Jehovah's Witnesses, how do your kids feel at Christmas?

Question

I'm sure you tell your kids that Christmas is evil, but eventually they're going to see the joy on other kids faces, and all the toys that other kids get, and perhaps they will even see glimpses of beautiful (mainstream) Christian candlelight services that will have them wondering.

And their own Christmas is filled with -- nothing. If they go to a public school, I'm wondering if this becomes an upsetting time for them.

Answer 1

I can tell you how I felt (former JW as a kid).

It was no fun when that time of year came around. There were Christmas lights and decorations everywhere, and of course I was taught those things were evil. Still, they were very pretty.

Probably the hardest was the way it made me feel at school and amoung friends. I was under instructions, and at times so were my teachers, that I was not to participate in any holiday activities. If the kids were making snowmen out of paperplates, I was given some other thing to do; if there was a Christmas game they were playing, I was the lone odd ball doing something different, which everyone saw and everyone thought was strange. It always left me as the outsider, always disconnected and never part of the group in any full way. There was always a distance between myself and non-JWs. That distance even carried over into my adult life.

At times, though, I couldn't help myself and wanted to fit in, wanted to have fun with the same things as the other kids, so I'd cheat - make a construction paper Christmas tree or eat some holiday candy. Of course, before I got home, I had to make sure to throw away the decorations so my parents wouldn't find out. It was heartbreaking seeing something I had so much fun making end up in the trash.

Thankfully, by the grace of God Himself, my parents left that cult when I was still young. I still remember our first Christmas. The tree almost touched the ceiling and the gifts lined the livingroom from wall to wall. I remember my Catholic aunt had spread the word that we were celebrating our first and people from all over donated all kinds of stuff. That was the year I had received a telescope, which I'd wanted for so long. I cried in front of everyone when I opened it.

I haven't missed a Christmas since and after becoming Catholic 2 years ago, I've found beauty and joy in the season that I didn't know before. It truly is the best time of the year.

God bless.

Answer 2

You must understand that all people are entitled to their own beliefs ...religious or otherwise. It would be like a Muslim thinking that you are missing out because you don't experience Ramadan and they might feel sorry for you. I really don't believe that they would tell their children that it is evil.
If the child has been brought up that way then they would not feel that they have been hard done by.
I'm sure their children are getting the love of their parents regardless of all the gifts you think they are missing out on.
To celebrate Christmas you must believe in what is happening during that time and if they don't believe then what they are doing is right.
In any case when the children get older they will be able to make their own mind up to which way they want to go.
The love and sharing should not only be put aside for Christmas day but for all the days of the year.
Remember to live and let live.

Answer 3

I can tell you as an adult, who was raised a Witness, Christmas was/is no problem for me. I saw it for what it is, a Pagan holiday others celebrate. Does this mean presents for some? Sure. I also know of some who steal and often end up with nice things, doesn't make me want to steal.

I still got/get/gave/give presents to others, and with no pressure of it being a certain season.

I as a hobby sell video games and systems. I have seen so many jump through insane hoops to get their child such and such item, because the child asked Satan--er-- I mean Santa to get it for them.

I also think about the lying and wonder if the parents will consider all the lies they tell their kids when their kids start lying to them.

I know others celebrate Hanukkah, Quanza, etc. I am sure they probably enjoy themselves too. I am a Christian, as such I try to avoid ALL of these Unchristian holidays, my choice.

Answer 4

I've done both.

I've celebrated Christmas and not celebrated Christmas.

I can honestly answer that being free from the false ideas of 'Father Christmas' is the greater joy.

Having raised two children in the truth, we discussed and support our childrens their decision 'Not' to celebrate Christmas.

Have they missed out on any thing?

No when my children get a gift (which are given at all times of the year)

They know is is because we love them, and not because of a date on the calendar.

When my children saw the disappointment on the 'other' kids faces because they didn't get the 'toy' they wanted, they recognized the greed being displayed.

Where is the beauty of pagan worship?

Where is the beauty of worship by rote?

Does God look down and see his name and the name of his Son, tied to false gods and their worship?

What did Jehovah tell Moses about Aaron when Aaron made the calf for a festival to Jehovah?

.

Answer 5

My father explained what Christmas was all about when I was age 7, I am age 75, all of my life I have agreed with what my dad told me. How do people began the life of a child on lies and foolishness and the worst case of waste ever[Jer.10:1-4, Covenant heirs captive to Babylon, Rev.18:1-6, for how long, 606 BCE + 2011 CE and the bible is now 400 years old to the world], and expect them to be worth anything of any value to the world and toGod and Christ? Prov.6:16-19. Christ does not want his name on what man is capable of, especially of Babylon, the opposite of godly[Man is pleasing man].

Answer 6

I grew up as a JW and never missed christams. I saw the problems it caused my school mates and neighbous. (anxiety problems)

I am now 50 yoa and have 4 children from 12 to 22 none of them miss chrismas.

We do our own thing when the kids least expect it at no particualr time during the year with presents and parties. They appreciate it much more as they know we do it out of love for them and not because we have to.

It is amazing how many school parents say they wished they had enough courage not to celebaret chrismas because of the anxiety itr causes. Did you know that christmass time has the highest suicide rate of any time duribng the year.

Answer 7

It's not about putting a smile on a kid's face just because it's Christmas. Christmas, as it is known today, is supposedly the birthday of Jesus Christ. Where in the Bible does Christ ever celebrate his birthday? So again, another pagan, manmade holiday [up] that has nothing to do with Jesus' birthday at all, but about a FAT WHITE MAN IN A FAT RED SUIT who shows up precisely at everyone's door in the world at 12:Midnight delivery gifts for all, drinking milk and slamming down cookies. It's perposterous!

Secondly, why teach your kids a lie? If you're intelligent and love God and his standards, why try to fit into a mold that the "world" celebrates just to fit in when it's false?? Intelligent people who love God don't celebrate lies and pagan holidays. They have Christmas, so to speak, all year round, not at a time that is filled with greed and bankrupting your family on account of greedy parents and kids fussing and whining about gifts they want surrounded by such a pagan holiday? Christmas is about greed and seeing smiles from those who are celebrating a lie.

Were you aware that Jesus was not even born on December 25? He died, as you can see on the Jewish Nisen Calender, on Nisen 14. That is in our calendar time latter March, early April. Jesus was 33.5 (thirty-three and a half) when he died, so if you count back 6 months from late March early April, that comes out to around October 1. We know this because when you read your Bible, and I am sure by the way you're ranting on about fake Christmas you have a Bible and are "somewhat" familiar with it, that "Shepherds were keeping their flocks out of doors" at the time Jesus was born. December 25th would mean that they would keep their flocks indoors because of the blistering cold whether at that time. October 1 would mean what the scriptures state that "Shepherds were keeping their flocks out of doors" and it was not nearly as cold.

And it is not upsetting for intelligent Christians do not give into worldly, false pagan holidays just because you, Satan, or anyone else feels that they should "join in" and celebrate a lie with you [all]. True Christians celebrate Christmas, as it were, all year around, not just at a false time where there is greed and happiness it seems in watching your kids celebrate a lie.

Hope this has helped. Pay attention please.

Answer 8

I'm not a JWs, but I do not celebrate or believe that Xmas is Christian in any form. I don't think that the children of the JWs are as concerned about candlelight services (candles are pagan and were not used by any of God's priest) or worried about the man-made joy on their classmate's faces as compared to the joy one receives when Jesus is in their heart and rules their life. Christmas is not Christian nor is the wicked ritual of Easter, just because the Roman Catholics sprinkled Christ on top of a very established Pagan ritual of sun worship, does not make it Christian.

God Bless You

Answer 9

my parents were Jehovah's witnesses, but i am not. i have to be honest with you, my parents were giving me gifts, doing a nice diner with all the family, everything like Christmas but no tree or any decoration. they never told me that christmas is evil, the only reason they don't celebrate is because they say that jesus is not born on the 25 th of december, but would have been born in april. (based on their bible). i was a little upset at school, when it's time to do the christmas decoration and all that stuf.And don't you think today christmas is more a consommation holiday than a religious holiday?

Answer 10

I was dragged up as a Jehovahs wittness and I can tell you christmas (and Birthdays) felt absoloute shite ...that going back after the hols with everyone comparing gifts and one having to stand there and explain not only did you get stuff all you didnt even do anythng special on the day!!!! it was like any other day of the year except 'some good things on tele!' ....not even a special dinner ...... but dont worry I am JW no longer and celebrate anything that moves .....