I converted from being raised as a Sabbatarian, in 2007. In the religion that I was born and raised into, we followed the teachings by the Bible, but very strictly. It is not permitted to celebrate Christmas, Easter, Valentines Day, St Patricks Day, Halloween, and the only holiday that we were permitted to celebrate was Thanksgiving. The one reason that we did not celebrate Christmas, was because of the pagan rituals that have been combined with something that Christians would like to assume are holy. Originally the birth of Jesus Christ was celebrated by many but the pagan rituals that were combined with the actual birthday of Christ were what made it questionable. God never in any part of the Bible commanded his creatures to celebrate the birth of Christ. Therefore when I was growing up I never did celebrate the birthday (Christmas) of Christ. I completely understood the reasoning for this. What I do not understand is a birthday of anyone - and what actually is religious or considered religious about celebrating or being glad and showing your happiness for the birth and marking the birth of someone. Secondly, what is religious and pagan about celebrating a anniversary of your marriage?

There is nothing religious regarding the celebration of a birth, or birthday, or celebrating an anniversary of marriage. It is merely to mark the day as special to someone. Both are purely a personal choice, in my opinion.

Tick

Assalaam alaikum Jennah,

It was customary long before Christianity for friends and family to gather around the person whose birthday it is and this ritual was to ward off evil spirits who some people believed which would come to visit people on their birthdays.

So it is a pagan ritual that seems to have evolved into the modern day party.

Please refer to links for the Islamic ruling.
Islam Question and Answer - Celebrating birthdays is not allowed (http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/1027/birthday)
Islam Question and Answer - He wants to give his wife a gift on the anniversary of their marriage each year (http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/46665/anniversary)


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