Why do Jehovah's Witnesses not celebrate birthdays?

[DumbledoresGirl]

I was going to ask why they don't celebrate Christmas too but I found this on Wikipedia:

"Weddings, anniversaries, and funerals are observed, however holidays such as New Year's Day, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas are not celebrated, as Jehovah's Witnesses believe these customs come from ancient false religions. They also refrain from celebrating birthdays."

It does not go on to explain why they don't celebrate birthdays and I am interested to know why. I am not looking for a fight. The reason I ask is because my youngest son (aged 5) has a friend whose family are JWs and it has been quite awkward the last few weeks as he has not joined in with all the Christmas things at school. My son wanted to send him a Christmas card but knew it wasn't allowed. I didn't know how to explain it to him except to say JWs don't celebrate Christmas.

I also wonder how the 5 year old JW feels when he sees all these fun activities going on and can't join in with them.

If JWs don't celebrate birthdays, would that mean this boy would not be allowed to come to my son's birthday party when he turns 6 in February?

Is there a JW out there who can a) explain the reason behind not celebrating birthdays, and b) explains how it feels as a child to see all this fun going on and not be able to join in?

And to reiterate again, I am not looking for a fight, I am just interested and want to be able to explain things to my son better.

Hello DumbledoresGirl.
Sorry to hijack but would you mind looking at this?
Thank you. Hope I'm not being too cheeky

Oh, and in an attempt to be helpful and because my curiosity was piqued, this talks about birthdays in what appears to be a fairly balanced way. But hopefully someone else will be along to answer your question properly.

My ex-boss was a JW and his son wasn't allowed to go to birthday parties.

I think they did have a party for his friends at some point, so he wasn't totally left out, but it was made clear it wasn't a birthday party.

OK thanks for the link to the article about birthdays. So any attempt to invite this boy would end in a refusal it seems. But maybe we could have him separately for tea?

Hi the reason we dont celebrate birthdays are because the only two birthday celebrations spoken of in the Bible were held by persons who did not worship Jehovah.
At one of these celebrations John the baptist (he who baptised Jesus) was beheaded as part of the celebrations, incidently the other birthday that was recorded, another killing took place.

The early Christians did not celebrate birthdays and the custom of celebrating birthdays comes from ancient false religions. Jehovahs witness' give gifts and have good times together at other times during the year.

I wouldnt worry about your son giving a xmas card to a JW child we dont find it offensive at all, and always would recieved a card graciously as its a kind thought off the person who sent it.

My children recieve them and are always pleased that their friends have thought of them. They also who have other friends whose parents I chat to who aware that we are JW's and we have recieved lovely handmade cards from them just simply saying, thinking of you hope you have some nice time over the school break.

We have plenty of fun so dont worry about the kids being left out or having joyless lives. We had present day a few weeks back were we give presents to our family and children have a laugh and a lots of fun play party games and dance. We also have play partys in the summer were the my DCs invite some of their closer friends from school to come and play and last year we hired a bouncy castle for them all. They spent time looking forward to these occasions and making pictures to go on the wall and invites and food for the day.

Hope this gives you some insight in to how things are.

Yes thanks Tidgypuds, that was very insightful. My dh told our son moreorless what you said about the Christmas cards (ie that people of other religions would still like to be remembered) but I think ds3 must have been told (by the teacher? mother of child? I don't know) not to send a card as he was not happy to just write one anyway.

And I am sorry, I did not mean to imply that your children do not have good times too, just that I wondered how this 5 year old I know viewed being taken out of school just when all his classmates are off to a party/dressing up and practicing for a Christmas play etc. Have you found that your children went through a phase of wanting to join in and not understanding why they can't, or are they really well-informed about their religion from an early age?

No dont say sorry, I just know that some people think that its all doom and gloom for the little ones but it really isnt.

To be honest they love finishing school whilst everyone else is still in there, esp my DS who is in year3 as a boy he cant be bothered with all that stuff anyway would rather have his head stuck in a Mr Gum book

My DD who is in reception understands and its funny because you would think they would be upset about not being able to join in, but we have talked at length about it and she just says it so matter of factly that so and so were practicing the play and her and (another JW at the school) went and played in the creative area with Mrs x and made something. She is fine about it.

I actually explained about the school party to her and as it wasnt strictly a xmas party as they were having games and dancing I said that if she liked she could go for the morning and come home at lunch, before the guy in the father christmas outfit came round and she said " can I stay off and we bake some more cakes mummy" so that was that. No upset or no great feelings of she is missing out.

I was brought up as a JW, we didnt have party days but did get presents on my Mum & dads wedding anniversary and to be honest it didnt bother me at all, I was happy and had a happy childhood.
Its harder as a parent than as a child.

Message withdrawn

Aimsmum, sadly this was the case years ago that children were left on their own at these times as I remember myself, fortunatly there was a 3 of us so it was ok. These days though with teaching assistants etc there is always someone with those who dont celebrate the xmas activities and something fun is found for them to do.
My DC's go to a methodist school which you would assume would bring problems being a church school but you know what they are really, really, great about it and very helpful and understanding and the children are not made a specticle(sp)of in any way.

Hi Tidgy! I'm a JW too.
Just wanted to say, fab explanation.

D-Girl, I never felt left out at school re; xmas and birthdays, but was always apprecaitive when other kids gave me a card. your DS's friend won't be offended if you do choose to give him a card.

My DS was born last year and we now do a present day on our anniversary so all the family (who arn't JWs) give & recieve pressies. They don't feel that our DS is missing out. As they live so far away, they come down for 3-4 days and make a proper holiday out of it.

Hi Newsock! Thanks. It is nice being able to answer other mumsnetters questions.
I normally dont get involved in most of them as sometimes its not asking questions or wanting a discussion but it seems as though its an argument some people are after and turn a bit scary intresting

So thanks to Dumbledorsgirl, its nice in here.

Which part of the country are you in Newsocks?

I know what you mean- sometimes I'm a bit nervous as it can be confrontational rather than genuinly asking questions, but then that's only a minority, i find most MNers are tolerant.

I'm in surrey. what about you?

Lancashire.

Just popping by - what an interesting thread. And how fascinating about the birthdays in the Bible!

Hi notquitegrownup, the other birthday was Pharoh's (Genesis 40:20-22) the chief of the cupbearers and the chief of the bakers heads were removed and lifted up at the birthday of Pharoh.

It was King Herods birthday when John the baptist was killed and hs head was given as a present to a maiden.

They were the only Birthdays mentioned in the bible.

Its interesting, I am a Christian and we don't celebrate christmas or easter. We do do birthdays though. There is no explicit command not to celebrate birthdays in the bible where as christmas and other fertility festivals are banned. Christmas is actually the celebration of the birth of Tammuz at the winter solstice. This is outlined in Jeremiah, were it says we are forbidden to cut down trees and hang gold and silver on them.

The Jury is still out for me on birthdays, andyway I like getting cash in cards through the post.

This is all fascinating stuff.

I love it when MN is instructive.

Sorry, I lost my internet connection yesterday otherwise I might have joined in a bit more after asking the initial question.

Just wanted to say now, though, thanks for answering my questions and I agree it is nice to be able to ask about someone's beliefs without the discussion turning sour. I have a genuine interest in what people believe in (without being in the least bit interested in adopting those beliefs iyswim) but have to admit I have never been able to find out about JWs because you tend to only meet them on your doorstep when (sorry again!) my only desire is for them to go away! I feel a bit more knowledgeable about you all now.

Believer TBH I didn't fully understand about not celebrating birthdays for a long time. I did a bit of research (just yesterday in fact), and found this interesting information:

The Encyclopedia Americana (1991 edition) states: The ancient world of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia celebrated the birthdays of gods, kings, and nobles. Authors Ralph and Adelin Linton reveal the underlying reason for this. In their book The Lore of Birthdays, they write: Mesopotamia and Egypt, the cradles of civilization, were also the first lands in which men remembered and honoured their birthdays. The keeping of birthday records was important in ancient times principally because a birth date was essential for the casting of a horoscope.
So, there is a direct connection between the Pagan practice of birthday celebrations and astrology. (Horoscopes and fortune telling)
Notice what the Bible says about astrology and fortune telling at Isaiah 47:13-15: "You have grown weary with the multitude of your counselors. Let them stand up, now, and save you, the worshipers of the heavens, the lookers at the stars, those giving out knowledge at the new moons concerning the things that will come upon you. Look! They have become like stubble. A fire itself will certainly burn them up. They will not deliver their soul from the power of the flame. There will be no glow of charcoals for people to warm themselves, no firelight in front of which to sit down. Thus they will certainly become to you, with whom you have toiled as your charmers from your youth. They will actually wander, each one to his own region. There will be no one to save you."

The World Book Encyclopedia states: The early Christians did not celebrate His [Christ?s] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone?s birth to be a pagan custom. Volume 3, page 416.

Believer TBH I didn't fully understand about not celebrating birthdays for a long time. I did a bit of research (just yesterday in fact), and found this interesting information:

The Encyclopedia Americana (1991 edition) states: The ancient world of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia celebrated the birthdays of gods, kings, and nobles. Authors Ralph and Adelin Linton reveal the underlying reason for this. In their book The Lore of Birthdays, they write: Mesopotamia and Egypt, the cradles of civilization, were also the first lands in which men remembered and honoured their birthdays. The keeping of birthday records was important in ancient times principally because a birth date was essential for the casting of a horoscope.
So, there is a direct connection between the Pagan practice of birthday celebrations and astrology. (Horoscopes and fortune telling)
Notice what the Bible says about astrology and fortune telling at Isaiah 47:13-15: "You have grown weary with the multitude of your counselors. Let them stand up, now, and save you, the worshipers of the heavens, the lookers at the stars, those giving out knowledge at the new moons concerning the things that will come upon you. Look! They have become like stubble. A fire itself will certainly burn them up. They will not deliver their soul from the power of the flame. There will be no glow of charcoals for people to warm themselves, no firelight in front of which to sit down. Thus they will certainly become to you, with whom you have toiled as your charmers from your youth. They will actually wander, each one to his own region. There will be no one to save you."

The World Book Encyclopedia states: The early Christians did not celebrate His [Christ?s] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone?s birth to be a pagan custom. Volume 3, page 416.

Believer TBH I didn't fully understand about not celebrating birthdays for a long time. I did a bit of research (just yesterday in fact), and found this interesting information:

The Encyclopedia Americana (1991 edition) states: The ancient world of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia celebrated the birthdays of gods, kings, and nobles. Authors Ralph and Adelin Linton reveal the underlying reason for this. In their book The Lore of Birthdays, they write: Mesopotamia and Egypt, the cradles of civilization, were also the first lands in which men remembered and honoured their birthdays. The keeping of birthday records was important in ancient times principally because a birth date was essential for the casting of a horoscope.
So, there is a direct connection between the Pagan practice of birthday celebrations and astrology. (Horoscopes and fortune telling)
Notice what the Bible says about astrology and fortune telling at Isaiah 47:13-15: "You have grown weary with the multitude of your counselors. Let them stand up, now, and save you, the worshipers of the heavens, the lookers at the stars, those giving out knowledge at the new moons concerning the things that will come upon you. Look! They have become like stubble. A fire itself will certainly burn them up. They will not deliver their soul from the power of the flame. There will be no glow of charcoals for people to warm themselves, no firelight in front of which to sit down. Thus they will certainly become to you, with whom you have toiled as your charmers from your youth. They will actually wander, each one to his own region. There will be no one to save you."

The World Book Encyclopedia states: The early Christians did not celebrate His [Christ?s] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone?s birth to be a pagan custom. Volume 3, page 416.

ARgh! sorry, that's been happening all day. Three times for emphasis!

ARgh! sorry, that's been happening all day. Three times for emphasis!

Thats really well put Brownsugar and confirms to me why I dont celebrate birthdays.

Hi everyone 'Tidgypuds' and 'ihavenewsockson' I too am a witness in Devon though we lived in Lancashire 4 years ago when ds1 was born. Nice to meet you!