Even though the vast majority of Christian denominations celebrate Christmas on December 25 as the birth of Jesus Christ, a minority do not observe it as a religious holiday.
Below is a list of major Christian groups that officially or traditionally do not celebrate Christmas, based on their doctrines and practices:
1. Jehovah’s Witnesses
The most well-known group; they view Christmas as having pagan roots and note that the Bible does not command celebrating Jesus’ birth (or birthdays in general). They stopped observing it in the 1920s after research into its origins.
2. Armstrongite Churches of God (e.g., United Church of God, Living Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God, and other splits from the former Worldwide Church of God). These groups, influenced by Herbert W. Armstrong, reject Christmas due to its alleged pagan origins and lack of biblical mandate. They instead observe Old Testament holy days.
3. Certain Strict Presbyterian Denominations in Scotland (e.g., Free Church of Scotland, Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Associated Presbyterian Churches, Free Church of Scotland). These conservative Reformed groups view Christmas as an extra-biblical “Roman Catholic” holiday with no scriptural warrant and historically discouraged or banned its observance.
4. Churches of Christ (Restoration Movement): Many (though not all) congregations do not hold special Christmas services or emphasize the holiday in church, seeing it as unbiblical and treating it as a private cultural matter rather than a religious observance.
5. True Jesus Church
A restorationist group that rejects Christmas for theological reasons, emphasizing only biblically mandated practices.
6. Iglesia ni Cristo
This restorationist church from the Philippines does not celebrate Christmas, viewing it as unbiblical and of pagan origin.
7. Some Independent or Fundamentalist Groups (e.g., certain Independent Baptists, Oneness Pentecostals). Various conservative or fundamentalist congregations reject it on similar grounds of pagan influence or lack of biblical support.
8. Other Notable Mentions
God’s Kingdom Society — Celebrates Jesus’ birth in October instead.
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) — Rejects it due to pagan origins.
Deeper Life Bible Church — Leadership has stated they do not celebrate it, viewing it as unbiblical.
Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) — Traditionally view every day as holy and avoid special religious holidays, though individual observance varies.
Photo: BBC