JW Children and the absence of Christmas

by Clam 43 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  looking_glass

  Junction Guy - it depends on what type of Jew they are. There is Reform, Conservative and Orth.... Depending on their strength in their belief, they may or MAY NOT celebrate x-mas. However, there were several kids (in particular I can think of one boy by the name of Neal) that would not even come close to a Christmas tree. The school had wanted us to all make something for the tree and decorate it. I remember "taking a stand" along w/ several of the other kids there were a total of 5 of us from our class, I was the only JW. Neal was a die hard Jew and would never participate in any christian activities as he found them offensive to his heritage and beliefs.

  I cannot testify as to all Jews or Muslims, but I can tell you as to the ones that I associated with and am still in contact with today. There are some that do participate in x-mas, but for the vast majority of the people that I know and socialize with that are Jewish, they do not participate in Christmas because it is not their holiday and yes they have their own observation of the Hanukkah. But if you were to say to a Jewish person that it is like Christmas, be prepared to get your head chewed off because they find it offensive.

  I don't know enough about the Muslim faith to know what they celebrate around December.
• 

  looking_glass

  Here's a question, do Mormons celebrate x-mas. If they believe he is a lesser saint? If not, what do they do over the holiday season? Do we have any LDS in the crowd?
• 

  Junction-Guy

  Im not Mormon, but I believe they do celebrate Christmas, they have the Mormon tabernacle choir sing Christmas carols, right?
• 

  Junction-Guy

  Also Christmas has a secular side too, in fact most people in the US celebrate Christmas, whether they are religious or not. I read somewhere that 95% of the public celebrates Christmas in some shape or fashion.
• 

  looking_glass

  Yes, I think they do sing x-mas songs, but I still wonder about the whole celebration of x-mas. There was a secretary in my office that was a LDS and I am trying to remember what she did for the holidays and I don't recall. I would love to hear from a LDS what their beliefs are about x-mas and how they and/or their families handle the season.
• 

  Junction-Guy

  I dont think that forbidding Christmas alone is psychologically damaging to children, because it has been said that Muslims, and some Jews dont celebrate it either. But the main thing is that JW children are forbidden from almost all normal childhood experiences. Some religions dont celebrate Christmas, some religions dont celebrate Halloween, some dont allow dating, some dont allow college, some dont allow socializing with non members. Jehovah's Witnesses dont allow anything, so that a JW child is left with almost nothing to cherish from childhood, that is the rotten shame of it all.
• 

  nelly136

  these days the kids come from different countries religions and cultures.

  when i went to school us jw kid(s) were the only ones sticking out like a sore thumb in the hallway while all the other kids went off to assembly every morning. At least christmas only came once a year.
• 

  Mary

  Here's a question, do Mormons celebrate x-mas.

  They do. Don't you remember seeing the Osmonds on the Andy Williams Christmas Special when they were kids? We loved watching that.
• 

  looking_glass

  Oh yeah, I remember the osmonds singing holiday music, but I also remember Michael Jackson when he was suppose to be a JW doing things that the JWs frowned on (granted he would fit in more now as a JW, shame he DA'd himself, considering the odd ball stuff he does now and his fondness for young boys). Remember his grammy winning speech that they were all in uproar about. HYSTERICAL!
• 

  Leolaia

  As a kid, you don't give a damn if Christmas isn't the real birthday of Jesus, you just want to have fun with all your classmates.

  Exactly!!! And Christmas is only the tip of the iceberg. No birthdays, no Halloween trick-or-treating or Easter egg hunting, no extracurricular activities with other classmates, no proms or dances, you have to make a stand every day with the flag issue, etc. etc. and everything has to be guided by the principle "Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers", i.e. do not have a social life. I sincerely doubt its as bad as that for Orthodox Jews, who at least have another holiday that time of year.