•  Bakamboni baJehova nga baziba biyeni kuti pobwe eeli lilikabotu?

•  Bakamboni baJehova balaziyanda na mpuli zyabo mbukunga tabasekeleli pe amwi mazuba aakulyookezya?

•  Bakamboni baJehova balabakasya na bamwi kuti basekelele mazuba aakulyookezya?

 Bakamboni baJehova nga basaanguna kulanga kuti Bbayibbele lityeni kabatanasala kuti basekelele zuba eelyo. Amwi mazuba aakulyookezya aasekelelwa taayendelani pe aBbayibbele. Bakamboni baJehova tabaasekeleli pe mazuba aalibobo. Pesi kulaamwi mazuba aakulyookezya aatakazyani aaBbayibbele, umwi awumwi ulalisalila nzyayanda zimupa kuti akkale kali aamoyo uusalala “kuli Leza akubantu.”—Milimo 24:16.

 Bakamboni baJehova ngabalibuzya mibuzyo iitobela kabatanasala kuti basekelele limwi zuba lyakulyookezya na naakuti pe. a

•   Buzuba oobu busekelelwa buleendelana na anjiisyo zyamumagwalo?

   Malayilile aamuBbayibbele: “‘Amuzwe akati kabo, akulyaandaanya,’ mbwaamba Jehova, ‘alimwi amuleke kuguma cintu cisofweede.’”—2 Bakorinto 6:15-17.

   Kulyaanzaania kunjiisyo ziteendelani aamagwalo nkubachita Bakamboni baJehova nkooko kukasigwa aaBbayibbele, nkinkaako totu twaambo tupa kuti Bakamboni baJehova batasekeleli amwi mapobwe.

   Mapobwe aalaachakuchita akukomba baleza bakubeja. Jesu wakati: “Ngu Jehova Leza wako ngoelede kukomba, alimwi ngonguwe alikke ngoelede kubelekela mulimo uusetekene.” (Matayo 4:10) Kabatobelezya malayilile aaya, Bakamboni baJehova tabasekeleli pe Kkisimusi, Easter naakuti May Day nkaambo mapobwe aaya ngabukombi bwakubeja kutali Jehova. Alubo tabajatikizigwi pe mumapobwe aatobela.

  •  Kwanzaa. Zina lyakuti Kwanzaa “lizwa kumajwi aachiSwahili atii matunda ya kwanza, aamba kuti ‘michelo mitaanzi alubo eezi zitondeezya kuti kusekelela pobwe eeli ngankulumba michelo mitaanzi iichitwa muAfrica.” (Encyclopedia of Black Studies) Nikuba kuti bamwi babonaanga pobwe eeli talikwe zyakuchita pe azyabukombi pesi bbuku lyaEncyclopedia of African Religion litondeezya kuti michelo mitaanzi nga “ilikupegwa kuli baleza abamasyaanene munzila yakubalumba kuti batucheba,” alubo lyakayungizya kuti: “Alubo nzizyo zichitwa kuti kakulumbwa masyaanene akaambo kabuumi mbubatupa.”

  •  Mid-Autumn Festival. Eeli “ndipobwe lyakulemeka leza wachanakazi wamweezi.” (Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary) Alubo kupobwe eeli “banakazi kabalikukotamina leza wachanakazi ooyo.”—Religions of the World—A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices.

  •  Nauruz (Nowruz). “Zimwi zichitwa kupobwe zyakasaanguna kuchitwa kuchikombelo chaZoroastrianism, pobwe eeli ndilyo lyakali kubikkilwa maanu loko aakkalenda lyabantu bachikombelo eechi. . . . Kwakali kutegwa muchiindi champeyo, Muuya waMpeyo wakali kutola Muuya waZuva aansi aanyika [Rapithwin]. Muuya waZuba kutegwa wakali kuboola aa12 sikati mubuzuba bwaNowruz kweendelana achiyanza chamaZoroastrian kuzwa waawo, bantu bakali kusekelela kuboola kwawo.”—United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

  •  Shab-e Yalda. Pobwe eeli lyakali kusekelelwa lyampeyo, alubo pobwe eeli “lyakali kuswaanizya kukomba Mithra,” leza wamumuni, kweendelana abbuku lyaSufism in the Secret History of Persia. Kuyeeyelwa kuti pobwe eeli lileendelana akukomba leza wazuba wakali kuchitwa aamaRoma amaGrikki. b

  •  Thanksgiving. Mbuli Kwanzaa, pobwe eeli lyakasaangunwa aabantu bachiindi kuti kulemekwe baleza basiyene-siyene. Mukuya kwachiindi, “mapobwe aaya akazoojoyinwa aabasimacheechi.”—A Great and Godly Adventure—The Pilgrims and the Myth of the First Thanksgiving.

   Mapobwe alaazyakuchita amasalamusi azyoolwe. Bbayibbele lyaamba kuti “ibatilila leza wa Coolwe waini” bali akati “kabaabo ibasiya Jehova.” (Isaya 65:11) Nkinkaako, Bakamboni baJehova tabaasekeleli pe mapobwe aatobela:

  •  Ivan Kupala. “Bantu biingi basyoma kuti, muchiindi eechi [Ivan Kupala] nyika nga ilikugwisya manguzu aagambya kuti kulaachoolwe ulakonzya kujana manguzu aayo mbulyaamba bbuku lyaThe A to Z of Belarus. Chiindi, pobwe eeli lyakali kusekelelwa aabantu bakatali kukomba nibakali kusekelelela kunonoka kwakubbila kwazuba kwakali kuchitika kamwi amunyaka. Nikuba boobo, bbuku litegwa Encyclopedia of Contemporary Russian Culture lyakaamba kuti: “pobwe eeli lyakazoojatanizigwa aapobwe lyacheechi liitwa kuti [the “saint’s day” of John the Baptist] chiindi bantu nibakatambula chiKristu.”

  •  Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year or Korean New Year). “Aachiindi eechi, mpuli babbululu abeenzinyina nga balikuyeeya kubaachoolwe, kusyoma mizimu akulombozya kuba aamunyaka mupya.” (Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts—Festivals of China) Nzizyo zichitika kupobwe lyaKorean New Year “liswaanizya kukomba masyaanene, kwaanda myuuya mibi, kulombozya kubaachoolwe amunyaka mupya uulikabotu akusonda kuti ubone zizoochitika mumunyaka mupya.”—Encyclopedia of New Year’s Holidays Worldwide.

   Mapobwe alaatala akuti muuya tawufwi pe. Bbayibbele litondeezya kuti chintu chipona nchicho chifwa. (Ezekiele 18:4) Nkinkaako, Bakamboni baJehova, tabasekeleli pe mapobwe alaatala anjiisyo yakuti muuya tawufwi:

  •  All Souls’ Day (Day of the Dead). New Catholic Encyclopedia yaamba kuti izuba eeli “ndyakuyeeya bantu bakafwa kabasyomekede Muminyaka iisaangunina kuma500 C.E. kusikila mumunyaka wa1500 C.E. bantu biingi bakali kuzumina kuti njiisyo yakuti myuuya yabantu bakafwa yakali kuzwa kayili muchiimo chazimpuku, balozi, zichulwa azimwi kayizida kuzookataazya bantu aaba kabachipona.”

  •  Qingming Festival (Ch’ing Ming) and Hungry Ghost Festival. Mapobwe aaya kalaabili ngakulumba masyaanene. Bbuku litegwa Celebrating Life Customs Around the World—From Baby Showers to Funerals lyaamba kuti, “Kupobwe lyaCh’ing Ming, zyakulya, zyakunywa amali nga zyatentwa kuchitila kuti bantu bakafwa batazoobi aanzala naakuti kubaanyota akuti batabuli mali.” Bbuku eelyo lyakaamba kuti “kupobwe lyaHungry Ghost Month, kapati chiindi mweezi nuutafwambaani kubbila, [bantu basekelela pobwe eeli basyoma kuti] bafwide balabagwasya kuti bajatane kwiinda mazuba woonse nkinkaako nga basekelela pobwe eeli kuti batanyemyi masyaanyinakulu aakafwa.”

  •  Chuseok. Bbuku litegwa The Korean Tradition of Religion, Society, and Ethics lyakati, kupobwe eeli bantu “nga balikupa zyakulya awayini kumyuuya yabantu bakafwa.” Nzibapa zitondeezya kuti “ngabasyoma kuti muuya ulazumanana kusyoma kuti mubili wafwa.”

   Mapobwe aazyamizimu. Bbayibbele lyaamba kuti: “Takweelede kujanwa akati kanu muntu uumpa mwanaakwe musankwa naa musimbi mumulilo, muŋanga, simasalamuzi, sibusangu, mulozi, simabibo, muntu uubuzya makani kubaŋanga, simaloto naa muntu uubuzya makani kubafwu . . . zintu eezyi ncisesemyo kuli Jehova.” (Deuteronomo 18:10-12) Kutaliswaazya mulizyamizimu kubikkilizya kutajatikizigwa mubupanduluzi bwanyenyeezi bulaatala azizoochitika mubuumi kunembo, Bakamboni baJehova tabasekeleli pe Halloween naakuti mapobwe aatobela:

  •  Sinhala and Tamil New Year. “Ziyanza zichitwa kumapobwe aaya . . . ziswaanizya kuchita zintu zyaambwa aabantu balanga-langa buumi bwamuntu kababelesya nyenyeezi kabaamba kuti, kuti wazichita zintu zilakweendela kabotu mubuumi.”—Encyclopedia of Sri Lanka.

  •  Songkran. The name of this Asian festival “is derived from the Sanskrit word . . . meaning ‘movement’ or ‘change,’ and [the festival] marks the movement of the sun into the zodiacal constellation of Aries.”—Food, Feasts, and Faith—An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions.

   Mapobwe aakali muMulawu waMozesi aakamaninwa mulimu chiindi Jesu naakafwa. Bbayibbele litii: “Kristo ngamamanino aa Mulawo.” (Baroma 10:4) MaKristu bachaabelesya malayilile aakapedwe maIsrayeli. Nikuba boobo, tabasekeleli pe mapobwe aayo ikapati mapobwe aakali kwiiminina Mesiya ooyo maKristu ngubasyoma kuti wakaba kale. Bbayibbele lyaamba kuti: “Zintu eezyo ncimvwule buyo cazintu ziciboola kumbele, pele icintu cini-cini ngu Kristo.” (Bakolose 2:17) Mbukunga mapobwe aaya taayendelani pe amagwalo, mapobwe aatobela tabaasekeleli pe Bakamboni baJehova:

  •  Hanukkah. Pobwe eeli ndyakusekelela kufwambaana kuyakululwa kwatempele yachiJuda muJerusalemu. Pesi Bbayibbele lyaamba kuti Jesu wakaba Mupayizi Mupati “mutente lipati alimwi lilondokede kwiinda leelyo lyakayakwa amaanza aabantu, nkokuti, litali lyazilenge zyaansi aano pe.” (Bahebrayo 9:11) KumaKristu, tempele eelyo ndilyo lyakabweza ndawu yatempele lyakali muJerusalemu.

  •  Rosh Hashanah. Eeli ndizuba lyakusaanguna aakkalenda yamaJuda. Chiindi bantu nibakali kuchita pobwe eeli bakali kupa Leza zintu zisiyene-siyene. (Myeelwe 29:1-6) Nikuba boobo, Jesu Kristu, kali Mesiya, wakapa kuti “zipaizyo azituuzyo zyacipego zileke,” kuchitila kuti zibule mulimu kuli Leza.—Daniele 9:26, 27.

•   Pobwe eeli lijatanisya macheechi na?

   Malayilile aamuBbayibbele: “Ino muntu uusyoma uswaangene buti amuntu uutasyomi? Alimwi nkumvwana kuli buti nkolijisi tempele lya Leza amituni?”—2 Bakorinto 6:15-17.

   Nikuba kuti Bakamboni baJehova baleezya kukkala kabotu abamwi alubo kabatakasyi bantu kuti balisalile nzibayanda kusyoma, tabasekeleli pe mapobwe aalaachakuchita akujatana kwamacheechi munzila zitobela.

   Mapobwe aasekelelwa aabasimacheechi pesi aatazwa muBbayibbele. MaIsrayeli nibakali kuya kunyika yachisyomezyo nkubakali kuyoojana bantu bakali kukomba baleza babo, Leza wakababuzya kuti: “Tamweelede kupanga cizuminano ambabo naa abaleza babo . . Ikuti mukabelekele baleza babo, ncobeni eeci ciyoomubeda kakole.” (Kulonga 23:32, 33) Nkinkaako, Bakamboni baJehova tabaliswaanizyi pe mumapobwe aatobela.

  •  Loy Krathong. Pobwe eeli lichitwa kuThailand, “bantu bapanga ndido amatu mpawo nga babikka makkandela naakuti tusamu ntubanga bawula kuti twawumpwa nga twanunkilila kuzwa waawo nga twabikkwa mumaanzi. Baamba kuti, kuti zyanzininika ngazilikwaanda munyaama. Pobwe eeli ndyakuyeeya meendelo aalikabotu aaBuddha.”—Encyclopedia of Buddhism.

  •  National Repentance Day. Limwi pepa twaambo lyakuPapua New Guinea litegwa The National lyakaamba amwi makani aakaambwa aamupati wamfulumende. Mupati wamfulumede ooyo wakati, bantu basekelela zuba lyaNational Repentance Day “basyoma kuti zintu eezi zisyomwa aamaKristu.” Wakayungizya kuti kusekelela pobwe eeli kupa kuti “bantu bamunyika yabo batobelezye milawu yachiKristu.

  •  Vesak. “Zuba eeli liyandikana loko kumaBhudha nkaambo ngabalikusekelela kuzyalwa kwaBuddha, kujulilwa mumuni kwakachitwa akufwa kwakwe naakuti mbaakakufutuka kuNirvana.”—Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary.

   Mapobwe aachitaanga ngabukombi pesi aateendelani aBbayibbele. Jesu wakabuzya bafundisi kuti: “Mwapa kuti jwi lya Leza libe lyabuyo akaambo katunsiyansiya twanu.” Alubo wakababuzya kuti bukombi bwabo bwakali bwabuyo nkaambo bakali kuyiisya “milawo yabantu.” (Matayo 15:6, 9) Akaambo kakuti nchenjezyo eeyi bayibikka mumoyo, kuli mapobwe miingi aachitwa ngibatachiti Bakamboni baJehova.

  •  Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Pobwe eeli lilaachakuchita akusyoma kuti bayina aaJesu bakaya kujulu amubili wabo wanyama. Bbuku litegwa Religion and Society—Encyclopedia of Fundamentalism, lyaamba kuti “njiisyo eeyi teeyakaliwo pe nichakasaanguna chiKristu alubo tayimo pe muBbayibbele.”

  •  Feast of the Immaculate Conception. “Njiisyo yakuti Mariya wakazyala Jesu akaambo kakuti lwakwe Mariya taakalikwe chibi pe tayimo pe muBbayibbele . . . Njiisyo eeyi yakasaangunwa aaCheechi.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.

  •  Lent. Mazuba aaya ngakulisola zibi nzwaakachita akuliimya kulya nzizyo zyaambwa aabbuku litegwa New Catholic Encyclopedia, akasaanguna kusekelelwa “kuma300 C.E.”; aachiindi eechi Bbayibbele lyakali lyaba aaminyaka yiinda ku200 kalili lyamana kulembwa. Nilyaambuula atala azuba lyakusaanguna lyaLent bbuku lyaencyclopedia eeyo litii: “Chiyanza chakuti bantu bakomba bapegwe dyota muzuba lyaAsh Wednesday chakasaanguna kuchitwa kumuswaangano waBenevento mu1091.”

  •  Meskel (naakuti, Maskal). Pobwe eeli lichitwa kuEthiopia ‘ndyakusekelela kujanika kwachiingano aakagankaminwa Kristu, chiindi nibasekelela ngabakutula mulilo mpawo nga balikuzyana kabalikuuzyunguluka,’ mbulyaamba bbuku lyaEncyclopedia of Society and Culture in the Medieval World. Pesi Bakamboni baJehova tababelesyi chiingano pe mubukombi.

•   Pobwe eelyo lisumpula muntu, kabunga naakuti nyika na?

   Malayilile aamuBbayibbele: “Mboobu mbwaamba Jehova: ‘Ulisinganizyidwe muntu uusyoma bantu balya maila, uusyoma nguzu zyabantu, alimwi ooyo uujisi moyo uuleya kuzwa kuli Jehova.’”—Jeremiya 17:5.

   Nikuba kuti balabalumba bantunyina akuti balabakombela, pesi Bakamboni baJehova tabaliswaanizyi pe mumapobwe aatobela:

   Mapobwe aakulemeka mweendelezi naakuti muntu uulaampuwo. “Kutegwa mulivwune, amuleke kusyoma muntu buyo, ooyo uuli muya buyo mumpemo zyakwe. Nkaambo nzi walo ncayelede kubikkilwa maano?” (Isaya 2:22) Nkinkaako, Bakamboni baJehova tababusekeleli pe buzuba bwakazyalwa kwamweendelezi wamfulumende.

   Kusekelela ndembela yanyika. Bakamboni baJehova tabasekeleli buzuba bwaFlag Day. Nkamboonzi? Nkaambo Bbayibbele litii: “Amwiitantamuke mituni.” (1 Johane 5:21) Bamwi bantu babonaanga ndembela teemutuni pe uukombwa, umwi mulembi wazyachiindi uutegwa Carlton J. H. Hayes wakalemba kuti: “Kulayandikana kukomba ndembela nkaambo isumpula nyika.”

   Mapobwe naakuti mazuba aakusekelela basaante. Niinzi zyakachitika chiindi muntu wakali kuyoowa Leza naakakotamina mwaaposto Petro? Bbayibbele lyaamba kuti: “Petro wakamwiimikizya akumwaambila kuti: “Nyamuka; andime ndili muntu buyo.’” (Milimo 10:25, 26) Petro nikuba kufumbwa mwaapostolo taakwe nibakali kuyanda kubikkwa aajulu, Bakamboni baJehova ambabo tabasekeleli pe mazuba aakusumpula basaante mbuli aaya aatobela:

  •  All Saints’ Day. “Pobwe lyakulemeka basaante boonse . . . Pobwe eeli talizibikene pe kuti lyakatalikwa biyeni.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.

  •  Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Pobwe eeli lilemeka “musaante mupati wakuMexico,” bamwi baamba kuti musaante ooyo nguMariya bayina aaJesu. Baamba kuti musaante ooyo wakalitondeezya munzila yachigambyo kuluumwi mulimu mu1531.—The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Latino Literature.

   Mapobwe aazyapotikisi aakulungisya nyika. Bbayibbele lyaamba kuti:“Cilainda kubota kuyubila muli Jehova ikwiinda kusyoma bantu.” (Intembauzyo 118:8, 9) Bakamboni baJehova batondeezya kuti basyoma Leza kwiinda bantu kwiinda mukutajoyina mapobwe aachitwa aaYouth Day naakuti Women’s Day chiindi nibalikukkampeyina. Kaambo nkakaako, kapa kuti batajoyini Emancipation Day naakuti mapobwe aakozyenie aayaaya. Balangilila chiindi aawo Bwaami bwaLeza nibuzoopa kuti bantu baleke kusaluulana akaambo kamisyobo naakuti kuyanda kweelana.—Baroma 2:11; 8:21.

•   Pobwe eeli lisumpula imwi nyika na naakuti kabunga kabantu?

   Malayilile aamuBbayibbele: “Leza tasalululi, pele muzisi zyoonse kufwumbwa muntu uumuyoowa akucita ziluleme ulatambulwa kulinguwe.”—Milimo 10:34, 35.

   Nikuba kuti Bakamboni baJehova bayingi balakuyanda nkubazwa, tabaliswaanizyi pe mumapobwe aasumpula nyika naakuti kamwi kabunga munzila zitobela.

   Zintu zisumpula masooja. Jesu taakali kuziyanda pe zyankondo nkaambo wakabuzya batobeli bakwe kuti: “Amuzumanane kuyanda basinkondonyoko akubapailila aabo bamupenzya.” (Matayo 5:44) Nkinkaako, Bakamboni baJehova tabaliswaanizyi pe mumapobwe aalemeka masooja, kuswaanizya amapobwe aatobela:

  •  Buzuba bwamaWoveti (Remembrance Day, Remembrance Sunday, or Memorial Day). Mapobwe aaya ngakulemeka “mawoveti aachipona abaabo bakafwa munkondo akaambo kanyika yabo.”—Encyclopædia Britannica.

   Mapobwe aakusekelela kulilela kwanyika. Atala azeezi, Jesu wakabuzya batobeli bakwe kuti: “Tabali banyika mbubonya andime mbonditali wanyika.” (Johane 17:16) Nikuba kuti balayanda kuziba atala alwaano lwanyika, Bakamboni baJehova tabatoli lubazu pe mulizyanyika munzila zitobela:

  •  Mubuzuba Bwakulila Kwanyika. Muzisi zyiingi, “buzuba oobu busekelelwa aabantu biingi loko akaambo kakuti nga bakalilela kakutakwe chichibakataazya.”—Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary

•   Kupobwe eeli kuchitwa zintu zitondwa na zifwisya nsoni?

   Malayilile aamuBbayibbele: “Nkaambo musyule oomu mwakajisi ciindi cinji cakucita kuyanda kwabamasi nimwakali kweenda mubukkale busesemya, muluunyaunya lwakutalijata, mukuciindizya kunywa makoko, mumapobwe aateendelezyeki, mukuzundana kunywa makoko amukukomba mituni kukasyidwe amulawo.”—1 Petro 4:3.

   Kweendelana amalayilile aaya, Bakamboni baJehova balaatantamuka mapobwe aalaachakuchita akunywa bukande zyiindilide akuchita michito iitakwe buntu. Bakamboni baJehova balabotelwa kubaamwi abeenzinyina alubo balalisalila kuti banywe bukande chansayizi naakuti pe. Baleezya amanguzu woonse kuti batobele lulayo lwamuBbayibbele lwakuti: “Kufwumbwa naa mulalya naa mulanywa nokuba kucita cintu cimbi cili coonse, amucite zintu zyoonse kutegwa Leza alemekwe.”—1 Bakorinto 10:31

 Iiyi. Bbayibbele liyiisya kuti bantu beelede kuyanda akulemeka bamumpuli zyabo nikuba kuti nzibasyoma zilisiyene. (1 Petro 3:1, 2, 7) Nichoonzyo kuti Kamboni waJehova taajoyina kulilimwi pobwe bamumpuli naakuti babbululu bakwe balanyema. Nkinkaako, Bakamboni baJehova biingi ngabafwambaana kubweza ntaamu yakubuzya babbululu babo kuti balabayanda akubapandulwida munzila yabupampu kuti nkamboonzi nibatasekeleli mapobwe aayo alubo nga babaswaya babbululu babo.

 Peepe. Basyoma kuti muntu umwi awumwi weelede kulisalila zyakuchita. (Joshua 24:15) Bakamboni baJehova balabalemeka “bantu bamisyobo yoonse,” kakutakwe ndaba kuti basyomaanzi.—1 Petro 2:17.