Oyeweso,  Distinguished Historian, Ascends  the Sixth Floor, Did Bode Thomas bark to death? Growing up, and as an adult, in the religion, I never once saw a parent give their child a gift for any reason or at any time, ever, other than for their wedding or new baby. Jehovah's Witnesses are members of a Christian-based religious movement. ... there is a precedence in scripture that allows God's people to have the freedom to chose their own holiday in order to celebrate God's gift of life sent in the person of God's son. From this celebration, for example, were derived the elaborate feasting, the giving of gifts, and the burning of candles.” The Encyclopædia Britannica notes that “all work and business were suspended” during Saturnalia. As many people know, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t celebrate Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or any national holiday (Independence Day, Thanksgiving), and they don’t celebrate birthdays. Children see fun holidays and celebrations and festivities enjoyed by other kids at school, and then see their own religion, which not only takes these things away, but which then involves constant dull meetings and assemblies, sermons, preaching work, dressing up, home bible studies on top of weekly meetings at the Kingdom Hall, and always being told what you’re doing wrong. Close. That … Disagreement is not welcome. One of the more well-known practices of the Jehovah's Witnesses is their non-celebration of holidays. 1 1. See more ideas about jehovah's witnesses, jehovah, bible truth. There is no proof that Jesus was born on December 25; his birth date is not recorded in the Bible. However, neither were standard birthday parties, but that of kings. You can do a little research yourself and see that Christmas and Easter are both mixtures of paganism and some Christian beliefs; even secular historians will say that Jesus was probably not born on December 25. Australian activists are helping bury Watchtower in that country, and many are also working on lawsuits and potential criminal charges elsewhere. 13. Jehovah’s Witnesses oppose Christmas because of its ties to paganism; to them, it is a worldly celebration that should be avoided. I would go with the latter choice myself. A question from … Ask a Witness why they cannot celebrate a birthday and the first reason given will most likely go something like this: This is based on comments such as the following: It is correct that two birthday parties are specifically mentioned in the Bible, neither was for worshippers of Jehovah, and someone was killed at both. 5. I’m not telling Jehovah’s Witnesses what they should and should not celebrate, but I would ask how they think their children feel when they take away so much from them, without giving anything in return. The questi… Mar 9, 2017 - Explore N.L.N. Yes, you can create happiness and fun and festivities for your children and give them gifts at anytime, but do you? “But I don’t like the kind of giving that is done under pressure. How World Ignored Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Warning on Coronavirus. Verdict by Majekodunmi, his doctor, What General Attahiru, New Chief of Army Staff, Told TheNEWS About Boko Haram, 15 Years Ago! For one thing, it isn’t Jesus’ birthday. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I watched the Trump’s Christmas greeting this morning and it made me a Jehovah’s Witness Why don't Jehovah witnesses celebrate birthdays or holidays. Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Certain Holidays? There are many wholesome occasions that Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate such as marriage anniversaries and weddings which are referred to favorably in the Scriptures. Let me first of all digress and simply ask if these quotes sound real to anyone. READ ALSO: Nigerian Churches that Hate Christmas, A session at their ongoing Love Never Fail Regional Convention of Jehovah Witness. According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, their abstinence from holidays flows out of a desire to worship Jehovah in a proper manner. If you think it’s difficult for children to give up holidays and birthdays, you would be absolutely right. In addition, they do not participate in such holidays as the following. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. Do you really make your children happy with gifts and fun times and festivities, or do you just make them victims of your religion by taking away anything and everything that might make their lives more enjoyable, as if the more miserable you are, the better Witness you are? Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate holidays that they believe do not fit true Christianity. 1. There are several reasons why Jehovah's Witnesses do not formally observe the national holiday of Thanksgiving or many other national holidays. I would never tell a Jewish person that their kids are missing out because they don’t celebrate Christmas, or tell a Christian parent that they should observe Hanukkah. The Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid many practices found in mainstream culture. In the past few years, I’ve noticed that they also have graduation parties for the kids, but this was unheard of when I was growing up as a JW. Andrea grew up in a family of devout Jehovah’s Witnesses. hide. Of course, all this meant that I had to work overtime, which took me away from my family. However, if someone is overspending and borrowing to “pay for lavish meals” and is indulging in “excess eating and drinking,” whose fault is that? However, Christmas which is celebrated worldwide on 25 December to mark the birth of Jesus Christ, does not hold any appeal to the Jehovah’s Witnesses who are also noted for not singing the national anthems and obtaining blood transfusion. I mean not even Christmas and Easter which are the big ones in christianity which they technically subscribe to as they believe the bible. While many go too far in observing the season by indulging in orgies and, in their drinking habits, hold Bacchus high, many religious groups hold their end of year retreats to coincide with the period so that their faithful could “charge their spiritual battery”. Why don't Jehovah witnesses celebrate birthdays or holidays. I had a JW explain to me that they don’t celebrate holidays because John the Baptist’s head was cut off at a birthday party. Jehovah's Witnesses prefer to follow Biblical Christianity, not the customs or traditions that the church adopted centuries after Jesus gave us the Gospel. Jehovah's Witnesses do not need a 'special day' to remember our God. (Matthew 4:​10) Following that admonition, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas, Easter, or May Day, since these holidays are rooted in the worship of gods other than Jehovah. As McClintock and Strong’s  Cyclopedia states: “The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of NT [New Testament] origin.”, Considering the question, What Does the Bible Say About Christmas? Is it Wrong to Celebrate Birthdays? Might they start to question the false front that JWs put on, when it comes to statements made in their publications versus the reality of their everyday life? What type of life does this give a child? I mean not even Christmas and Easter which are the big ones in christianity which they technically subscribe to as they believe the bible. Suitors Now Prefer Our Maids to Our Daughters? For the women like me who didn’t get married or have children, there was no such thing as festivities in our honor, at all, ever. To be fair, Orthodox Christians do not celebrate birthdays either. They, too, read the claims JWs make about giving gifts “at anytime of the year,” and can see that these are just hollow words. Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Accept Blood Transfusions? Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate The Holidays? To be fair, Orthodox Christians do not celebrate birthdays either. 1 1. The site noted that a common misconception (myth) among people is that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas because “they do not believe in Jesus.” But, quoting from the Bible book of Acts 4:12, it says the fact is that “we are Christians. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate holidays that they believe do not fit true Christianity. Categories: Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult?, Children, General Teachings and Beliefs, Hypocrisy, Relationships and Family Life. Spirit Analyzer 18,508 views. Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate no civil holidays and few Christian ones. They also bring families together and build traditions. These include Christmas, Easter, and even birthdays. Jehovah’s Witnesses are continuously bombarded with the idea that since many holidays have pagan origins, they must avoid the holiday for fear of angering God. “December 25: There is no proof that Jesus was born on that date. They celebrate it once per year, noting that it was instituted on the Passover, an annual festival. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas because they do not believe that Jesus was born on Dec. 25. Jehovah’s Witnesses do … The New Catholic Encyclopedia says that “the Nativity feast was instituted not earlier than 243 [C.E. I can answer this question. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas because of their reasoning on Ephesians 5:10, 11 and 1 Corinthians 10:20, 21, among other scriptures. They observe it on Nisan 14 according to the ancient Jewish lunisolar calendar. Why don't Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate birthdays? 2. I had a JW explain to me that they don’t celebrate holidays because John the Baptist’s head was cut off at a birthday party. Rutherford , the then 'spirit directed … Jehovah's Witnesses used to actively celebrate and even promote the celebration of birthdays, christmas and even Mother's day well after 1919 ,the year that Jesus supposedly appointed their leaders as the Faithful Slave, God's sole Spokesman for the reason that he concluded that only they ,were teaching the truth. They are permitting of sexual abuses. (Bible teachings, Bible questions answered), the. He required his … This is a religious issue rather than a medical one. There are many wholesome occasions that Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate such as marriage anniversaries and weddings which are referred to favorably in the Scriptures. There are many wholesome occasions that Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate such as marriage anniversaries and weddings which are referred to favorably in the Scriptures. “The early Christians did not celebrate [Jesus’] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.”—The World Book Encyclopedia. “I love giving and receiving gifts,” writes Elfie. What impression does this leave on children as to what type of personality Jehovah has? Jehovah’s Witnesses are continuously bombarded with the idea that since many holidays have pagan origins, they must avoid the holiday for fear of angering God. Jehovah’s Witnesses also reason that Jesus did not tell them to celebrate his birthday, but to remember his death. Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to question the wisdom of their religious leaders. Give a child that honour people who aren’t Jesus that he does not give the date of ’! For me to do quotes sound real to anyone away from my family them celebrate. 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