“THE afternoon before New Year’s Eve is unusually calm,” says Fernando, a medical doctor in Brazil. “Then, about 11 o’clock, they start to arrive—a steady stream of patients with stab wounds or gunshot wounds, teenagers injured in automobile accidents, and battered wives. Alcohol is nearly always a factor.”

Considering the above, it is hardly surprising that one Brazilian journal referred to the first day of the year as international hangover day. A European news agency says that “New Year is for the lay hedonist,” adding that it is “one more round in the eternal battle of man pitched against alcohol.”

Granted, not everyone celebrates the New Year by drinking heavily and committing acts of violence. In fact, many have fond memories of the occasion. “As children, we could hardly wait for New Year’s Eve,” says Fernando, quoted earlier. “There were always lots of games, food, and drink. At midnight we would embrace, kiss, and wish one another ‘Happy New Year!’”

Similarly, many today feel that they share in New Year’s festivities without going overboard. Still, Christians do well to examine the origin and significance of this popular celebration. Do New Year’s festivities conflict with Bible teachings?
Facts From the Past
New Year’s festivities are not new. Ancient inscriptions indicate that they were held in Babylon as early as the third millennium B.C.E. The celebration, which was observed in mid-March, was crucial. “At that time the god Marduk decided the destiny of the country for the coming year,” says The World Book Encyclopedia. The Babylonian new year celebration lasted 11 days and included sacrifices, processions, and fertility rites.

For a time, the Romans too began their year in the month of March. But in 46 B.C.E., Emperor Julius Caesar decreed that it should begin on the first of January. That day was already dedicated to Janus, the god of beginnings, and now it would also mark the first day of the Roman year. The date changed, but the carnival atmosphere persisted. On the first of January, people “gave themselves up to riotous excess,” says McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia, “and various kinds of heathen superstition.”

Even today, superstitious rituals play a part in New Year’s festivities. For example, in some areas of South America, many welcome the New Year while standing on their right foot. Others sound horns and set off firecrackers. According to a Czech custom, New Year’s Eve is a time for eating lentil soup, while a Slovak tradition has people placing money or fish scales under the tablecloth. Such rituals, designed to ward off ill fortune and guarantee prosperity, merely perpetuate the ancient belief that the turn of the year is a time for deciding destinies.

The Bible’s View

The Bible admonishes Christians to “walk decently, not in revelries and drunken bouts.” (Romans 13:12-14; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 4:3) Since New Year’s festivities are often characterized by the very excesses that the Bible condemns, Christians do not participate in them. This does not mean that Christians are killjoys. On the contrary, they know that the Bible repeatedly tells worshipers of the true God to rejoice—and that for a number of reasons. (Deuteronomy 26:10, 11; Psalm 32:11; Proverbs 5:15-19; Ecclesiastes 3:22; 11:9) The Bible also acknowledges that food and drink often accompany rejoicing.—Psalm 104:15; Ecclesiastes 9:7a.

As we have seen, however, New Year’s celebrations are rooted in pagan customs. False worship is unclean and detestable in the eyes of Jehovah God, and Christians reject practices that have such origins. (Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Ezekiel 22:3, 4) The apostle Paul wrote: “What fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial?” For good reason, Paul added: “Quit touching the unclean thing.”—2 Corinthians 6:14-17a.

Christians also realize that taking part in superstitious rituals does not guarantee happiness and prosperity—especially since participating in such festivities can result in God’s disfavor. (Ecclesiastes 9:11; Isaiah 65:11, 12) Furthermore, the Bible admonishes Christians to be moderate and self-controlled in their conduct. (1 Timothy 3:2, 11) Clearly, it would be improper for one who professes to follow Christ’s teachings to be part of a celebration that is characterized by riotous excess.

As eye-catching and appealing to the senses as New Year’s festivities may be, the Bible tells us to “quit touching the unclean thing” and to “cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit.” To those who comply, Jehovah extends the heartwarming guarantee: “I will take you in. . . . I shall be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me.” (2 Corinthians 6:17b–7:1) Indeed, he promises eternal blessings and prosperity to those who are loyal to him.—Psalm 37:18, 28; Revelation 21:3, 4, 7.

[Footnote]
Paul’s reference to “revelries and drunken bouts” may have included those that took place during New Year’s festivities, since these were popular in Rome during the first century.

JW folks, come on! Tis a new year na

Gombs: JW folks, come on! Tis a new year na

Smh 4 dem.

Gombs: JW folks, come on! Tis a new year na

DOn't mind these religious folks..Happy new yr bro...

Bidam: DOn't mind these religious folks..Happy new yr bro...

Gombs: JW folks, come on! Tis a new year na

Oyinprince: Smh 4 dem.

Gombs: JW folks, come on! Tis a new year na

...

Bidam: DOn't mind these religious folks..Happy new yr bro...

Same to you!... wow!...what a year filled with so much goodies

Obviously, JW idiosyncracy is that of 'nothin is worth celebrating.' Am I wrong? Please educate me.

oluwaisaac: Obviously, JW idiosyncracy is that of 'nothin is worth celebrating.' Am I wrong? Please educate me.

Exactly....anything you celebrate is termed 'pagan tradition'... let's mot forget to pray for the word of God to have free course unhindered in the lives of many!

HNY

But he quoted scriptures now...instead of all you pastor chris wannabees to address his issues head on,you are here spewing ad hominems...

Bidam: DOn't mind these religious folks..Happy new yr bro...

Happy new year Bidam, best wishes ahead

Happy new year JMAN05, may the new year, open your eyes to discover watchtower deception, and help you do away with it.

@all

When you guys make a reasonable point, I will reply you. Am not here for phantasmagoria.

The op also stated that we are not killjoys, yet someone will just respond as if he sees nothing. I ve not seen anyone that challenged that the festival is pagan. but just spewing twoddle, nor have anyone raised good argument against the averment .

The fact that there are pagan practices on the 1st day of the year, doesn't stop Christians from being as merry as they can be. It's a new beginning, a time of Thanksgiving and celebrations, a time to renew friendship, and a time of rededication. I don't see any place of the Bible that directly or indirectly stops Christians from festivities of the new year.

JMAN05: @all

When you guys make a reasonable point, I will reply you. Am not here for phantasmagoria.

The op also stated that we are not killjoys, yet someone will just respond as if he sees nothing. I ve not seen anyone that challenged that the festival is pagan. but just spewing twoddle, nor have anyone raised good argument against the averment .

Pagans celebrate and make sacrifices to their own gods for the cross over. Give me a reason why Christians shouldn't celebrate all the more when they worship the only true God.

victwi:
Pagans celebrate and make sacrifices to their own gods for the cross over. Give me a reason why Christians shouldn't celebrate all the more when they worship the only true God.

Christians celebrate, but must you copy pagan festivals? read the op well before replying.

JMAN05:

Christians celebrate, but must you copy pagan festivals? read the op well before replying.

Your points in this matter are so invalid and a total misfit. Happy new year and may God help you know him better this year. Amen.

Yooguyz:

Happy new year Bidam, best wishes ahead

Wish you same here bro...

mr C.O you are right with new year festival. may i ask you the wedding celebration you do, what is the origine of cake you cut, the ring, you wear, the white gown, & so on are they not paganism, but you do pratice them.

There is nothing wrong with celebrating a new year festival but associating any spiritual connotation to it is the wrong thing we do. Is the day a new years day in God's calendar? It is always so amusing when churches act like the world and scream and pray loudest into a new year as if God is particularly moved by time.

God created time, He is not in time neither is he bound by time. As far as the scripture is concerned 1st of January is like every other day. Nothing changes as a result of a new year, christians must wake up.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

shdemidemi: There is nothing wrong with celebrating a new year festival but associating any spiritual connotation to it is the wrong thing we do. Is the day a new years day in God's calendar? It is always so amusing when churches act like the world and scream and pray loudest into a new year as if God is particularly moved by time.

God created time, He is not in time neither is he bound by time. As far as the scripture is concerned 1st of January is like every other day. Nothing changes as a result of a new year, christians must wake up.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Would you say dedicating any day to God is wrong, just because it wasn't recorded in the Bible?

Gombs:

Would you say dedicating any day to God is wrong, just because it wasn't recorded in the Bible?

I don't think there is anything wrong in you dedicating a day to God, in fact every day should be dedicated to Him. What I believe we cant do is delude ourselves that God is also on standstill on such days.

shdemidemi:

I don't think there is anything wrong in you dedicating a day to God, in fact every day should be dedicated to Him. What I believe we cant do is delude ourselves that God is also on standstill on such days.

Who said God was on a stand still on such days?... meanwhile, he gives full attention to those who worship him in sprit and truth, irrespective of the day selected.

What's the actual point of this thread please?

alexleo:

Your points in this matter are so invalid and a total misfit. Happy new year and may God help you know him better this year. Amen.

My reply is the bold faced words in the above. learn.

rotzy5: mr C.O you are right with new year festival. may i ask you the wedding celebration you do, what is the origine of cake you cut, the ring, you wear, the white gown, & so on are they not paganism, but you do pratice them.

The Israelites used cakes, the ring does not have a pagan origin. there are various contradictory history on that. White gown also has different view as to its meaning, not all pagan. To many, it is insignificant.

Gombs:

Would you say dedicating any day to God is wrong, just because it wasn't recorded in the Bible?

No, nothing is wrong in dedicating a day to celebrate to God as far as the custom does not feature anything that contradicts true worship. So, it is not must that the bible must have a replica before you do it.

But the issue is this: New Year celebration was started by pagans, it is their celebration. But so called christians copied it from them. During the time of the Israelites, that celebration has been there. During the first century, Paul and other apostles where aware of it, so one of apostle Paul's letter as the op shows may have included New year's celebration. But Paul condemned this practice. The question is: why didnt the first century christians join the celebration? But today, so called christians have copied it with its pagan flavour, just like they did in Chrismas, Easter etc. they dont care. What the first century christians never did. sorry for this generation.

It is wrong to allow something with pagan origin to occupy it's significance in Christianity. that is pure paganism. Well I am not saying it for you guys to accept it, its your life. You live it the way you like. But, no one will say, "I no hear am".

JMAN05:

No, nothing is wrong in dedicating a day to celebrate to God as far as the custom does not feature anything that contradicts true worship. So, it is not must that the bible must have a replica before you do it.

But the issue is this: New Year celebration was started by pagans, it is their celebration. But so called christians copied it from them. During the time of the Israelites, that celebration has been there. During the first century, Paul and other apostles where aware of it, so one of apostle Paul's letter as the op shows may have included New year's celebration. But Paul condemned this practice. The question is: why didnt the first century christians join the celebration? But today, so called christians have copied it with its pagan flavour, just like they did in Chrismas, Easter etc. they dont care. What the first century christians never did. sorry for this generation.

It is wrong to allow something with pagan origin to occupy it's significance in Christianity. that is pure paganism. Well I am not saying it for you guys to accept it, its your life. You live it the way you like. But, no one will say, "I no hear am".

So does your temple keep the sabbath, passover, pentecoast and tabernacle feasts found in scriptures?? Last time i checked..Nowhere were they abolished.Even Paul kept them.

Bidam: So does your temple keep the sabbath, passover, pentecoast and tabernacle feasts found in scriptures?? Last time i checked..Nowhere were they abolished.Even Paul kept them.

I dont see how this relates to my comment. this thread is'nt discussing the law.

We all know that all celebrations are pagan oriented.
You Christians are free to enjoy the glory of the demons

JMAN05:

I dont see how this relates to my comment. this thread is'nt discussing the law.

These are biblical festivals and feasts in jewish calenders and they are scriptural. The question posed to you is do you celebrate them since they are written in your bible? Answer Yes or No.

JMAN05:

Christians celebrate, but must you copy pagan festivals? read the op well before replying.

I don't understand your post, but I don't see how Christians celebrate the new year the pagan-way. We do it the God-way

victwi:
I don't understand your post, but I don't see how Christians celebrate the new year the pagan-way. We do it the God-way

Nothing like God-way in Pagan holidays, It's the way of the devil

Have you forgotten the Bible says, The devil is the ruler of the earth and all celebrations God doesn't like it.

Live a life free of celebration and merriment Jehovah is against it or else you'll just land yourself in Hell