads directly to the Cross at Moriah. Indeed, in Jewish tradition the day of one's death is more important than the day of one's birth, since death summarizes the meaning and significance of a person's life in this world. Birth represents potential, whereas death represents inheritance... Therefore the Jewish custom is to commemorate the anniversary of a person's death (Yahrzeit: יארצייט) and not the date of his or her birth. This custom is derived from the Scriptures themselves, as it is written: "A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth" (Eccl. 7:1)."

Actually it was jesus Christ that said to his apostles..

When you go into the city you will see them celebrating the festival of putting lights on trees

Do not concern yourself with them but instead go about your bussines no command for or against. Just leave them alone and get your work done