Yeah, I'm glad to put my 2 cents in.
This is where I feel I have a better perspective, although some may disagree. Never being a witness and made to believe, what I feel to be "opinion & alternative translation" views on these subjects, I have had the option to look at it from a neutral point of view.
I've been challenged with the JW take on holidays, so I have done some research in the past, and I've found as an average summary of Christmas is that #1) if it's called a pagan holiday by the WTS, then you're saying that anything to do with the acknowledgement of Christ and God is pagan. #2) The original goal of the early Churches in creating Christmas, was to bring non-believers to the Lord via connections with existing celebrations of those times ( all that was just being creative in how they did it ). Many programs throughout history have used various creative methods to bring people together for a better purpose. #3) Knowing that it is a holiday in place to give honor, thanks and celebration for the gift of the savior, and choosing to shun it, is turning your nose to Christ period. It's the same thing as saying you're not going to acknowledge him in my opinion(anti-Christ). I've heard the "Celebrating his birth is not scriptural or something he told us to do" til I'm blue in the face. Who cares... what is in scripture is to honor Christ, and that's part of Christmas..totally scriptural. No one is forcing anyone to put up decorative trees and hand out presents and stuff your bellies. You can still acknowledge the gift God has given in Christ without all that commercial stuff during the season if it bothers people so much. What "True Christians" with "Honest heart" (ha, ha) are doing every year is celebrating life in Christ all year AND extra during Christmas which is clearly more than witnesses who are doing it less.
I'd like to note here that witnesses celebrated Christmas at one time, crosses, etc, and this brings me to a nice little Mind Control illustration called the "1 drop of poison in a glass of water" illustration. You ex-dubs know it by heart I'm sure. Not to mention Charles Russell and how this organization started. There is definitely 1 drop of poison in the history of the watchtower organization, so why "touch un-clean things"? Oh, I forgot, the WTS has the patent on hypocrisy.
As for Birthdays, this is my favorite. A couple of idiots kill people on their birthdays, and that's a big basis for staying "clean" from that celebration. Also, if you are someone who feels that getting together with friends and family to give gifts and have a party for someone is honoring a human over God, then yes, that is brain-washing. Having a birthday is not honoring a person. It's just a fun time for recognizing that a particular person has advanced another year in their life, nothing else, and we have added some fun to it. I'd like a witness to show me anywhere in scripture that God doesn't like that.
Ever been to a superbowl party as a witness? I could easily say you were giving honor to a team of 40 men(your team). Putting your hopes in them and not "jEHOVAH" on that day of celebration.