Holidays

celebrate

Having grown up in a JW household, celebrating holidays was always a problem. My mother is Catholic, so we tried to celebrate, but somehow the JWs always had something bad to say, or they went to another part of the house. A Christmas tree was a symbol of satan. Christ was not born on 12/25, so it was wrong to celebrate it.

This year, over 6,000 families whose loved ones died on 9/11, will sit down at Thanksgiving and attempt to find words of thanks over tears. More than ever, I have come realize the incredible stupidity of not celebrating. I have come to realize that I have so much to be thankful for, a roof over my head (it leaks, but it is a grand roof), good health, a fine son, a good life. I have also come to believe the God has far better things to do then to be concerned over who was celebrating on any one day. When Christ was born is not the issue, that he was born is. Jehovah has always been presented as a wrathful god of social calendars. We cant have Thaksgiving on Thursday, but if we celebrate on Saturday, it is OK. Or, as I was once told, it is not Thanksgiving dinner if you don't have cranberry sauce.

As the holiday season approaches, ghosts and gobblins are coming soon, turkeys are next, I fully intend to celebrate. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, the whole thing! And a wonderful Christmas tree and gifts and cards to friends (wordly friends who have heped me so very much) -- and God bless us, every one!

celebrate

proplog2

Jehovah's Witnesses have avoided the non-sense and commericalism of the holidays that are celebrated by the world. Growing up a Jehovah's Witness I personally never missed any of these things. I continue to enjoy life without these events.

Over-eating, over-drinking, selfish-gift giving, family fights are legendary. Santa is much nicer to the rich kids then the poor.
Unfortunately, Jehovah's Witnesses have bought into a lot of this kind of thing by elaborate wedding celebrations, baptismal celebrations,wedding anniverseries involving rented halls, full-time service anniverseries, huge baby showers, grammar & high-school graduation parties etc. Christian giving used to involve annonymity. You have to be so conscious of whether people are $100 - $50 -$20 friends. I have seen weddings of Rich Elder's kids where the gifts were piled halfway to the ceiling. And I have seen poorer families with a small cake reception where the bride & groom could pack their gifts in the trunk of their car.

Their IS something wrong with the world's holidays and it has infected the lives of JW's too.

wasasister

What JW's fail to understand about the holidays is the need for families to have traditions. In fact, the very idea of "traditions" is demonized by JW's.

Not all families have fallen vicitim to crass commercialism and over-indulgence during the holidays. For many, they are times when families can gather together and enjoy the handing down of traditions from one generation to the next; whether it be mom's stuffing recipe, or auntie's stories of growing up. The idea of putting up lights and celebrating during the darkest time of the year (in the northern hemisphere, at least) seems like a fine idea to me. I don't care to involve anyone's birthday.

Growing up as a JW, I missed these occasions of family tradition. The closest we came was the annual summer trek to the District Convention.

Proplog's negative remarks will not dissuade me from starting my own traditions. Light up the house, cook, laugh, play music....you're all invited.

gumby

Holidays/christians
The jews were big on holidays. The christians told them"you don't need to do that anymore". Then paul wrote them a letter. He said....if someone wants to have a day special to him and he does it as thanks to God....let him do it! Don't judge one man who puts one day as above the rest. He is doing it with a GOOD motive!
People today do not reason....lets get a x-mas tree and celebrate saturnilia! Lets get a turkey and copy the pilgrams and be political like!
What is a persons motive for celebrating? Is it for a good purpose? If it is.......don't worry about it if God isn't worried.

Esmeralda

You said it, Wasasister! What you said about traditions is so true.

When I had my first "tree" christmas last year and my inlaws came and brought the family ornaments, and explained the meaning of each one, I got to bond with them in a way I never imagined.

Celebrate, you go girl! And if you want to know more about my feelings on celebrating holidays you can check this out:
: http://www.wtsurvivors.homestead.com/Gratitude.html

all the best
essie

patio34

Good thread! My suspicion is that the WTBS uses the holidays and birthdays as a further way to isolate the R&F from the 'worldly' people. And, instead of being uncontaminated, they are isolated that way.

This is another, more subtle way of isolation that is a hallmark of cults.

It keeps families disunited. Causes strain and stress. Since WTBS can't literally isolate their members, they do it by cutting them off from cultural traditions.

The points about traditions are fine and warm for those of us who have non-JW family members. The point about commercialism, etc. is entirely personal and easy to avoid.

Each one should be free to pursue whatever they want.

My 2 cents
Pat

larc

I guess proplog has witnessed a different kind of household than I have. At our house, gift giving is not viewed as selfish, but as an expression of mutual love. Furthermore, we have never had a family fight during any celebration. We always depart at the end of the day feeling closer as a family. I can even say that about in laws, now that I have some.

LovesDubs

I get so tired of hearing the JWs WHINE about "commercialism" at the holidays. What is the PAT JW response to gift giving?? "We give gifts to our children ALL YEAR ROUND." Hellloooo NOW who's materialistic?? Like saying that blood will cause AIDS, they aim away from the "Bible principles" which they claim are the reason they dont do things and start to use WORLDLY excuses because the BIBLE excuses dont cut it. Most EXJWs I know were MISERABLE as JWs having to miss holidays when all their friends and nonJW family were celebrating and partying and getting together and having a WONDERFUL TIME. The JWs HATE IT when others have fun. They constantly put down others who do and the Society writes article after article about parties, get togethers and now even WEDDINGS being "too much fun" and even THOSE scarcely allowed activities have their big freaking THUMB on em. I LOVE Xmas decorations. I LOVE watching my kids open gifts (which on my budget include mostly dollar store stuff and sales items, etc) And I mostly love being able to DO WHATEVERTHEHELL I WANT TO without some Smelder sticking his nose up at me.

I know....all you JWs get on your winter duds and go KNOCK ON DOORS on Xmas morning and BOTHER all those merry makers. Yeah THAT will make you feel SOOOO much better about the dreary, dark, boring, lonely place you are stuck in. GET OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE sayeth the LORD

WildHorses

I have fond memories of Christmas as a child. Our family is scattered all over the USA and the holidays were the only time we got together as a family. It would have cost a fortune to do this all through out the year.

Christmas Eve was the best. We sat down for dinner of oyster stew. We would all talk about the things happening in our lives. I remember lots of laughter. We had a close family.

Grandfather would then call us all into the living room where he would read us the story of Christ's birth. He told the story so well. The we opened the gifts.

Christmas Day, we ate promptly at 1pm and again the conversation always ended with laughter. I remember my grandmother had a way with telling jokes. She always had us in stitches.

This year will not be as years past. My grandparents with whom we celebrated have long past on. My mother who took over the custom has moved back to the town of my youth. Fond memories are all I have left.

What I am trying to say is.....................Christmas is a time for families, and if your family is scattered as mine was, there is no better time to come together. Create memories that will last a lifetime. For one day that may be all you have.

"I don't want someone in my life I can live with, I want someone in my life I can't live without."

individuals wife

I still reckon Rutherford got crap presents one year and decided to spoil everyone elses fun and ban the whole thing.... also money saved on Christmas gifts is more money in the donation box..... also missing out on the celebrations makes a JW feel persecuted and that makes them feel like they are doing the right thing...

Holidays

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