Jehovah's Witnesses refrain from celebrating Christmas. This is because they argue that Jesus did not direct his followers to commemorate his birthday. Christmas is a Christian festival celebrated annually on 25th December in western churches. This feast is practiced to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.
Because Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays, it is offensive to say “Merry Christmas” to a Jehovah's Witness, as well as “Happy Birthday.” Both are disrespectful greetings. There are no special greetings for the following occasions: Candlemas.
And remember that some people do not attend parties at all. Members of the Jehovah's Witnesses do not participate in parties or gift-giving. No one should be pressured to attend the party. "The most important thing is to use the time as an opportunity to celebrate, have fun and enjoy one another," she says.
Witnesses believe that we have been in the end times since 1914 and that theirs is the only branch of the Christian faith that can offer salvation. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas, birthdays, or any holidays with a pagan origin.
Memorial of Christ's death
Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that this is the only celebration the Bible commands Christians to observe. In the days leading up to the Memorial, Bible reading is assigned from chapters about the days leading up to Jesus' death.
If you didn't dress modestly, you'd start getting in trouble. Later, some rules on clothing extended to men (tight pants were too “homosexual”). But when I was a Jehovah's Witness, tight pants for men were not yet in fashion, so the women got most of the counsel, as we did in many other parts of our lives, too.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate any holidays, so even a generic card would be inappropriate.
Jehovah's Witnesses funeral services typically take place within a week of the death. The service is held in the Kingdom Hall and is led by the Congregation Elder. The service is brief (generally between 15 and 30 minutes) and the body of the deceased is usually present.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your mom was a wonderful woman who will be greatly missed. Saying sorry for your loss is perfectly acceptable since they are experiencing the loss of a loved one in this life. Just keep in mind that they may respond with hope citing their beliefs in a future resurrection.
Beliefs & Teachings about Death
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that when a person dies, their existence completely stops.
Members reject the sinful values of the secular world and maintain a degree of separation from non-believers - they are "in the world" but not "of the world". Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas or Easter because they believe that these festivals are based on (or massively contaminated by) pagan customs and religions.
They limit contact with non-Jehovah's Witnesses
JWs are advised not to join groups or teams outside the faith and are also discouraged from higher education.
The Witnesses refrain from celebrating birthdays because they believe that birthday feasts have pagan roots. Jehovah's witnesses believe that evil influences and spirits get the opportunity to attack the celebrant during birthdays.
The beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses are based on the Bible teachings of Charles Taze Russell-founder of the Bible Student movement-and successive presidents of the Watch Tower Society. Jehovah's Witnesses hold meetings for worship twice each week.
They affirm that God—Jehovah—is the most high. Jesus Christ is God's agent, through whom sinful humans can be reconciled to God. The Holy Spirit is the name of God's active force in the world.
"The reason why we did that is the reason we go from door to door: We consider life sacred," Hendriks said. "By giving people a powerful message and by loving our neighbors, these two principles drive our ministry. We had to put principle ahead of personal preference."
The atmosphere is modest with limited mourning. Almost all attendees wear dark semi formal attire much like mainstream Christian funerals. The funeral may or may not be open-casket. There is no reception but it is acceptable to take food or flowers for the deceased's family.
Cremation is acceptable to Jehovah's Witnesses because of the belief that Jehovah has the ability to restore anyone whether they were cremated or buried. The Bible does not state what should be done with the body after death.
The weddings of Jehovah's Witnesses are diverse. They are similar in range to every non Witness wedding that I attended. There are a few small customs they don't partake in like toasting. And they have a Bible based wedding talk before their vows.
Jehovah's Witnesses reject foods containing blood but have no other special dietary requirements. Some Jehovah's Witnesses may be vegetarian and others may abstain from alcohol, but this is a personal choice. Jehovah's Witnesses do not smoke or use other tobacco products.
Jehovah's Witnesses accept medial and surgical treatment. They do not adhere to so-called “faith healing” and are not opposed to the practice of medicine.
Flowers are acceptable at a Jehovah's Witness funeral, as long as they are simple and modest arrangements. Large and extravagant arrangements should not be sent to a Jehovah's Witness funeral, nor should anything that could come across as Pagan.
Simply put- Jehovah's Witnesses don't celebrate holidays. The taboo surrounding the celebration of holidays can be traced back to how many are derived from pagan or non-religious contexts and the belief that holidays such as Christmas and Easter were created to capitalize on the public's faith in a higher power.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that a human must not sustain his life with another creature's blood, and they recognize no distinction "between taking blood into the mouth and taking it into the blood vessels." It is their deep-seated religious conviction that Jehovah will turn his back on anyone who receives blood ...
Jehovah's Witnesses do not observe holidays they believe to have pagan origins, such as Christmas, Easter, and birthdays. They do not salute the national flag or sing the national anthem, and they refuse military service. They also refuse blood transfusions, even those that could be life saving.