Was Jesus born on December 25? #2: Pagan origin so shouldn't be celebrated?

Continuing from "Was Jesus born on December 25? #1: Watchtower arguments against," with this part #2 of a four-part

[Above: The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society's last Christmas celebration in 1926: "Jehovah's Witnesses: Proclaimers of God's Kingdom," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, 1993, pp.198-199. See however below where the Society states that it was from "December 12, 1928 ... that, the brothers at Bethel never celebrated Christmas again". Click to enlarge and note the `pagan' Christmas decorations and gifts on the tables!]

series, "Was Jesus born on December 25?"

Now for the final reason the Watchtower Society gives for its claim that December 25 should not be celebrated as the date of Jesus' birth:

December 25 has pagan roots and therefore Christ's birth should not be celebrated on that (or any) day:

"What, then, of the date December 25, celebrated by many as the birthday of Christ? ... the people of Rome already observed it as the Feast of Saturn ... There is no escaping it: Christmas is of pagan origin. ... How much more important it is for true Christians today to shun a celebration that was never authorized by God, that stems from pagan Babylon, and that falsely bears the name of Christ!" (WB&TS, 1968, "The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life," pp.148-149).

"The mixing of non-Christian and supposed Christian religion extends to other holidays, such as Christmas. ... December 25 was chosen because it was already a Roman holiday. ...After he learns the facts, what person who sincerely loves Jehovah would continue to accept beliefs and practices based on a compromise with pagan worship?" (WB&TS, 1980, "Happiness," pp.171-172).

"Christmas is a prominent religious holiday today. But ... December 25 is not the date of Jesus' birth ... December 25 was chosen as the date to celebrate Jesus' birth because ... The people of Rome already observed it as the Feast of Saturn, celebrating the birthday of the sun.' ... How much more important it is for true Christians today to keep away from holidays that God never said should be observed and that came from false religion!" (WB&TS, 1989, "You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth," pp.213-214).

"... December 25 was set aside by the Romans as the birthday of their sun god. ... apostate Christians adopted this date for the celebration of Christ's birth. Consequently, true Christians do not celebrate Christmas or any other holiday based on false religious beliefs." (WB&TS, 1995, "Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life," p.126).

"The pagan roots of Christmas have long been recognized. ... Because of the connections that Christmas has with false religion, however, those who want to please God do not celebrate it or any other holiday that has its roots in pagan worship." (WB&TS, 2005, "What Does the Bible Really Teach?," pp.158-159).

As can be seen above, the Watchtower Society insists that "Christmas is of pagan origin," it "was never authorized by God" but "stems from pagan Babylon" and "falsely bears the name of Christ." That "true Christians" should "shun" such "a celebration" and "true Christians do not celebrate Christmas," which is "based on false religious beliefs."

But as ex-Jehovah's Witness elder David Reed points out:

"... The Watchtower did not always express this viewpoint. The organization's founders and early leaders celebrated Christmas and encouraged others to do the same:

`"Christmas Day," in celebration of our dear Redeemer's birth, has for long centuries been celebrated on December 25th; and although it is now well known that this date is in error ... nevertheless, since the Lord has given no instructions whatever upon this subject ... it cannot be improper ... for us to remember in a social way our dear Redeemer's birth at this time.' - Zion's Watch Tower, December 15, 1898, page 370.

`It matters not particularly that December 25 is not the anniversary of our Lord's birth ... One day, as well as another, will serve us to commemorate our Savior's birth ... - Zion's Watch Tower, December 15, 1908, page 379.

The early Watchtower leaders who felt this way were just as familiar as today's leaders with the resemblance between pagan customs and certain Christmas traditions." (Reed, 1996, "Answering Jehovah's Witnesses: Subject by Subject," pp.74-75).

So the Society from 1879-1928, the first 49 years, or over one-third (~38%) of its existence (when it went under the name of International Bible Students Association), by its own admission, did "celebrate the supposed birthday of Jesus ... for many years," including "with a Christmas tree in the Bethel dining room," and therefore for nearly a half-century, Jehovah's Witnesses celebrated "pagan things" that were "a soiled garment":

"Yes, in those earlier days ... 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. ... A custom that certainly would not be carried on today was the celebration of Christmas with a Christmas tree in the Bethel dining room. ... What caused the Bible Students to stop celebrating Christmas? .. an hour talk over a ... radio ... on the subject of Christmas. ... December 12, 1928 ... That talk pointed out the pagan origin of Christmas. After that, the brothers at Bethel never celebrated Christmas again.' `Did we mind putting those pagan things away?' ... Absolutely not. .... It was just like taking a soiled garment off and throwing it away ..." (WB&TS, 1975, "1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses," p.146).

Here are some more quotes, from The Watchtower from 1903 up to December 1926, commanding those early Jehovah's Witnesses to not "quibble about the date" December 25, but rather "join in with the world and celebrate Christmas":

"It is quite immaterial the day Christmas is celebrated; we may properly join [in]. WT 12/15/1903, p.3290.

Don't quibble about the date; join in with the world and celebrate Christmas. WT 12/1/1904, p.3468.

The Studies in the Scriptures suggested as Christmas gifts WT 11/15/1907, p.4094.

Christmas is so important, regardless of the date. WT 12/15/1926, p.371."

(Reed, D.A., ed., 1990, "Index of Watchtower Errors, 1879 to 1989," Compiled by Steve Huntoon and John Cornell, Baker: Grand Rapids MI, p.72).

That is, even though "For many years" those Jehovah's Witnesses "had been aware that December 25 was not the correct date," they still held to "religious teachings that had pagan roots,"and by Christmas "gift-giving" were imitating "demon-inspired astrologers," were guilty of "lying" to their "children ... about Santa Claus," who was "the Devil himself," and "that such festivals were ... `the very instruments and appendages of demon-worship'. And that by such participating "in holidays and celebrations that are linked with pagan gods," for nearly half-a century, " Jehovah's Witnesses" were "part of the world":

"When Jehovah's Witnesses cast aside religious teachings that had pagan roots, they also quit sharing in many customs that were similarly tainted. But for a time, certain holidays were not given the careful scrutiny that they needed. One of these was Christmas. This holiday was celebrated yearly even by members of the Watch Tower Society's headquarters staff at the Bethel Home in Brooklyn, New York. For many years they had been aware that December 25 was not the correct date ... after further investigation of the subject, the members of the Society's headquarters staff ... decided to stop sharing in Christmas festivities, so no Christmas celebration was held there after 1926 [sic] ... the magi whose gift-giving was being imitated were actually demon-inspired astrologers; that parents set an example for their children in lying by what they told them about Santa Claus; that `St. Nicholas' (Santa Claus) was admittedly another name for the Devil himself; and that such festivals were ... `the very instruments and appendages of demon-worship' the church had adopted ... Jehovah's Witnesses ... do not participate in holidays and celebrations that are linked with pagan gods ... Why? Because Jehovah's Witnesses are no part of the world." (WB&TS, 1993, "Jehovah's Witnesses: Proclaimers of God's Kingdom," pp.198-199).

However, as mentioned in part #1, the Watchtower Society is wrong in its claim that Christianity borrowed December 25 for the celebration of Jesus' birth from pagan Rome. In fact, as we shall see in the next part #3, pagan Rome in AD 274 borrowed December 25 for the celebration of its Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun") festival from Christianity!

That is, as we shall see, for eighty years, from 1928 to the present, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society has been totally wrong in its claim that the Christian Church's celebration of Jesus' birth on December 25 is of pagan origin and therefore should not be celebrated.

Quotes referenced above are hyperlinked to the full quote in the `tagline' below (emphasis original italics, emphasis bold mine). see part #1 for my refutation of Watchtower claims below that other than those dealt with under this topic, "December 25 has pagan roots and therefore Christ's birth should not be celebrated on that (or any) day."

Continued in part #3: Pagans borrowed December 25 from Christians!

Stephen E. Jones.
My other blogs: CreationEvolutionDesign & TheShroudofTurin

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"Interestingly, however, The Watchtower did not always express this viewpoint. The organization's founders and early leaders celebrated Christmas and encouraged others to do the same:

`"Christmas Day," in celebration of our dear Redeemer's birth, has for long centuries been celebrated on December 25th; and although it is now well known that this date is in error, and that it more properly corresponds with the date of the annunciation to Mary, nine months before our Lord was born, and that he was born about October 1st, nevertheless, since the Lord has given no instructions whatever upon this subject, and since it is proper to do good deeds and think good thoughts upon any day, it cannot be improper, in harmony with general usage, for us to remember in a social way our dear Redeemer's birth at this time.' - Zion's Watch Tower, December 15, 1898, page 370.

`It matters not particularly that December 25 is not the anniversary of our Lord's birth, according to the Scriptural account; that really he was born about September 25, nine months later. One day, as well as another, will serve us to commemorate our Savior's birth in the flesh, as a gift of God's love to a condemned and dying world. - Zion's Watch Tower, December 15, 1908, page 379.

The early Watchtower leaders who felt this way were just as familiar as today's leaders with the resemblance between pagan customs and certain Christmas traditions. They welcomed opportunities to share with others in honoring Christ, while today's leaders seem more eager to keep followers separated from non-JW relatives and neighbors. (Some form of isolation from outsiders is a common thread found in many mind-control cults. With some groups this separation is accomplished by physically withdrawing into a commune, while in other cults members continue living in the outside world but withdraw from social contact with nonmembers.)" (Reed, D.A., 1996, "Answering Jehovah's Witnesses: Subject by Subject," Baker: Grand Rapids MI, Second printing, 1998, pp.74-75).

"What about Christmas? By checking reference works in a public library, you will find that it was unknown among the earliest Christians. Jesus instructed his followers to observe a memorial of his death, not of his birth. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26) Says The Catholic Encyclopedia: `Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church... . The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt.' What, then, of the date December 25, celebrated by many as the birthday of Christ? It could not have been the date of Jesus' birth. The Bible shows that at the time shepherds were still in the fields at night. As the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1907, Vol. V, p. 611) acknowledges, they would not have been there in the cold, rainy season of winter. (Luke 2:8-12) As for the origin of the date, The World Book Encyclopedia says: `In A.D. 354, Bishop Liberius of Rome ordered the people to celebrate on December 25. He probably chose this date because the people of Rome already observed it as the Feast of Saturn, celebrating the birthday of the sun.' [The World Book Encyclopedia, 1966, Vol. 3, p. 416] Since the date of Christmas is of pagan origin, it should not seem strange that the customs of Christmas are also of pagan origin. Thus the Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics tells us: `Most of the Christmas customs now prevailing ... are not genuine Christian customs, but heathen customs which have been absorbed or tolerated by the Church ... The Saturnalia in Rome provided the model for most of the merry customs of the Christmas time.' [Hastings, J., Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, Vol. III, pp. 608-609] ... Also, The Encyclopedia Americana points out that among the customs borrowed from the pagan Roman feast of Saturnalia was `the giving of gifts.' [The Encyclopedia Americana, 1956, Vol. VI, p. 622.] There is no escaping it: Christmas is of pagan origin. Knowing this, we should pay attention to the apostle Paul's warning against mixing the true and the false. He says that even `a little leaven ferments the whole lump.' (Galatians 5:9) He reproved some of the early Christians for observing days that had been kept under the law of Moses but that God had canceled for Christians. (Galatians 4:10, 11) How much more important it is for true Christians today to shun a celebration that was never authorized by God, that stems from pagan Babylon, and that falsely bears the name of Christ!" (WB&TS, 1968, "The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, pp.148-149).

"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."' 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.' `Did we mind putting those pagan things away?' asks Charles John Brandlein. `Absolutely not. This was just complying with new things learned, and we had never known before they were pagan. It was just like taking a soiled garment off and throwing it away.' Next, birthday celebrations and Mother's Day were discarded - more creature worship. Sister Lilian Kammerud recalls: `How readily the brothers all dropped these holidays and admitted they were glad to be free. New truths always make us happy and ... we felt we were privileged to know things that others were ignorant about.'" (WB&TS, 1975, "1975 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses: Containing Report for the Service Year of 1974," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, p.146).

"The mixing of non-Christian and supposed Christian religion extends to other holidays, such as Christmas. God directed Christians to commemorate Jesus' death, not his birth. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26) And the Bible shows that Jesus was not born in December, which is a cold rainy season in Israel. (Luke 2:8-11) You can check almost any encyclopedia and see that December 25 was chosen because it was already a Roman holiday. Sir James Frazer observes: `Taken altogether, the coincidences of [Christmas and Easter] with the heathen festivals are too close and too numerous to be accidental... . [Clerics] perceived that if Christianity was to conquer the world it could do so only by relaxing the too rigid principles of its Founder, by widening a little the narrow gate which leads to salvation.' - The Golden Bough. After he learns the facts, what person who sincerely loves Jehovah would continue to accept beliefs and practices based on a compromise with pagan worship? To some persons these teachings or practices may seem like little things. But the Bible clearly says: `A little leaven ferments the whole lump.' - Galatians 5:9." (WB&TS, 1980, "Happiness-How to Find It," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, pp.171-172).

"Christmas is a prominent religious holiday today. But history shows that it was not a celebration observed by the very early Christians. Jesus told his followers to observe a memorial of his death, not of his birth. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26) The fact is, December 25 is not the date of Jesus' birth. It could not have been, since the Bible shows that at the time of his birth shepherds were still in the fields at night. They would not have been there in the cold, rainy season of winter. (Luke 2:8-12) Actually December 25 was chosen as the date to celebrate Jesus' birth because, as The World Book Encyclopedia explains: `The people of Rome already observed it as the Feast of Saturn, celebrating the birthday of the sun.' ... Yet does it really matter that Christmas and Easter are not Christian celebrations but actually had their beginnings with worshipers of false gods? The apostle Paul warned against mixing the true and the false, saying that even `a little leaven ferments the whole lump.' (Galatians 5:9) He told some early Christians that it was wrong for them to observe days that had been kept under the law of Moses but that had been canceled by God for Christians. (Galatians 4:10, 11) How much more important it is for true Christians today to keep away from holidays that God never said should be observed and that came from false religion!" (WB&TS, 1989, "You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth," [1982], Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, pp.213-214).

"When the World Had Its Holidays When Jehovah's Witnesses cast aside religious teachings that had pagan roots, they also quit sharing in many customs that were similarly tainted. But for a time, certain holidays were not given the careful scrutiny that they needed. One of these was Christmas. This holiday was celebrated yearly even by members of the Watch Tower Society's headquarters staff at the Bethel Home in Brooklyn, New York. For many years they had been aware that December 25 was not the correct date, but they reasoned that the date had long been popularly associated with the birth of the Savior and that doing good for others was proper on any day. However, after further investigation of the subject, the members of the Society's headquarters staff, as well as the staffs at the Society's branch offices in England and in Switzerland, decided to stop sharing in Christmas festivities, so no Christmas celebration was held there after 1926 [sic] 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-dishonoring roots of Christmas. Since then, the pagan roots of Christmas customs have become general public knowledge, but few people make changes in their way of life as a result. On the other hand, Jehovah's Witnesses were willing to make needed changes in order to be more acceptable as servants of Jehovah. When shown that celebrating the birth of Jesus had actually become of greater interest to people than the ransom provided by his death; that the revelry of the holiday and the spirit in which many gifts were given did not honor God; that the magi whose gift-giving was being imitated were actually demon-inspired astrologers; that parents set an example for their children in lying by what they told them about Santa Claus; that `St. Nicholas' (Santa Claus) was admittedly another name for the Devil himself; and that such festivals were, as acknowledged by Cardinal Newman in his Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, `the very instruments and appendages of demon-worship' the church had adopted -when made aware of these things, Jehovah's Witnesses promptly and permanently stopped having any part in Christmas celebrations. Jehovah's Witnesses have good times with their families and friends. But they do not participate in holidays and celebrations that are linked with pagan gods (as is true of such holidays as Easter, New Year's Day, May Day, and Mother's Day). (2 Cor. 6:14-17) Like the early Christians, they do not even celebrate birthdays. They also respectfully refrain from sharing in national holidays that memorialize political or military events and refrain from giving worshipful honor to national heroes. Why? Because Jehovah's Witnesses are no part of the world." (WB&TS, 1993, "Jehovah's Witnesses: Proclaimers of God's Kingdom," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Brooklyn NY, pp.198-199. Emphasis original).

"A godly life frees us from the often burdensome celebrating of worldly holidays. For instance, the Bible does not reveal the exact day of Jesus' birth. 'I thought Jesus was born on December 25!' some may exclaim. This is not possible because he died in the spring of 33 C.E. at 33 1/2 years of age. Moreover, at the time of his birth, shepherds were "living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks." (Luke 2:8) In the land of Israel, late December is a cold, rainy season during which sheep would be kept in shelters overnight to protect them from the winter weather. Actually, December 25 was set aside by the Romans as the birthday of their sun god. Centuries after Jesus was on earth, apostate Christians adopted this date for the celebration of Christ's birth. Consequently, true Christians do not celebrate Christmas or any other holiday based on false religious beliefs." (WB&TS, 1995, "Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life," [1984], Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, Second edition, p.126).

"THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS It was not until several hundred years after Jesus lived on the earth that people began to commemorate his birth on December 25. But that was not the date of Jesus' birth ... So why was December 25 chosen? Some who later claimed to be Christian likely `wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the `birthday of the unconquered sun.' (The New Encyclopædia Britannica) In winter, when the sun seemed weakest, pagans held ceremonies to get this source of warmth and light to come back from its distant travels. December 25 was thought to be the day that the sun began its return. In an effort to convert pagans, religious leaders adopted this festival and tried to make it seem `Christian.' ... The Saturnalia also played a part in the choice of December 25. This festival honoring the Roman god of agriculture took place on December 17-24. Feasting, merrymaking, and gift-giving took place during the Saturnalia. The pagan roots of Christmas have long been recognized. ... Because of the connections that Christmas has with false religion, however, those who want to please God do not celebrate it or any other holiday that has its roots in pagan worship." (WB&TS, 2005, "What Does the Bible Really Teach?," Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York: Brooklyn NY, pp.157-159).