David and Marty, Merry Christmas to you both and your lovely wives and families. Thank you for all the support you've brought to us through these interviews and discussions. You'll never know just how helpful it's been. Love and best wishes for a very happy 2025 ! The good Lord bless and keep you❤
I escaped the 2x2 fiasco in June 2023. Born and raised, third generation on moms side, fourth on dad's. We did not celebrate Christmas because we should "celebrate" Jesus everyday. I dont remember when Christmas in the park started in our area. But I was sure it was not something that the workers would approve of. So I never even mentioned it to my kids. One evening in December, (about 30 years ago when my kids were pretty young) we had a couple of the sister workers over for dinner. Afterwards, the elder of the two insisted we go to Christmas in the park and look at the lights. I was SO FLABBERGASTED! I didn't know what to do. But we went. She even put some change in their bucket at the exit.
Please look into this. I left meetings 63 years ago. I was shunned by my parents, brother and his family and their friends . I couldn’t celebrate Christmas after my grandpa passed. As I got older I started looking into why there were so many things that couldn’t be done. It was a sin and hell waited for you. In college I took a course on Bible History and so much became clear. Why we celebrate is much more important than when.
Australian/Canadian here... we always celebrated Christmas in Canada. It wasn't over the top, but we had decorations, and lights (except not on the house!), and gifts and food. Often before Christmas, families would get together to have a potluck and games. Actually, there many game nights and eating yummy food throughout the holiday. I had no idea so many missed out on Christmas traditions. With my parents now gone, I cherish those memories, and always bake Christmas food in the tradition of my mom.
When I was in kindergarten, we made wreaths for our parents to take home. I refused to take mine home, and so my teacher called home to tell my Mom that I had made this Christmas wreath and refused to take it home. In my Little brain “we didn’t celebrate Christmas” haha. My Mom let me know that it was okay to bring it home. As I got older my parents started buying us kids little presents. My parents really didn’t hate Christmas, it was just something we all knew we weren’t supposed to do. I love this time of year. He should be celebrated everyday. Thanks for the video guys. Can’t wait to watch the animated books with the kids during the holidays. 😂 Merry Christmas!
As a Family, when our children were young, we would do a family thing like going to the “Ice Capades” or going on a day trip. “When you milk cows, you don’t get far away.” Lol 😂 But our children still talk about those special times. I grew up in a God fearing home so Santa myth was never instilled. Always Jesus’ arrival. While in the 2x2 religion, Christmas and all it stood for, helped separate some pagan beliefs. But the important thing is, Jesus came! Immanuel (God with us) is becoming so much clearer. God did not put his spirit in a man called Jesus, but came down to earth in the form of a man to appeal to our level. What a wonderful God to do that for us! 🤗
Anti-Christians are people who do not celebrate Christmas. Why would Christians who are the opposite of anti-Christians not celebrate Christmas. Thanks for sharing this.
My parents were 2x2s but they didn't practice all the garbage. We had christmas, minus the tree. My dad said he wasn't killing a tree for a day celebration!! We had gifts, food etc. I was allowed to participate in school activities. They were very lax in the 2xs. But the workers were worshipped. And we didn't talk to anyone about our family life. I asked my mother for a psychiatrist when I was 13. I was told we don't talk outside our family. That statement after I grew up made me understand she knew I was being abused by the holy one!! My brother. My mom worshipped him!!!
The JWs also don't sing Christmas carols. I'm thankful my parents weren't into stopping us from doing all that stuff. My mother played Christmas carols on the piano. Legalism = hypocrisy. We had gifts. Didn't have a tree or decorations except we'd make paper chains from shiny catalog pages.
Love your tradition of the sherpard. When I was small, 60 years ago, I stole baby Jesus because I thought he looked cold. I forgot I took him, so we were looking for baby Jesus all Advent. We finally found him.
Actually the "Santa we know today" goes way back to 1823 and The Night Before Christmas poem. That's long before the culture of No Christmas Celebrating Allowed came about! What has amazed me greatly over the years is the realization that 2x2s around the world go anywhere from full on decorated trees and Christmas dinners to making sure there is no hint of a snowman or holly motif in the house in case, heaven forbid, you should be caught "celebrating" ! How did this huge discrepancy with Christmas observance come about anyway?
Im from the UK and grew up Church of England but i enjoy learning more about other variations of christianity and how others live by scripture. I find it really interesting how you say about how much image and other opinions mattered when you were growing up, i cant help to think about careing too much about others was the downfall of King Saul and led he away from following Gods word...
I’m not sure why, but as an Australian 2x2 I don’t know a single professing family that didn’t celebrate Christmas complete with a tree etc. There was nothing about Christmas that was frowned upon in Australia as far as I’m aware. It never had a religious meaning but was certainly celebrated.
The British 2x2s celebrated Christmas with presents and parties. I don’t think they had trees, but it was 30 years ago so I don’t remember. (And it could have been individual decisions.) I don’t really believe in celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday. But I’ve always been curious why we wouldn’t celebrate some Jewish holidays that didn’t deal with sin/atonement (as clearly we don’t have to because Jesus died for us and redeemed us). But the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah) is something it specifically mentions Jesus celebrating. And it’s all the things of Christmas: gifts, yummy sweet foods (Christmas cookies, anyone?), and celebrating. And unlike other Jewish holidays, there are no special rules (no yeast at Passover) or sabbath rest required. It’s simply the joy of God helping us in the dark times.
Thank for the video. I concluded the same about the Jerimiah 10 verse. We really enjoy our tree. You will love the archeology videos of Joel Kramer. th-cam.com/video/USp4WGf8E_8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=mNewvsiE9z30M-KI
David and Marty, Merry Christmas to you both and your lovely wives and families. Thank you for all the support you've brought to us through these interviews and discussions. You'll never know just how helpful it's been.
Love and best wishes for a very happy 2025 ! The good Lord bless and keep you❤
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas too!!
Thank you! And Merry Christmas to you & yours, as well!
Two candy canes placed with their ends touching form a heart.
"Mary did you know, when you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God?"
I escaped the 2x2 fiasco in June 2023. Born and raised, third generation on moms side, fourth on dad's. We did not celebrate Christmas because we should "celebrate" Jesus everyday.
I dont remember when Christmas in the park started in our area. But I was sure it was not something that the workers would approve of. So I never even mentioned it to my kids. One evening in December, (about 30 years ago when my kids were pretty young) we had a couple of the sister workers over for dinner. Afterwards, the elder of the two insisted we go to Christmas in the park and look at the lights. I was SO FLABBERGASTED! I didn't know what to do. But we went. She even put some change in their bucket at the exit.
Please look into this. I left meetings 63 years ago. I was shunned by my parents, brother and his family and their friends . I couldn’t celebrate Christmas after my grandpa passed. As I got older I started looking into why there were so many things that couldn’t be done. It was a sin and hell waited for you. In college I took a course on Bible History and so much became clear. Why we celebrate is much more important than when.
Great episode. Thanks David & Marty! Merry Christmas to you and your families!
@@MegaYvette2010 and Merry Christmas to you as well!
Australian/Canadian here... we always celebrated Christmas in Canada. It wasn't over the top, but we had decorations, and lights (except not on the house!), and gifts and food. Often before Christmas, families would get together to have a potluck and games. Actually, there many game nights and eating yummy food throughout the holiday. I had no idea so many missed out on Christmas traditions. With my parents now gone, I cherish those memories, and always bake Christmas food in the tradition of my mom.
Thank you guy's, good to hear the Truth about Christmas. I decorated for the first time.
When I was in kindergarten, we made wreaths for our parents to take home. I refused to take mine home, and so my teacher called home to tell my Mom that I had made this Christmas wreath and refused to take it home. In my
Little brain “we didn’t celebrate Christmas” haha. My Mom let me know that it was okay to bring it home. As I got older my parents started buying us kids little presents. My parents really didn’t hate Christmas, it was just something we all knew we weren’t supposed to do. I love this time of year. He should be celebrated everyday. Thanks for the video guys. Can’t wait to watch the animated books with the kids during the holidays. 😂
Merry Christmas!
Enjoy listening to you both. Ty.
"That's how they cookie crumbles!" Keeping it real. 😂
The idea of not celebrating Christmas for the 2x2's goes hand in hand with their lack of belief in the deity of Christ😊.
As a Family, when our children were young, we would do a family thing like going to the “Ice Capades” or going on a day trip. “When you milk cows, you don’t get far away.” Lol 😂 But our children still talk about those special times. I grew up in a God fearing home so Santa myth was never instilled. Always Jesus’ arrival. While in the 2x2 religion, Christmas and all it stood for, helped separate some pagan beliefs. But the important thing is, Jesus came! Immanuel (God with us) is becoming so much clearer. God did not put his spirit in a man called Jesus, but came down to earth in the form of a man to appeal to our level. What a wonderful God to do that for us! 🤗
Anti-Christians are people who do not celebrate Christmas. Why would Christians who are the opposite of anti-Christians not celebrate Christmas. Thanks for sharing this.
My parents were 2x2s but they didn't practice all the garbage. We had christmas, minus the tree. My dad said he wasn't killing a tree for a day celebration!! We had gifts, food etc. I was allowed to participate in school activities. They were very lax in the 2xs. But the workers were worshipped. And we didn't talk to anyone about our family life. I asked my mother for a psychiatrist when I was 13. I was told we don't talk outside our family. That statement after I grew up made me understand she knew I was being abused by the holy one!! My brother. My mom worshipped him!!!
I am so sorry for that horrific abuse upon abuse. Truly heartbreaking. Wishing you healing.
Nellie I’m so sorry for what you had to tolerate growing up with your brother and mother😢
The JWs also don't sing Christmas carols. I'm thankful my parents weren't into stopping us from doing all that stuff. My mother played Christmas carols on the piano. Legalism = hypocrisy. We had gifts. Didn't have a tree or decorations except we'd make paper chains from shiny catalog pages.
Love your tradition of the sherpard. When I was small, 60 years ago, I stole baby Jesus because I thought he looked cold. I forgot I took him, so we were looking for baby Jesus all Advent. We finally found him.
😯 Thats a funny story! I think my mom (still professing) use to so how bad nativity scenes were because the little baby Jesus was so cold :)
@@davidalink😂
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elf_on_the_Shelf
Actually the "Santa we know today" goes way back to 1823 and The Night Before Christmas poem. That's long before the culture of No Christmas Celebrating Allowed came about!
What has amazed me greatly over the years is the realization that 2x2s around the world go anywhere from full on decorated trees and Christmas dinners to making sure there is no hint of a snowman or holly motif in the house in case, heaven forbid, you should be caught "celebrating" ! How did this huge discrepancy with Christmas observance come about anyway?
Elf on the Shelf and Santa Clause is a part of shame doctrine. It is not about Grace, but about shame.
Im from the UK and grew up Church of England but i enjoy learning more about other variations of christianity and how others live by scripture. I find it really interesting how you say about how much image and other opinions mattered when you were growing up, i cant help to think about careing too much about others was the downfall of King Saul and led he away from following Gods word...
There is more info in the description about the group we grew up in… it was very work based and legalistic so appearances were everything!!
I’m not sure why, but as an Australian 2x2 I don’t know a single professing family that didn’t celebrate Christmas complete with a tree etc. There was nothing about Christmas that was frowned upon in Australia as far as I’m aware. It never had a religious meaning but was certainly celebrated.
Very interesting!
Interesting, not so here in Canada. It has relaxed a bit over the years, but the vast majority don’t… or do and hide it well.
No stress in NZ
It wasn't celebrated in our household
It wasn't celebrated because my parents were worker worshipers
Would love you to share you Shepherd poem.
You can do a google search for shepherd on the search, ours is packed away somewhere this year since we just moved.
❤ …make it a Christ-filled, meaningful time of year.
The British 2x2s celebrated Christmas with presents and parties. I don’t think they had trees, but it was 30 years ago so I don’t remember. (And it could have been individual decisions.)
I don’t really believe in celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday.
But I’ve always been curious why we wouldn’t celebrate some Jewish holidays that didn’t deal with sin/atonement (as clearly we don’t have to because Jesus died for us and redeemed us). But the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah) is something it specifically mentions Jesus celebrating. And it’s all the things of Christmas: gifts, yummy sweet foods (Christmas cookies, anyone?), and celebrating. And unlike other Jewish holidays, there are no special rules (no yeast at Passover) or sabbath rest required. It’s simply the joy of God helping us in the dark times.
Thank for the video. I concluded the same about the Jerimiah 10 verse. We really enjoy our tree. You will love the archeology videos of Joel Kramer. th-cam.com/video/USp4WGf8E_8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=mNewvsiE9z30M-KI
Every year on Christmas day my dad would say "the whole world is celebrating Christmas except for the friends".
So sad. And then to learn some did and hid it, or it was “accepted” in other countries. So messed up!