بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Imitating the disbelievers in the organizing of celebrations (specific to them), or participating in them is prohibited. It is not permissible for any Muslim to organize a Christian celebration (banquet, festival, etc), nor to participate in such. Unfortunately some Muslims arrange such gatherings at their, jobs, companies, or homes and this enables them to practice their polytheistic religious ceremonies. So whoever imitates a people is of them, just as the Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa salaam- said: “Whoever imitates a people is from them.” Collected by Ahmad and Abu Dawud with a good chain.
Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah stated, “the least of what this narration necessitates is that imitating them is prohibited, although the apparent wording alludes to declaring such to be a disbeliever.” It is forbidden to participate in the celebrations of idol worshipers and the people of the book even if one only gives a small gift, or congratulates them. This (prohibition) is in order to uproot polytheism and to differentiate between the people of misguidance. Likewise in order to submit to Allah and His Messenger’s command, as the Exalted says:
و لا يكونوا كالذين أُوتوا الكتاب من قبلُ فطال عليهم الأمد فقستْ قلوبهم و كثيرٌ منهم فاسقون
“…and they are not like those who received the Book before them, their term was prolonged and so their hearts were hardened, and most of them were sinful.” [Al-Hadid: 16]
Ibn Kathir said, “Allah forbid the believers from emulating them in any affair whether it be from the fundamental or branch issues.
Translated by Najeeb Al Anjelesi
Source: المنظار في بيان كثير من الأخطاء الشائعة