Any Jehovah's Witnesses out there? I have a question.

[Aurora63]

I am a first grade teacher. I have a child who is a Jehovah's Witness in my class.

First, I found out when I noticed he was not saying the pledge. I asked him why, and he said he's not supposed to. So I asked him more, do you celebrate birthdays, Christmas, etc. No to all. The mom did not tell me any of this...I later asked her, and she confirmed yes, they are Jehovah's Witnesses. My point here being that she didn't seem too concerned with making sure I knew.

Anyway, now it is the holidays...all of my other students celebrate Christmas, and I normally give everyone a little gift. I do not want this one child to feel left out. I made the gift this year a book. I am going to give it to the children on Friday, but I am not calling it a Christmas gift...just a gift to keep them reading over the winter break.

Do you think the mom would object? If there are any Jehovah's Witnesses on the board, I would appreciate your input. Thanks.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I'm not one, but my mom works with one, and from what I know, these people DO NOT accept presents of any kind. If the little boy hasn't been taught this yet (although he probably knows better) his mother will probably return the present if and when she finds out he accepted it. I know that's what my mom's co-worker would have done. I still don't know how you can avoid not giving him one... maybe call the mother and ask what to do? Explain the situation? Maybe she has a suggestion.

Good luck to you!

 

[SeaSpray]

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses. When my DSs were elementary school age I always made it a point to speak to their teachers at the start of school. Every single one of the teachers they had were very, very nice and more than willing to try and understand our beliefs within the confines of their classrooms, and I truly appreciated that.

Having said that, I think it's very nice that you want to give this child a gift, but at the same time not offend his beliefs.

I can only speak on my own behalf because accepting or declining a gift from someone is not a cut and dry thing; if someone gives me a gift at this time of year I will usually accept it graciously.

I said "usually" because there have been times when people will try to give a gift with the intention of then saying "you're a hypocrit, you accepted a Christmas/Birthday/etc present!" In that case, I would decline the gift but thank the person for thinking of me.

Anyway, I feel that since the mom did not go out of her way to explain what her DS can and cannot do, then I think it'd be ok (and very thoughtful of you) to give the boy a book, especially since you're not calling it a Christmas present.

P.S. If other Jehovah's Witnesses reply to this thread, you may get varying answers, depending on their own experiences; some will not accept a gift no matter what (at Christmas time, or birthdays, etc), and some will as long as the motive behind the gift is not a bad one.

 

[MsLeFever]

My mom was an elementary teacher. When she had JW students she would just leave their "holiday" gift in their desk, unwrapped. That way she told them that they could consider it school supplies.

 

[Pop Daddy]

just give him the gift, he will get over being offended , you could give me a present and say anyhting "happy groundhog day" or what ever, Ill just smile and say thanks

 

[julie_yet]

I'm not one, but my mom works with one, and from what I know, these people DO NOT accept presents of any kind. If the little boy hasn't been taught this yet (although he probably knows better) his mother will probably return the present if and when she finds out he accepted it. I know that's what my mom's co-worker would have done. I still don't know how you can avoid not giving him one... maybe call the mother and ask what to do? Explain the situation? Maybe she has a suggestion.

Good luck to you!

Not true. We just don't accept gifts that have ties to Holidays. In the third grade my teacher gave me a book just because, and I gladly accepted it being a bookworm.

I was raised a Jehovah's Witness and when I was in school my parents always made sure that my teachers knew that at the beginning of the year. My being a Witness never made the other children miss out on school Holiday parties or activities. I would either go home early or I'd go to the library to read or watch a movie. It didn't bother me because I'd always pick Disney movies.

I think it depends on the Witness, but if you don't refer to it as a Christmas gift the mother may let him keep it. You should let the mother know and get her input beforehand.

 

[GraysMom]

My mom was an elementary teacher. When she had JW students she would just leave their "holiday" gift in their desk, unwrapped. That way she told them that they could consider it school supplies.

That's good! I'll have to keep that in mind for the next time I have a JW in class.

 

[Nynaeve]

Can I ask why Jehovah's Witness's don't accept gifts, or gifts tied to holidays? I've never heard of this before (and don't know much about the religion in general) and am curious to the reason for this. Thanks.

 

[maelstrom]

Can I ask why Jehovah's Witness's don't accept gifts, or gifts tied to holidays? I've never heard of this before (and don't know much about the religion in general) and am curious to the reason for this. Thanks.

I was about to ask the same thing. Also, why don't they celebrate birthdays or any holidays?

 

[melk]

I was about to ask the same thing. Also, why don't they celebrate birthdays or any holidays?

It has to do with the origins of the holidays. For example, as regarding Christmas, Jesus was not born on December 25, this was actually the date of an ancient pagan festival celebrating the rebirth of the sun. The Bible is clear that Jesus was 33 1/2 when he died, in the spring (March or April). Therefore he would have been born in the fall (probably September or October). The Bible never gives the date of his birth. It would be in there if it was that important for his followers to celebrate. On the other hand, the date of his death is in the Bible, and his followers were commanded to commemorate this date.
Also, the traditions associated with Christmas are not in the Bible, such as Christmas trees, Santa Claus, etc. To accept a "Christmas gift" would be hypocritical, because they do not celebrate the holiday.

As for birthdays, they are only mentioned twice in the Bible and both times were not favorable. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that everything is in the Bible for a reason, so there is a reason why those two events are there. This does not mean that they are against gift giving. They just prefer to give gifts to one another at any random time, not just because the date on the calendar dictates it.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not try to stop others from celebrating the holidays or birthdays. For example, you won't find Jehovah's Witnesses picketing town hall because they have a nativity scene out front.

Hope this answers your questions.

 

[maelstrom]

Thanks, Melk! That makes a lot of sense. I feel better now that I understand.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

It depends on the person in question. I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and my mother allowed me to accept gifts. I know others who weren't allowed to though. However, I couldn't attend any of the holiday parties that were held.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I used to work with a Jehovah's Witness. She would attend parties and accept gifts if they weren't tied to a holiday. For example, she would not attend the Halloween party (since it was labled as such) but did attend parties that were "just because".

She never made a big deal out of us celebrating anything. Usually, she would take the day off.

I think it would be ok to give the boy a book as long as you make no mention of it being a Christmas gift or such.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I have a question for the Jehovah's Witnesses on this thread.

I have a friend who's sister and her husband are Jehovah's Witness. They do not celebrate holidays or birthdays. When he has a b-day party for his little girl, his sister will come over for a visit AFTER the party is over. She does not bring a gift. So she is seeing her neice but not celebrating the fact that it is her birthday.

What I am curious about, is they can celebrate anniversaries. They cannot enter a Catholic Church to celebrate the wedding, but they can celebrate the same couples anniversary.

 

[melk]

I have a question for the Jehovah's Witnesses on this thread.

I have a friend who's sister and her husband are Jehovah's Witness. They do not celebrate holidays or birthdays. When he has a b-day party for his little girl, his sister will come over for a visit AFTER the party is over. She does not bring a gift. So she is seeing her neice but not celebrating the fact that it is her birthday.

What I am curious about, is they can celebrate anniversaries. They cannot enter a Catholic Church to celebrate the wedding, but they can celebrate the same couples anniversary.

They celebrate anniversaries because marriage was instituted by God himself, and there really aren't any pagan traditions associated with celebrating an anniversary.

As far as entering a church for a wedding, that's a personal decision. Some do not because they feel if they did they would be participating in some aspects of another religion, which would be hypocritical. Although there are others who will enter a church for a wedding or a funeral, knowing they are not participants, but spectators. It's up to the individual.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

It has to do with the origins of the holidays. For example, as regarding Christmas, Jesus was not born on December 25, this was actually the date of an ancient pagan festival celebrating the rebirth of the sun. The Bible is clear that Jesus was 33 1/2 when he died, in the spring (March or April). Therefore he would have been born in the fall (probably September or October). The Bible never gives the date of his birth. It would be in there if it was that important for his followers to celebrate. On the other hand, the date of his death is in the Bible, and his followers were commanded to commemorate this date.
Also, the traditions associated with Christmas are not in the Bible, such as Christmas trees, Santa Claus, etc. To accept a "Christmas gift" would be hypocritical, because they do not celebrate the holiday.

As for birthdays, they are only mentioned twice in the Bible and both times were not favorable. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that everything is in the Bible for a reason, so there is a reason why those two events are there. This does not mean that they are against gift giving. They just prefer to give gifts to one another at any random time, not just because the date on the calendar dictates it.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not try to stop others from celebrating the holidays or birthdays. For example, you won't find Jehovah's Witnesses picketing town hall because they have a nativity scene out front.

Hope this answers your questions.

Thanks for pointing this out melk, that makes a lot of sense.

 

[BabyTigger99]

I have a child in one of my dance classes this year that is a Jehovah's Witness. Yesterday, I was handing out candy canes, because it was the last class before Christmas break. She just went and got her things, and on her way out, asked me if I was handing them out for Christmas. I told her yes. And she said okay, and went out on her merry little way. I guess looking back on it, I could have given them out for the girls doing such a good job so far this year, but that thought only crossed my mind just now.

 

[mommytoe]

Can I ask a question too?

I am feeling bad, because I never thought about any of this. Every year we bake things and give to our neibhors. I do not deliver them on Christmas, but before Christmas. One of my favorite neibhors are Jehovah's Witnesses so should I stop doing that? I don't want to upset them our ds and their ds are friends.

Last year they dropped by on Christmas eve to give my ds some books from their church (I thought that was so thoughtful of them.) Does that mean it is alright to give them banana bread or fudge? We never wrap the stuff or say Christmas.

 

[melk]

Can I ask a question too?

I am feeling bad, because I never thought about any of this. Every year we bake things and give to our neibhors. I do not deliver them on Christmas, but before Christmas. One of my favorite neibhors are Jehovah's Witnesses so should I stop doing that? I don't want to upset them our ds and their ds are friends.

Last year they dropped by on Christmas eve to give my ds some books from their church (I thought that was so thoughtful of them.) Does that mean it is alright to give them banana bread or fudge? We never wrap the stuff or say Christmas.

Please don't feel bad, I'm sure they appreciate your gesture and being nice neighbors to them. In our old neighborhood we had a neighbor who every year delivered baked goodies to all the neighbors before Christmas. She would always say to us "Now I know you don't celebrate but please accept this just as a gift of friendship." We really appreciated that (I miss her!).

 

[Cool-Beans]

I'd give the kid a gift and not call it a Christmas gift.

I have a friend who is a witness. He gets a "Thinking of You" card on his birthday that says "This is not to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY or anything." I know it's a birthday card, he knows it's a birthday card. But since it doesn't say Birthday on the front, it is okay. I have to give a birthday card. I just have to! His girlfriend does the same thing.

He doesn't celebrate Christmas, but gets and gives presents through his girlfriend. There's a tree, the house is all decked out...but it's her doing it, not him.

But, he isn't super-religious, so I don't know how many, if any, rules he's breaking.