Additionally, the Witnesses hold the belief that Jehovah was the creator of all. Furthermore, they do not celebrate birthdays or religious and national holidays. The major Jehovah's Witnesses holiday memorializes the day when Jesus Christ died comes around Passover and Easter moments.
Celebrations. Weddings, anniversaries, and funerals are observed, though they avoid incorporating certain traditions they see to have pagan origins.
An often misunderstood religion, Jehovah's Witnesses believe in Jesus and God (Jehovah), and follow God's teachings but do not celebrate religious holidays or birthdays. Instead, Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate milestones like anniversaries and graduations.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas, birthdays, or any holidays with a pagan origin. They are also prohibited from entering into what they consider unclean practices such as receiving blood transfusions, and entering military service is prohibited.
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 point out that Jesus did not ask his followers to mark his birthday.
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.
The Jehovah's Witnesses Funeral Service
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.
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.
Daters are expected to remain "pure" until someone marriage. Kissing, hand holding jehovah other someone of affection should be kept to a minimum if allowed at all, especially if the couple is dating without the intention of tall married.
DIET - Jehovah Witnesses believe it is forbidden to eat blood or blood products. Although meat is usually acceptable, because animals are bled after slaughter, some Jehovah Witnesses may be vegetarian. Patients may wish to pray silently before eating and at other times.
They limit contact with non-Jehovah's Witnesses
Followers are discouraged from having close relationships with those who are not part of the faith. People who are “worldly” are seen as bad influences or “bad associations.”
Jehovah's Witnesses adhere to the Bible's view of marriage and divorce. Monogamy between one man and one woman and sex only within marriage are requirements in the Witness religion. But Witnesses do permit divorce in certain cases, believing that the only valid ground for divorce and remarriage is adultery.
Marc John Jefferies, who you'll recognize from films like “Losing Isaiah,” “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” and “Notorious,” was raised in the Jehova's Witness faith as a child. Like sister Serena, Venus was also raised in the Jehovah's Witness faith by their parents.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate holidays since they hold the belief that holidays violate biblical principles.
Songs are used at assemblies and conventions, and sometimes at different events at Watch Tower Society branch offices. Jehovah's Witnesses' publications suggest that Witnesses listen to this music in their personal time.
Gender roles
Jehovah's Witnesses have a complementarian view of the role of women. Only men may hold positions of authority, such as ministerial servant or elder. Women may actively participate in the public preaching work and can serve at Bethel, and women may profess to be members of the 144,000.
Evidence for actions that can result in congregational discipline is obtained by voluntary confession to the elders or by witnesses of the violation. A minimum of two witnesses is required to establish guilt, based on their understanding of Deuteronomy 17:6 and Matthew 18:16, unless the person confesses voluntarily.
Nowadays, a large number of elective surgical and trauma cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses are being performed without blood transfusions. In elective surgery this should rarely be an issue, providing decisions have been made clearly in advance.
DIET/FOOD PREFERENCE & PRACTICES
Jehovah's Witnesses abstain from eating the meat of animals from which blood has not been properly drained. They also refrain from eating such things as blood sausage and blood soup.
Do Jehovah's Witnesses drink coffee? There is no “one size fits all” answer that one can just apply to a particular group that consists of millions of individuals with their own preferences. So whether or not an individual drinks coffee will depend on the particular individual. Yes, some do and no, others do not.
Flowers and food may be offered to the family before, during or after the service. Services usually take place in the Kingdom Hall, the Jehovah's Witnesses place of worship. There may or may not be an open casket. The Congregation Elder conducts the service and delivers a talk, which may be tape recorded.
Jehova's Witnesses and Cremation
Some people are under the impression that Jehovah's Witnesses don't get cremated, but that's not the case. The relatives of the person that has died are expected to carry out the wishes of the deceased with regard to the type of funeral they have.
Acceptable funeral attire for a Jehovah's Witnesses' funeral is similar to other funerals. Clothing should be dark in color.