{{{{Mouthy}}}}}
No, you shouldn't be silent. You've made a valid point.
As a JW Did you want Christmas?
by LovesDubs 26 Replies latest jw friends
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DanTheMan
I grew up Catholic, and of course Christmas was huge around my house.
Christmas was always a big letdown for me. I was kind of a weird kid. I would spend months anticipating getting that coveted toy at Christmas, but then when I did get it, it never fulfilled my fanstastic expectations. Living in a somewhat affluent area, I was very envious of many kids I knew. Their parents would buy them just about whatever they wanted. It was never like that in my family.
When I first became a JW I was glad to give it up. I still think that so much of Christmas is kind of stupid. As a matter of fact, I thought that JW's were geniuses to discard Christmas celebrations. But as time went on, I really started to miss seeing my family. Especially when I knew that many of the JW's in my cong would gather with their JW families on Thanksgiving & Christmas and engage in a lot of the feasting and merriment, and here I was couped up alone in my apartment.
I think that Christmas is fun in moderation, but moderation isn't too popular with many Americans I guess.
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mouthy
Thanks alot Cicatrix-for understanding me. It helps alot-I always feel that I can be a "doh doh"on here because my answers dont sound like everyone elses.....(((Cicatrix))))thanks again
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Mary
I was born and raised in "the truth", so we never celebrated Christmas, but boy oh boy, did I ever want to. It was very difficult at school, not being able to sing the XMas carols, help decorated the tree in the classroom, listen to stories about Jesus in the manger, or be involved with the gift exchange. I truly believe that being excluded from all this (plus having to stand outside for "O Canada and God Save the Queen every morning) in my youth helped contribute to my feelings or worthlessness as an adult.
When you're a kid, you don't give a crap if something's "pagan"......you want to have fun and to be accepted by your peers. As an adult, your friends at work don't care that you don't celebrate Christmas, they take you as you are, but this ain't true when you're growing up.
Some of my ex-Witness friends are celebrating Christmas for the first time this year........I generally buy something for my boss and co-workers, and that's about it.
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maxwell
I was born and raised a JW. So having never established the tradition or culture, I really don't know what I'm missing. Mostly I didn't care for Christmas. I see all the people going into debt that time of year and stressing out over being required to buy a present or over whether other people will get them what they want and I never did have a desire to be involved in that. And I always try to stay out of stores during Christmas shopping time. If what goes on there is representative of Christmas spirit, count me out. It's a madhouse. Of course now if I have to shop, there's always the internet. However, I did like a lot of the music and thought maybe the parties might have been alright. My family generally has family reunions every 2 years or so, so I didn't need the holidays for that. Being stuck with them for a couple of days at family reunion time is plenty enough for me.
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Jankyn
As a 3rd generation JW, I used to think that, unlike the "worldly" folks around me, I had no "holiday baggage." Well, I discovered that that's a crock, because the smug attitude covering the inferiority complex that my family passed down makes for a nice holiday tradition. I particularly loved the way I was taught to sublimate my longings and jealousy in self-righteousness and criticism.
After getting out of the Borg, I've swung back and forth on whether and how to celebrate holidays. At first, I went all out, but eventually that got kind of old. And, because of the early "training" and "mental regulation" I endured, I'm really uncomfortable with the religious elements of the holidays. Isn't it odd that the pagan traditions don't bother me at all? Hmmm....
Both of my brothers have also done the fade, and celebrate with their wives' families. I make a point of sending gifts to their children, but since our family has no "traditions" (other than criticizing others' traditions), I think it's easier for them to just adopt their in-laws. At least all my nieces and nephews are growing up a bit more normally (nice, sensible Lutherans and Methodists, bless their hearts).
Meanwhile, I'm planning on something different for Thanksgiving: letting the deli cook the dinner, and wearing my flannel jammies all day while I watch the Buffy marathon on FX. No muss, no fuss--my kind of tradition.
Best,
Jankyn
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Prisca
I totally agree with Maxwell. Having never celebrating Christmas for the first 30 years of my life, I don't really feel I've missed anything, when you look at the frenzied buying and stress that is associated with Christmas in large cities.
And even though I've been out of the JWs for a few years now, I've never done anything on Christmas day because I'm usually visiting my JW family at that time, so it's just another day.