JWs celebrating their 40th birthday?

by M.J. 19 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • undercover
    undercover
    a lot of jws have "gatherings" at Christmas. They don't call them parties,

    Have you ever known them to call any gathering a "party"? Being raised in it and living with it as an adult, the word "party" was almost never used when it came to witness gatherings. In fact a lot of them used the word "gathering" when having people over.

    "We're having some friends over for cards and Bible (drinking) games. Wanna come?" No mention of party. Then as word spreads, "Did you hear that undercover was having a 'gathering' at his house?" "Are you going to go to the 'get-together' at undercover's house?" Then afterwards, "Wow, we sure had fun at the get-together the other night" or "Brother undercover? The other elders and I would like to discuss with you the goings-ons at a 'gathering' that you had the other night".

    Sometimes the get-together coordinater (party thrower) would ask other dubs to bring food so now the "party" became a "picnic". The congregation used to have "congregation picnics" until the WTS put the kabash on that. So then they were unsanctioned "picnics". Over time those dwindled until people started having more private "gatherings" and "get-togethers".

    Only the young were still innocent enough to have "parties". But once they hit pioneer/MS age, they too had succombed to the WTspeak of calling groups of people having fun "gatherings" or "get-togethers".

  • M.J.
    M.J.
    "We're having some friends over for cards and Bible (drinking) games. Wanna come?"

    Bible drinking games. LOL.

  • blondie
    blondie

    I haven't seen 40th birthdays officially celebrated in this area (or any birthdays for that matter). But I have seen people have "special days" on some day other than their birthday. Maybe they are doing the same thing.

    There is little difference in the definition of anniversary and birthday. A birthday is just a special type of anniversary.

    An anniversary (from the Latin anniversarium, meaning the turning of the year) is a day that commemorates and/or celebrates an event that occurred on the same day of the year some time in the past.

    A birthday is the date on which a person was born. It is customary in many cultures to celebrate the anniversary of one's birthday in some way, for example by having a birthday party with friends in which gifts are given.

    Have they been advertising the fact that the do this to the rank and file in general? Or have they been keeping it close to their vest?

    Blondie

  • M.J.
    M.J.

    Seems that "birthday anniversary" was a term used by witnesses in the 40s. From the Jan 1, 1940 Watchtower, page 16:

    OCTOGENARIANS NOT ON THE RETIRED LIST

    MARYLAND: "On invitation of our daughter, Mother and I came up here for the summer. After consultation with the local servant, I went to work witnessing. Results: Day-(mostly September and October), 57; hours, 156; books, 112; booklets, 464. September 10, while here, celebrated my 80th birthday anniversary . Have six married sons and daughters, 16 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Had four or five successful information marches, followed by transcription lectures at the Moose Hall."
  • pooka
    pooka

    Yea, what is with that. I know of a family that the dad is an elder and the whole family is big jws. If I ask what they are going to do on the holiday. "the family is getting together and mom is making a ham.....Needless to say I start with the lecture on how they can all gather at mom's and have a tradational holiday meal But it is all ok because they all have the day off and ham is on sale. Go figure. I call birthdays for my jw friends an Annivesary, since they can celeberate that. It's always the anni of my 29th birthday.....LOL

  • free2beme
    free2beme

    Never saw it personally

  • Mary
    Mary

    Not publically, but my JW parents gave me the shock of my life this year when my mom suggested that we take my brother out "to celebrate his birthday this year" because he was turning the big 4-0. (My brother left "de troof" years ago).

    I was stunned. My other sister and me were planning on taking him out anyway, but that was fantastic that my parents wanted to do this, so we all went out. It was really, really good.

    Funny, when I was a teenager, I was "embarrassed" that my parents weren't "strong in the Truth". Now I thank God on bended knee that they never were. While they somehow still believe that this is "the Truth", my parents tend to be very non-judgemental towards stuff like this. I got my mom flowers for Mother's Day. After giggling that "...we're not supposed to do that.." she bustled into the living room to get a great big vase to put them in and thanked me profusely.

  • dorayakii
    dorayakii

    I don't know about 40th birthdays, but I was given a birthday card and present for my 21st birthday, by a very faithful and long-standing pioneer sister... right in the middle of the hall, and no-one batted an eyelid... apart from me, I was shocked, lol

  • plmkrzy
    plmkrzy

    Never a party but I have heard "remarks" made to those turning the BIG 4...0

  • plmkrzy
    plmkrzy
    Seems that "birthday anniversary" was a term used by witnesses in the 40s.

    They did lots of things in the 40's they would never do now. Things have changed a lot. When I was little we use to celebrate the 4th of July. I remember when my father said we could no longer buy fireworks because the mark of the beast is on them.

    They also celebrated Christmas at Bethel at one time.

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