Do Jehovah Witnesses receive gifts for any occasion?

Question

ie. for the birth of a child or in appreciation of help

Answer 1

Yes, of course.

Gifts are mentioned in favorable terms quite often in the Scriptures, including during a trying time or in appreciation for some assistance.
...(Job 42:11) They began to eat bread with [Job] in his house and to sympathize with him and to comfort him...and they proceeded each one to give him a piece of money and each one a gold ring.
...(Genesis 24:19-22) When she was finished giving him a drink, then [Rebekah] said: “For your camels too I shall draw water until they are done drinking.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the drinking trough and ran yet again and again to the well to draw water, and kept drawing for all his camels. All the while the man was gazing at her in wonder, keeping silent to know whether Jehovah had made his trip successful or not. Consequently it came about that, when the camels had finished drinking, then the man took a gold nose ring of a half shekel in weight [and gave it to her] and two bracelets for her hands
...(Acts 20:35) Bear in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.’”
...(2 Corinthians 9:7) God loves a cheerful giver.


By contrast, gifts that are plainly associated with pagan celebrations are objectionable to true Christians, as are gifts given with ungodly motives.
...(Isaiah 1:23) Your princes are stubborn and partners with thieves. Every one of them is a lover of a bribe and a chaser after gifts.


Regarding birthday celebrations, bible students are encouraged to consider:
: 0% of faithful biblical Jews celebrated birthdays
: 0% of first century Christians celebrated birthdays
: 100% of birthdays celebrated in the bible were by debauched enemies of God (See Mark 6:17-29; Gen 40:19-22)

Bible historians (M'Clintock, Strong, and others) have noted that faithful Jews of the bible did not celebrate birthdays, and that ancient pagan birthday celebrations were at least partially intended to honor the patron gods of the particular day.

By comparison with such paganisms, the bible does not even tell us the birthdates of Jesus or ANY of his apostles!


Jehovah's Witnesses practice strict political and nationalistic neutrality, so they do not celebrate nationalistic holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day.

Other holidays derive from false religion, and so are incompatible with pure worship as adulterating interfaith. For example, Easter derives from the pagan god Oestre and celebrates "rebirth" and "fertility" instead of commemorating Christ's Last Supper and death as Jesus commanded:
(Luke 22:1-22) [Jesus] dispatched Peter and John, saying: “Go and get the passover ready for us to eat.” ...14 At length when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them: “I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it becomes fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”

Seemingly innocuous holidays may have only a tangential connection with false worship, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day (although arguably derived from ancestor worship). Understated observance of these is not generally considered interfaith by Jehovah's Witnesses, but it is too easily misunderstood in some cultures.

Since such celebrations are not required in true worship, and can easily become a distraction, so Jehovah's Witnesses focus their attention elsewhere. In particular, they are focussed on the preaching work which *IS* a requirement for Christians:

(Luke 10:1-17) [Jesus] the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001215/article_01.htm

Answer 2

What is interesting about Jehovah's Witnesses is that they do not wait for a national Holiday to express thankfulness to some one.

They give and receive gifts year round.

Answer 3

They do celebrate wedding anniversaries and they do give/receive gifts on any given day of the year. They simply do not have specific days like others do. I have many Witness friends and it's not uncommon for me to find a gift in my car or on my porch at home. When they see something that reminds them of me, or something they think I can use, they get it (and vise versa).

Answer 4

Yes, we get gifts for many things! We have baby showers, bridal showers, house warming parties where gifts are given and even anniversary parties and gifts are given. And then there is just the every day gifts we give to loved ones or friends, "just because."

Answer 5

Yes. I just received a huge framed photo of me and a friend at an assembly last year.

Not for any special reason, they just thought I'd like to have the picture.

Answer 6

when a sister gives birth and we have a party, we give her a gift for the baby or for the sister. we have weddings also and we give gifts. we also give gifts to our family when we want to. we don't need any reason to give a gift.

Answer 7

the a hundred and forty four,000 circulate to heaven to rule as kings and monks, god chooses them. incredibly everyone else has a mundane wish to stay in the worldwide in paradise. Heaven in undemanding terms hades ability the undemanding grave. the NWT is in undemanding english you would be welcomed and gained properly, dress modestly. presents are excepted yet needless to say no longer for yuletide or birthdays, in any different case all effective. wouldnt advise presents with flags on as witnesses are non political and wouldnt incredibly get exhilaration from them Sorry my solutions are somewhat short, its previous due at night :/

Answer 8

Yes, giving and receiving gifts for those occassions that you mentioned are done and appreciated by JWs.

Answer 9

Yes, they are "allowed" to celebrate anniversaries because that was in the Bible.

Answer 10

Yes it is not a problem , it is not related with pagan belief.