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

[budbeerlady]

Thanks for sharing all this info, you learn something new everyday on the Dis!

 

[lewdyan1]

Thanks for sharing all this info. I have definitely learned something new today!

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I was raised in a Jehovah Witness family too, and it is true that it varies from person to person. Some are much more strict, and won't accept a gift if it even feels like it's attached to a holiday/birthday (my parents). Others are much more relaxed about it.

To the OP, it seems like this child comes from a family that is probably more relaxed about it, since the mom has not come and talked to you about it. That was the very first thing my parents would do, is tell the teacher.

 

[Nynaeve]

Thanks for sharing and answering questions for us all everyone. I now have a better understanding of the religion, much more than I did before.

 

[daisax]

I had a coworker years ago who was a JW -- she converted in adulthood, so all her 7 children celebrated Christmas and birthdays -- she used to smile and roll her eyes and describe that they'd her presents on THEIR OWN birthdays to thank her for being their Mom -- nothing to do with celebrating, mind you!

 

[delswife]

I was raised a Jehovah Witness. (I am no longer practicing but I still respect and love witnesses)

I just wanted to add my two cents for the people who are feeling bad about the kids missing out.

Don't.

I can't remember my parents ever telling our teachers that we were witnesses, actually some of the other kids saved them the trouble by pointing us out. I can only remember one thing that ever mad me feel bad and that was way back in the days of kids wearing Halloween costumes to school.

The kids would parade through the classes and show their costumes off and NORMALLY the JW kids would go to the office and read a book (or whatever).

Well, one year this teacher decided that the the JW kids weren't leaving her classroom and made us put our heads down on the desk while the other kids paraded by us in their costumes. (There was me and one other girl in the class)

That made us feel a little like outcasts. But really, what hasn't happened to a kid at one time or another that made them feel like that?

No big whoop.

Where the other kids got to celebrate Christmas or birthdays, we celebrated 'I love you days' or 'Just because days'. (Technically I am about 5 years old. I haven't had many birthdays over the last 40 years )

My parents took my little brother and I to Disney twice a year every year until my dad passed away. There were tons of kids that I knew that wished they could be JW's so they could go to Disney as much as we did.

They had their tree, we had a mouse.

You may think they are missing out but they honestly aren't. The witnesses are very close and family oriented and do A LOT of things with the kids. We had rollerskating parties one monday a month when the congergation would rent the rink, sometimes we had square-dancing parties (OMG did I just admit to that?)

I don't think it would hurt anything to give a child a gift as long as it's not wrapped. I think the mom didn't mention it to you because she is okay with it, maybe?

JW kids get gifts all year long and for no reason. In some ways it might have been more fun because we never expected or knew when we were going to get a gift.

I came home from school one day and got an EZ bake oven.

No reason, just because I was thought of. It was cool.

If you're uncomfortable giving the gift, don't worry about it. As much as you don't understand the witnesses and their customs, they don't really understand yours either.

I still don't understand the tree in the house thing, but it's fun. Don't you kind of wish you could keep the ornaments out year round? They are very pretty.

I don't get why anyone would deck the halls, wouldn't that hurt your hand?

And why do they bond up Holly? What did she do?

 

[melk]

Hey delswife!!

Very nice post.

To go off topic for a minute, I read your first trip report and I don't think I ever laughed so hard! But I think I have missed some since. Is that your brother in your picture? (I remember your brother and his (ahem)lovely wife from the report). Nice to see you again!

 

[Nik's Mom]

I am learning so much from this thread! I'm always very curious of different religious. I enjoy reading about different beliefs. Jehovah's witness and Later Day Saints are 2 mysteries to me. Thanks for shedding some light on your beliefs.
When I was taking classes to become a Lutheran, I used to love it when our Pastor would discuss different religions. He was working on his PHD at the time. He was always very respectful of the different beliefs and just wanted us to have an understanding and appreciation of other religions.

P.S. even to a Christian, it does seem strange that we bring trees into our homes? I wonder where that started?

 

[LilyWDW]

While there is still much discussion on exactly where the cutting of a full tree and bringing it into the house started, it is basically believed that it is based off of a Germanic Pagan traditions and/or Druidic practices. Due to the beliefs of the Northern Germanic tribes, the evergreen was seen as special due to the fact that it did not die during the winter months. Often the tree was decorated with metal, but at that point it was not cut down. They did cut branches in order to decorate their dwellings and symbolize life overcoming death.

In the 14th century, Alseca (from the German Upper Rhine region) laws forbid the use of the evergreen for Christmas uses. Instead, they used Holly trees in their celebrations in the town square.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the evergreen was often decorated by the church with apples and paper flowers, symbolizing paradise and Adam and Eve.

This information was gathered from a variety of web sites, but is pretty easy to find. I enjoy studying the history of traditions and the history of religions. It has really opened my eyes to they way the world works and has gained me a new respect for how it all comes together.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Thanks, LilyWDW! That answers my Tree question.

 

[LilyWDW]

Thanks, LilyWDW! That answers my Tree question.

You are very welcome. Like I said I enjoy these sorts of discussions where people are open to hear about the history of things and willing to learn about it!

 

[kimmikayb]

This is a great thread!

 

[fltwinmom]

I think every child deserves a book. Especially if it is for learning purposes.

 

[SplshMtn99]

This thread has been very informative. I was raised in an environment where if you were not what we were (Catholic), then you were a sinner. I have aunts & cousins that became JW's in adulthood, & my family actually stopped speaking to them for years.

I recently met them again at my cousin's funeral (they sat in the back of the church which I now understand why) & got along great with them. I've been hoping to get together with them again soon. This will help me understand some things better.

Why were people so close minded generations ago? Geesh! Even had problems with some relatives attitudes about DH & I being married in his Baptist church.

 

[Miz Diz]

Hey OP! JW here with a 1st grader.

First of all, I always talk to my son's teachers to let them know we are JWs. But he is now in a gifted program called Horizons and goes once a week with this teacher. It never occurred to me to let her know we are Witnesses. My son just told me this morning that last week she had them all write a letter to Santa Claus. He didn't question her or tell her he doesn't celebrate, he just wrote the letter. He told me he doesn't even remember what he wrote. I thought it was funny and thought I guess I should have thought to address that. His first grade teacher does know we are Witnesses and she has been great. So were his teachers last year and in Pre-K.

You should ask his parent first, if it is okay. I think if it is presented as a book, to help encourage reading while on a 2 week break from school, she will probably be okay with it. I would be.

My son's teacher told me that she put a gift bag together for him because she has them in the class and the kids all started pointing out that my son does not have one. She didn't want him to feel left out. They are getting their gift bags tomorrow afternoon, during their Holiday party, which he will not be attending. I was really disappointed, but did not tell her that. She said she would give it to him in a plain bag. I really don't think it is right for him to accept it because we don't celebrate and the parents of the class all contributed for the bags, except us. I just said okay because it's already done, and I didn't want to get all hyped up about it and have a conflict. (By the way, my dh is NOT a Witness but does not celebrate the holidays and he doesn't think my son should get the bag.) I know others who would have been very adamant about not accepting it. Had she asked me before she put the bag together, I would have definitely said no thank you. My son is not deprived at all and I do special things for him through out the year. We do celebrate our wedding anniversary, which is in January and the kids are included. Last year we went to Disney just for the P&PP.

Last year, his teacher gave him a gift after the holidays, "for being a good student."(seriously he was the best behaved in his class and got a Principle Pal award).

Sometimes I think it is harder for the teacher to not give the gift than it is for our kids not to accept it. Which is another reason I just said okay - I really felt like his teacher was going to be upset.

Just know that you will find some JWs more strict than others. My friend got mad last year because the teacher showed a Christmas movie and didn't send her son to the library. I figured it was already done and my son is going to see that stuff anyway, so why get mad. I also realize that there are 20 or so kids in the class and the teacher may unintentionally forget about our beliefs. We all make mistakes.

The funniest thing that ever happened was when I picked up my son from daycare one day - all the kids were coloring XMas trees and they gave my son a huge star to color. We're not JEWISH!

 

[ASFCurly]

If you're uncomfortable giving the gift, don't worry about it. As much as you don't understand the witnesses and their customs, they don't really understand yours either.

I still don't understand the tree in the house thing, but it's fun. Don't you kind of wish you could keep the ornaments out year round? They are very pretty.

I don't get why anyone would deck the halls, wouldn't that hurt your hand?

And why do they bond up Holly? What did she do?

Hey Robin, didn't see who was posting at first, but could tell it was you just from the writing

Don't worry, we probably don't understand why we do half the things we do for Holidays either, you are right, if I had the room, I could totally see trying to leave the tree up all year, when I was younger I once convinced my parents to leave it up till mid March, I wanted it up till the end of March, my birthday, but it lost all the needles.


As for the book for the child, the best idea would be to talk to the parents and if they do say no, then leave it be.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I have been dealing with these questions all week. 5 classes and several kids. each situation is differant.

1 class has 1 JW child. she is allowed to be in the room when Christmas is disscussed for example all the kids made glitter bells, she made a glitter snow scene.

class 2 no non clebraters all got a little gift from me. and santa/reindeer pictures to color.

class 3 2 non celebraters.. I only brought in snowman and snowflake coloring pictures.

class 4 same deal.( as class 2) same for class 5.

Now i am giving pencils and erasers for the holidays. to insure all the kids are allowed to get one. i am playing bingo with them and letting it be the prize. only not only the bingo winners... get the prize everyone will. Not for the holiday but for the bingo game.
There are some creative ways to get around that and be correct for everyones beliefs. maybe the prize bag for your first grade in question could be a reward for a great spelling test. or a good behavior week???

 

[julie_yet]

1 class has 1 JW child. she is allowed to be in the room when Christmas is disscussed for example all the kids made glitter bells, she made a glitter snow scene.

That reminded me of when I was in, I think, 1st grade. Our assignment was to make a Christmas tree by gluing multicolored corn kernels onto a picture of a tree. I picked out a whole bunch of the orange kernels and, being raised in Florida, made myself an orange tree. Even with my 6 year old brain I figured out a way to still do the work without participating in the Holiday.

 

[PixieDust32]

They only accept present like for a wedding or baby things like that.

Birthday, Christmas, etc are pagan traditions.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I know this thread is old...don't even know how I found it...LOL
Interesting posts...
To the original post...if you were uncomfortable, you did the right thing. I used to go to JW meetings with my grandma when I was young. I'd say 90% of them aren't pushy, but you get a nut in every crowd
I remember when my grandma was alive, and it was her bday...we'd always say "Happy Anniversary"...cuz it was the anniversary of her BIRTH Day.