DOES ANYONE STILL NOT CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS???

by chuckyy 58 Replies latest jw friends

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  undercover

  Technically, no I don't celebrate Xmas. No tree, no lights, no decorations, no card sending, no gift buying. I don't consider myself a Christian so the holiday has no spiritual significance.

  I do like the holiday spirit and I enjoy going to Xmas parties and if someone gives me a gift I accept it and thank them profusely and apologize for not reciprocating. I like listening to some Xmas music and watching Xmas movies. A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderul Life are two of my favorite holiday movies that I never get tired of. I say Merry Christmas in return to whoever says it to me instead of trying to lecture them on why Christmas is not Christian, as I was taught to do as a child.

  I even like going to the shopping mall or the downtown shopping areas and strolling about while people are shopping and carolers are singing and children are sitting on Santa's lap. It is a neat experience. It's like walking around in a Christmas movie.

  Growing up as a JW we basically removed ourselves from society between Thanksgiving and New Years. Never went shopping, out to eat or to visit non-JW relatives. We were in lockdown, so as to not be contaminated by the evil holiday spirit. Now, even though I don't celebrate as most people consider celebrating, I do enjoy the season and allow myself to have the holiday spirit even though I don't go in for decorating or spending lots of money on gifts.
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  Crumpet

  Still don't celebrate it. Why should I? It has no meaning for me and I don't have any peer pressure to do so. I choose not to. At this point I don't make an issue of it with people, live and let live.

  W.Once

  I'm with you on the no meaning. I just dont see the point of it. I hate the whole period and always get depressed around that time,. I hate the pressure and dont feel any fun in it. i only celebrate because my ex wants to - he can;t understand that the whole period has no meaning for me and is just a waste of time and money and effort from my point of view. Anyway I move shortly so I wont have to celebrate it again if I dont want to.
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  Soledad

  I did for a couple of years post-borg but now it just brings me down. The only way I'll see myself get back into it is if I decide to have kids.
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  J-ex-W

  Mike-- I like your response about making the season about true giving (world peace, soup kitchen, etc.) Have you had an opportunity to make good on these ideas? It's inspiring to think about.
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  mouthy

  Technically, no I don't celebrate Xmas. No tree, no lights, no decorations,I give all my children that are not JWS gifts..I send out Christmas cards to those I love .Or HAPPY Holiday cards to those who are atheists....But it is the most unhappy time for me... Remembering all those I made JWS...Knowing what a hard time they are having.But I also say happy holidays to all who wish it to me....But I am glad that Jesus is the reason for the celebrations even though many who do celebrate dont believe it....
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  5go

  Happy solstice ! give you a hint. know I live at home and when I do leave I won'tdo cristamas but maybe solstice.
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  SB

  this is my first x-mas, but there is no religion involved. it's sharing the holiday spirit w/the people i care about the most, just having fun. i don't know how i feel about christianity in general, but i do love the lights on the tree. :)
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  Nellie

  The last Christmas I celebrated was when I was 10. I still remember it. . . Last year, we gave the kids gifts w/o a tree or wrapping them. This year . . . I'm thinking about getting one of those little 4 ft. trees and trying it out. Who knows, next year - maybe we'll do the lights, etc. I'm so confused
• 

  codeblue

  I identify with OpenFireGlass

  Before my mom was baptized we had xmas at one of my relative's house (we as a family had a tree a couple of times at our house). The relative we went to was unloving, so xmas was NEVER a good experience.

  Now that we are faded out successfully, we have never officially done the decoratings...last year we exchanged gifts with a dear friend going thru a divorce and we were her family. It was ok, but I think the giving of gifts is much more exciting when it is done on the whim, and no expectation of a gift back.

  We don't celebrate cause I have adult jw children and I would be df'd if they say it. It is NOT a risk I am willing to take and especially for a holiday that I see no importance in.

  I have worked retail and found many gifts returned: it saddened me to see the wasted effort of the giver!!!
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  AK - Jeff

  Yep - I do it as therapy. My 7 foot, decorated to the hilt Xmas tree sits just 5 feet from where I type this post.

  I do love the lights and especially the music. It is replacement therapy. Every time I do something that is forbidden on foolish grounds by the WTS it makes me know I am alive and making my own choices. I sent out about 80 Xmas cards this year - many to people on this forum. My house has a lot of lights flickering now in the evening. It helps remind me that I am never going back to the cesspool cult I have escaped.

  Commercialism? Yes, there is some of that inherent in the Americana style Xmas of the midwest. I spent 40 years denying myself, my wife, my daughter, and my non JW family, the celebration of life that happy holidays like Xmas can and should ignite in us. It is not the end-all be-all for happy life, no panacea, nor any delusion of that for me. But it represents a complete rebellion against the cult. Plus we are raising the grand kids and they love it more than we do - I hope to see them live 'normal' lives, and so the foolish superstitions have been cast to the wind. Once circumstances change, and the g-kids are out of the house, I imagine the level of celebration will decrease. It is a hell of a lot of work, this Xmas thing.

  Jeff