A serious question for Jehovah's Witnesses and Christmas? Please DON'T YELL at me! I really want to know this!
There is this lady who works at my mother's apartment complex. She is part of the maintenace staff. She is very sweet and and is extremely helpful to my mom. She's very friendly, and we talk regularly. As someone who celebrares Christmas, every year I bake goodies, or wrap little Christmas candles to give to casual acquaintences, such as neighbors, the postman, etc. This year I had planned to give a gift like this to each of my mom's maintenance staff. However, yesterday, in casual conversation I found out that this one woman is Jehovah's Witness. That's OK with me as I have NO bias whatsoever. However, my question is: Is it appropriate or in-appropriate to go ahead and give her this little rememberance? If it's not appropriate, should I scrap the idea of giving them to any of the maintenance staff? I would hate to give everybody something but her. But I don't want to commit a mistake and give her something if it's inappropriate. Please HELP me! What should I do????
Simon Peter2007-11-25T12:18:00Z
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combine "getta go" and "awesome guy" responses. That way you can present her with the gift without mentioning anything about the holidays, which would cause her to be uncomfortable. If she still looks at it as a holiday gift and declines, you are free to give to the rest of the staff. In the long run, JWs are used to having to refuse anything holiday-related, so she will not consider her exclusion to be offensive. More than likely, she will consider it to be an opportunity to take a stand on her beliefs. However, you should be prepared that she might also see it as an opportunity to converse with you regarding why she feels her beliefs are correct and why she thinks Christians are wrong to celebrate holidays.
She would not take it as a Christmas gift, but she may accept it as a gift from the heart. I think you should ask her. You should also tell her that you will be giving them to the rest of the staff. Jehovah's Witnesses are not ones to take gifts for events, though, so do not be concerned if she declines - though she will appreciate the offer, I am sure. Perhaps another time of year she would, but things that other people celebrate and even birthdays are not accepted, typically. There is no reason to exclude the other maintenance staff!!!
You've had a variety of responses from those who are Jehovah's Witnesses and from those who are not, and you're probably just as confused as when you started.
I've been one of Jehovah's Witnesses for over 40 years, so let me try to help.
Jehovah's Witnesses are normal people who enjoy giving and receiving gifts; however, because we do not celebrate Christmas we would PREFER that people not give us gifts around Christmas time. We are not offended if others (friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, etc. who are not Jehovah's Witnesses) receive Christmas gifts and we do not. We expect this and are not bothered when this happens.
Occasionally, people will give us gifts at Christmas time either because they forget that we don't celebrate or because (like you) they know we don't celebrate but they still want to show that they care about us or want to show their appreciation for our hard work, etc. In either of these cases, each Witness will decide what they will personally do, either graciously accept or politely decline. It obviously places us in an awkward position, not wanting to participate in the celebration, and yet not wanting to hurt the feelings of the giver. No one can say for sure how the lady you speak of will respond.
My advice would be to NOT offer her a gift. Rest assured that she will not be offended and neither of you will be put in an awkward situation. In a couple of months, if you still feel inclined to show your appreciation, give her something then. Gifts given unexpectedly often have more meaning for both the giver and the receiver.
You are a sweet person with a kind and generous heart and I am sure the lady will not be offended by you. I am certain she already knows the sort of loving person you are. Jehovah's Witnesses love to give and receive gifts and the only reasons they don't celebrate Christmas are because they want to please God and his servants were killed during the only two birthdays recorded in the Bible, he doesn't record for us when Jesus was born. Talk to her--tell her how you feel and listen. I am sure she will not be in any way hurt or upset that you care enough to take the time. Give her a gift some other time instead. She will love it!!
i grew up as a jehovahs witness so will give what i think. I think it would be ok to gift it to her maybe a few weeks before christmas not on the day because then it feels more as a gift rather than an xmas present. Depending on how strong of a winess she is will decide wheter she accepts of not. If she does decline it will most likely be very polite and she will then know that you were thinking of her. bottom line i do not feel it would be inappropriate