Did you return to celebrating holidays? (page 3)

LouBelle

I'm out celebrating in BIG ways. I love the holidays - pagan or not I couldn't care - for me it holds more importance like family, quality time, good will, meditation

lonelysheep

My conservative christian republican family has been slow on the return.

This was Christmas last year. http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/149863/1.ashx

I only talk to a few of them now. I divided myself and my kids from them and admit that the bond is essentially non-existent. So, holidays are spent with my inlaws, and that hurts just as bad.

Birthdays, I do celebrate but the hoopla is gone, even for my kids.

I celebrate various holidays, birthdays, etc not because they're holy or pagan, but because they're either fun or I feel the need to fit into what others are doing. For example, I wish others a Merry Christmas even though I'm not christian. I don't think it's important where holidays come from, but it is important how they are viewed today. Live in the day, and don't be ruled by a cult or the past.

undercover

I "celebrate" in my own way.

Halloween is my favorite holiday, so I get into the costume parties and decorations and movies, just like everybody else.

Xmas I don't care for one way or the other. I don't decorate, I don't get into the gift giving, but I attend any and all parties that I'm invited to. I say Merry Xmas and try to be of good cheer during the season. I enjoy the spirit of the season, I just don't care to get all wrapped up in putting up tress or lights.

Easter, I don't care about and don't do anything about it.

At my age birthdays are just reminders that I'm no longer young and that too many years were wasted being a JW so I don't bother with celebrating it either. I'll wish others a happy birthday or even pick up a bar tab on someone's birthday but parties and gifts I don't worry about. I will buy a gift if invited to a party and I attend just because that's the respectful thing to do.

Fathers day or Mothers day...parents are JWs and don't celebrate. I don't even bother trying.

Nationalistic holidays like July 4th or Memorial day...I just enjoy the day off work and thats about it. I will go to a July 4th party just to blow shit up with fireworks. That's the best way to show your patriotism, don't you think?

Thanksgiving is about watching the Dalls Cowboys

jamiebowers

Yes, like a gleeful demon! And we go all out. For Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas I bake, my husband decorates for me, I buy and wrap gifts, make Easter baskets and have about a dozen or so people over for dinner. I love the holidays so much that I shop throughout the year for sales on things that I know people would like. For people who live close by, we never fail to have some kind of birthday party, and I have an extensive list of people who aren't local to send birthday and Christmas cards to. During the summer national holidays, we have huge outdoor parties. Our city does a fabulous fire works display on the 4th of July, and they are set off right across the street from our house. We usually have about 100 people at that one. My dear husband sets up dining canopies, a screened food tent and dozens of tables and chairs. I do the prep work on the food, and he grills to his heart's content. It's a blast!

A lot of things have pagan origins: days of the week, months of the year, lipstick, etc. Do what makes you happy. We have provided many people who are sick or have no one else to celebrate with, very happy times. That's what makes me happy. Strangers actually stop to comment on our Christmas decorations that takes my husband about a week to put up. One time I overheard my stepson bitching about having to put up the many outdoor Christmas decorations, and my dear husband said, "Jamie didn't have this as a kid, and by God, she'll have it now." He's such a wonderful man! The day after Christmas, I buy $100 worth of additional outdoor decorations. At this point, they take up most of our attic. I could write all day long about the number of lovely experiences I've had as a result of the Christmas spirit. From a practical point, you could look at the holidays as a reminder to take a break from everyday life, give, receive and celebrate.

WTWizard

Yup, I now celebrate them. Last year, I bought a great big Christmas tree and a great big wreath. I also spent most of the year ordering decorations of every kind I could get my greedy paws on. And everywhere I could put lights and bulbs, I did. Crosses, angels, Santa Clauses, and the whole nine yards. The Christmas tree has a star with color changing LED lights on it. All the lights are LED. I have LED lights placed around the perimeter of my apartment, and in key locations.

And they are not coming down. I decided that they are going to stay up all summer long.

lonelysheep

I decided that they are going to stay up all summer long.

C'mon...that's just too much, even by worldly standards. :)

You made me laugh because now, I'm going to want to ask people who do that if they were brought up as wits!

I was doing questionable things.....I'm learning to "Get Over It" what 25 yrs plus does to ya.....

We do the birthday thing...the rest we treat as a fun get togethers meal, drinks, laughs, pictures....we gave a few presents to

the kids but no tree....I'm not sure if I could go there.

h4o

Did you return to celebrating holidays?

LouBelle

lonelysheep

JAVA

undercover

jamiebowers

WTWizard

lonelysheep

PureAlb

Quirky1

Hope4Others

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