Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release
December 14, 2000

For those who don’t celebrate Christmas, respect and good communication are key

The first Christmas that Chris Hanft did not celebrate with her family was a little tense, she recalls. “I basically disappeared for the day,” she said. But that was 17 years ago. Now Hanft, who is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and her parents, who are not, get through the holiday season without a problem.

“Once they realize that you are not abandoning the family, they feel better,” Hanft said. “My mom and dad have been very good about that. Out of respect for me, they don’t say, ‘I wish we could celebrate it together.’”

At the same time, the Hanfts make an effort to organize a non-holiday-related family gathering at least once a year. “The thing you value the most is not the presents or Santa, it’s getting together,” Hanft said. “And you can still do that.”

Each December, while most Americans are decorating their homes with trees and lights, shopping for gifts, and sharing Christmas greetings, more than one million Jehovah’s Witnesses in the United States choose not to participate. Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are Christians, don’t celebrate the holiday because of the non-Christian origins of many holiday traditions.

How can celebrators tactfully interact with noncelebrators at school, at work, or within the family? Jehovah’s Witnesses have produced a brochure, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Education, to help teachers understand their Witness students. And the following general points can help anyone:

Ask questions. Jehovah’s Witnesses are happy to explain how they feel about some suggested activity, as well as the reasons for their beliefs.

Give gifts at other times. Jehovah’s Witnesses give and accept gifts throughout the year, not simply when a person is socially expected to do so.

Find other ways for families to spend time together. Jehovah’s Witnesses enjoy parties, picnics, weddings, anniversaries, family meals and other events throughout the year.

Remember that millions of people don’t celebrate Christmas. Many Buddhists and Hindus and most Jews and Muslims do not celebrate Christmas. Even among Christians, Christmas customs have not always been as popular as they are today. First-century Christians didn’t celebrate Christmas. It was banned in England and parts of the American colonies during the 1600s. During the 1800s many Americans viewed it as a social threat.

Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600

The non-Christian origins of some Christmas customs

December 25

“The early Christians did not celebrate the birthday of Jesus; it was unrecorded.”—John Ferguson, The Religions of the Roman Empire

“The first mention of December 25 as the birth date of Jesus occurred in A.D. 336 in an early Roman calendar. The celebration of this day as Jesus’ birth date was probably influenced by pagan (unchristian) festivals held at that time.”—World Book Encyclopedia, 2000

Gifts, greenery, lights

“On the Roman New Year (January 1), houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor.”—Encyclopædia Britannica, 1998

Yule

“The origin of the word Yule probably goes back to a pre-Christian harvest festival held in November.”—World Book Encyclopedia, 2000

Christmas tree

“Tree worship, common among the pagan Europeans, survived after their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmastime.“—Encyclopædia Britannica, 1998