Celebrating Birthdays & Christmas — Right or Wrong?

I don’t celebrate birthdays in the normal way, but I do recognize them as times to reflect upon the past year of our lives. I like to take note that I traveled another year around our sun and it’s a time to make plans on how to move forward in service to God. I just don’t have a desire for birthday gifts, and neither do I give birthday presents to others. To give or receive such gifts, in my opinion, is mostly done under feelings of obligation and social pressure. I do enjoy sharing a piece of cake or slice of pie with family and close friends, if they visit. And it’s nice to receive a birthday card or note, if someone is motivated to send one.

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I feel the same way about Christmas. In my home, we celebrate Jesus’ birth only as a religious occasion, without the unholy cultural and commercial attachments. Yes, we know our Lord wasn’t born on December 25, but that is another matter (see an article on that subject).¹

We feel that celebrating Christmas Day with gift exchanges, Santa decorations, parties, and other related social traditions, only serves to drive people away from Christ, instead of bringing them closer to him. As my wonderful wife often says about gift exchanges, “Why is everyone giving gifts to other people, if it is really Jesus’ birthday?” We take note that Jesus is the reason for the season, so we give our attention, praise, and thanks to him.²

 

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Sometimes, when people learn that I do not generally celebrate birthdays or Christmas, they believe I am a Jehovah’s Witness. I’m not, but they being the largest Christian group that doesn’t observe those practices, they seem to get the most attention. They abstain, they say, because such celebrations are considered as pagan practices.³ There are other groups that refrain from birthdays too. A few Amish and Old Order Mennonites feel such celebrations encourage individualism and pride, instead of community values, while some Shakers and Quakers cite religious reasons for not observing those events.⁴

And many of the Pilgrims (American settlers in colonial history) were members of the English Separatist Church⁵ that did not celebrate Christmas. Their reasons included the fact that it did not originate as a Christian holiday, and in ancient Rome the upper classes celebrated December 25 as the birthday of the sun god Mithra. “The date fell right in the middle of Saturnalia, a month long holiday dedicated to food, drink, and revelry, and Pope Julius I is said to have chosen that day to celebrate Christ’s birth as a way of co-opting the pagan rituals.”⁶ I guess it was easier to change the meaning of the celebration, than change the celebration itself.

Jehovah’s Witnesses claim their organization was founded in 1881 by a man named Charles Russell. Although Russell was the driving force, the truth is that their organization was co-founded by Russell and William Conley and named Zion’s Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Russell was a popular public speaker, writer, and pastor until his death in 1916. He had a background of Presbyterian, Congregational, and Adventist experience before co-founding his religion. His most popular literary works were magazine articles and a six-volume Bible study series that sold nearly 20 million copies.⁷

After Russell’s death, a leadership dispute and many doctrinal changes divided the congregations so much that the organization broke-up into several groups, many still functioning today. Over time, the original organization changed the name to Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) and continued changing many of their beliefs to what they are presently.

Through study in the 1970s, I became a non-Trinitarian believer (and I’m still one). An ex-JW acquaintance suggested I might enjoy reading Russell’s six-volume set to understand what he preached. Unknown to me — as well as to most all JWs at the time — the original early unaltered volumes were still being printed by other non-JW groups.⁸ I purchased a set and found them very interesting, but noticed that much didn’t match what was taught in the JW organization. To be truthful, I don’t think Charles Russell would even recognize the current religion from what he originally started.

Most religions change a bit over time, I guess, just not usually as much as this one did. Under Russell’s leadership, members actively engaged in birthdays and promoted Christmas throughout his leadership.⁹ And officially, it was not until 1951 that the organization announced that Witnesses were no longer allowed to celebrate birthdays.¹⁰ In Russell’s time, when the organization celebrated Christmas, he would “give a gold $5 or $10 coin to every Bethel family member as a Christmas present.”¹¹

But I’ve recently noticed that the JWs seem to be slowly reverting, in small steps, back to the basics from the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Just over the last few years, many previous prohibitions are now allowed and there are hints that birthday and Christmas celebrations may soon be acceptable in some form or other. It almost seems like there may be a return to thinking in the way Russell pastored — time will tell.

 

What does the Bible say?

Contrary to the few Christian religions not advising celebrating birthdays or Christmas, scripture itself does not really indicate whether we should or should not do so. However, a couple of biblical stories do present those celebrations in a positive light.

Let’s take a look in the Bible Book of Job to examine evidence of possible little known birthday celebrations. The Bible says: “There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters,” (Job 1:1-2, NRSV). The story goes on to say, “His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another’s houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them,” (Job 1:4). Some modern translations state that these feasts were special to each son, possibly even their birthdays, as shown in the following versions. Bold type is added for emphasis.

• English Standard Version (ESV): His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them (Job 1:4).

• New King James Version (NKJV): And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them (Job 1:4).

• The Message Version (MSG): His sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, always inviting their three sisters to join them in their merrymaking, (Job 1:4).

• The Living Bible (TLB): Every year when Job’s sons had birthdays, they invited their brothers and sisters to join them for a celebration. On these occasions they would get together to eat and drink (Job 1:4).

• New International Version (NIV): His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them (Job 1:4).

These variations have to do with how different Bible scholars would translated the Hebrew word יוֹם (yôwm, yome), which has various meanings such as age, birthday, perpetually, yearly, as stated in some research work.¹² And other possible meanings are: year-to-year, yearly, day of observance, particular day, a day of social cheerfulness or rejoicing, as shown in other references.¹³

So, many biblical researchers have suggested Job’s children were probably gathering for birthday parties and have suggested so in their own published references. Here are a few: “possibly a birthday party,” by R. B. Zuck in The Bible Knowledge Commentary;¹⁴ “every one his day — namely the birthday,” by Fausset and Brown in Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible;¹⁵ “probably his birthday,” by C. J. Ellicott in A Bible Commentary for English Readers.¹⁶

 

About the Gifts presented on Jesus’ Birthday

Since I don’t exchange gifts at Christmas, I often get asked, “Well, even in the Bible, the baby Jesus received presents from the wise men on his birthday, didn’t he?” And then I must answer, “No! The Kings or Magi visited much later than the day of his birth.” The Bible does not specify the exact interval between his birth and their visit, but by the time the wise men located where Jesus was living, it is figured that he must have been between six months and two years of age.¹⁷ And the presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were not birthday presents, but gifts generally presented when meeting a king. For more about the Magi, see the article titled “The Magi (Three Kings) – the Difference Between Truth and Tradition” listed in References & Notes.¹⁸

But God absolutely did want everyone to take special note of his son’s birth on the very day it happened. Remember, shepherds were in the fields when an angel stood before them and said, “‘I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.’ At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: ‘Glory to God in the heavenly heights, peace to all men and women on earth who please him’,” (Luke 2:10b-14, MSG).¹⁹

I’m not trying to follow any particular religious rules about how to celebrate birthdays and Christmas; it is just the way I believe. And I don’t want to condemn anyone if they feel differently, for everyone has been given the free-will to make up their own mind. Just remember that contrary to some Christian denomination’s opinion, the Bible does not clearly indicate whether we should or should not do so.

My segue from essay to music is the thought that when in doubt about something, just go to Jesus; he is the rock for understanding. The selected Gospel song is titled “I Go to the Rock.” It is sung by the Gaither Vocal Band, featuring Chris Blue, Jason Crabb, and Angela Primm. Selected lyrics are below and a link to the music video is listed in References & Notes.²⁰

When no one else will listen,
Who do I lean on?
When there’s no foundation stable,
I go to the rock.

I know he is able, I go to the rock.
I go to the rock of my salvation.
When all around me is sinking sand,
On Christ the solid rock I stand.

Copyright © 2026, Ray Hermann
OutlawBibleStudent.org

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References & Notes

1. Hermann, Ray, “Puzzle Solved: Here is Jesus’ Birth Date, and the Date of Mary’s Conception, too”, (The Outlaw Bible Student, 17 December 2020), https://outlawbiblestudent.org/puzzle-solved-here-is-jesus-birth-date-and-the-date-of-marys-conception-too/
2. Hermann, Ray, “Puzzle Solved: Here is Jesus’ Birth Date, and the Date of Mary’s Conception, too”, (The Outlaw Bible Student, 17 December 2020), https://outlawbiblestudent.org/puzzle-solved-here-is-jesus-birth-date-and-the-date-of-marys-conception-too/
3. “What Religion Doesn’t Celebrate Birthdays”, (Religion Writers, retrieved 25 May 2026), https://www.religionwriters.com/what-religion-doesnt-celebrate-birthdays/
4. Qureshi, Sufiyan, “What Religion Does Not Celebrate Birthdays”, (Medium, 8 August 2023), https://sufiyanwrites.medium.com/what-religion-does-not-celebrate-birthdays-67a528c73e4d
5. “Pilgrim Fathers” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 July 1998), https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pilgrim-Fathers/additional-info#history
6. “When Americans banned Christmas,” (The Week Magazine, 20 December 2011), https://theweek.com/articles/479313/when-americans-banned-christmas
7. “Jehovah’s Witnesses”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 May 2026), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses
8. The six-volume Bible study books — titled Studies in the Scriptures — are still available from some early 20th century JW break-away groups still publishing.
   (1) Parousia Studies in the Scriptures (six hard-cover books at very reasonable prices): Bible Standard Ministries, https://www.biblestandard.com/catalog.html
   (2) also available on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/s?k=studies+in+the+scriptures&crid=1SYJ3EW8OH78Y&sprefix=studies+in+the+scriptures%2Caps%2C263&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
   (3) free computer download of all six volumes in ‘pdf’ form: International Bible Students Association, https://www.internationalbiblestudents.com/
9. “Christmas, Birthdays, Mother’s Day & Flag Salute”, (JW Facts, retrieved 26 May 2026), https://jwfacts.com/watchtower/celebrations.php
10. “Questions from Readers”, (Watchtower Magazine, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1 October 1951, p. 607). (Also, see https://jwfacts.com/watchtower/celebrations.php)
11. “Birthdays banned in 1951″, (Jehovahs-Witness.com, retrieved 26 May 2026), https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/106913/birthdays-banned-1951?page=4
12. Strong’s Hebrew word #3117 – Strong, James, The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Words, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996).
13. Hebrew word: יוֹם – Whitaker, Richard, (Ed.), The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament, (Boston MA: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1906).
14. Walvoord, John F. and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), vol. 1, p. 719.
15. Jamieson, Robert, et al., Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997, [orig. c. 1871]), vol. 1, p. 310.
16. Ellicott, C.J. (Ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers, (London; Paris; New York; Melbourne: Cassell and Company, Limited, [n.d.]), vol. 4, p. 7.
17. Ibid.
18. Hermann, Ray, “The Magi (Three Kings) – a Difference Between Truth and Tradition”, (The Outlaw Bible Student, 16 November 2022), https://outlawbiblestudent.org/the-magi-three-kings-a-difference-between-truth-and-tradition/
19. Peterson, Eugene H., The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005).
20. “I Go to the Rock”, Artists: Gaither Vocal Band, featuring Chris Blue, Jason Crabb, Angela Primm; CD/DVD: I Go to the Rock: Presented by Bill & Gloria Gaither; released 2026, © Gaither Music Group. Used under ‘fair use of copyright’ for comment, teaching, scholarship, and research under Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act of 1976 — MUSIC VIDEO: https://youtu.be/mtD0iXKT-jg