Do Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid celebrating birthdays because the practice had some religious meaning in ancient times?

Celebrating birthdays is rooted in superstition and false religion, but that is not the sole or prime reason why Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid the practice.

THE celebration of birthdays is regarded by most people today as merely an innocent custom.

For one thing, the Scriptures contain no indication that any of God’s faithful servants celebrated birthdays.

Well, early in this century, Bible Students, as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known, did take note of birthdays.

These contained a Bible text for each day, and many Christians put a tiny photograph on the pages corresponding to the birthdays of fellow Bible Students.

● Why is it that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays?

But does the Bible say anything about birthdays?

Besides, neither the Israelites nor the early Christians celebrated birthdays.

The Bible mentions only two birthdays, one of Pharaoh and the other of Herod Antipas.

It is indeed singular, to say the least, that although we have record of birthdays being celebrated as far back as ancient Egypt, we do not know the birthday of Jesus or of any of his apostles.

Clearly, the implication is that Jehovah God does not want us to celebrate any of these birthdays, or he would have had them recorded.

11-12. (a) What might we consider before answering a difficult question? (See also picture.) (b) Illustrate how asking a question may open the way for a conversation.

¹¹ If a workmate asks, for example, why we do not celebrate birthdays, consider: Could he be wondering whether we are allowed to have a good time?

That might open the way to a relaxed conversation about what the Bible indicates regarding the subject of birthdays.

“During the first two centuries of Christianity there was strong opposition to recognizing birthdays of martyrs or, for that matter, of Jesus,” states the Encyclopedia Britannica.

In the fourth century C.E., despite the stand taken by the early Christians against the custom of celebrating birthdays, the Catholic Church instituted Christmas.

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays.

This is because such celebrations focus too much attention on the individual and the only birthdays of Bible record are those of rulers who did not serve God.​—Genesis 40:20; Matthew 14:6-10.

Tammy, a 12-year-old in a household that does not celebrate Christmas and birthdays, wrote: “It’s more fun getting a gift when you’re least expecting it.”

The book Secrets of Strong Families frankly states: “Most of us spend time and money several times a year selecting perfect gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays for the people we love.