Through an Act of Parliament, Christmas was banned...in jolly old England!....I guess England was not feeling quite jolly at the moment....
The year was 1644, the reason was...Oliver Cromwell, a General and Statesman of his era, had influenced England with his Puritan beliefs and declared it a time to "cleanse the country of decadence". Unfortunately, this included Christmas...and all the traditions that had become a part of this holiday event.
During that time period, Christmas was frowned upon by the Puritan sect of English society as a wasteful festival and one that posed a threat to the core of Christian beliefs. Christmas was celebrated in a much different matter than we know today.
In the mid 1600's Christmas celebrations in England could be likened to a "Mardi Gras" event, much like what is celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana today.
It was not until "A Christmas Carol" written by Charles Dickens in 1843, that Christmas took on the appeal and popularity we are accustomed to in our modern day society.
To no one's surprise, the banning of Christmas in 1644 was immensely unpopular, and many chose to celebrate Christmas...even at the costs of fines, put in stocks, or thrown in prison.
During this time in history, Christmas was a huge "merry-making" festival. All work places were closed on the 25th of December and for the next 12 days work days were often shortened and festival activities continued right on through the New Year and up to around the 6th of January. These 12 days of celebrating was "merry-making" at its finest!
There was non-stop dancing competitions, singing carols...both religious and the popular "bar tunes" of that era, there were an exchange of gifts, and numerous stage plays. Foods for this extended celebration included roast beef, plum porridge, minced pies, and ales..all kinds of ales and beers, some made exclusively for the Christmas celebration.
Where the festival of Christmas got its notoriety of that time period was the excessive drinking, promiscuity, and gambling that was prevalent throughout the duration of the festival.
Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan believers kept the ban on Christmas in tact for a little over 15 years. Cromwell passed away in 1658 and in 1660, Christmas was declared once again a national holiday....England was jolly once again!
The year was 1644, the reason was...Oliver Cromwell, a General and Statesman of his era, had influenced England with his Puritan beliefs and declared it a time to "cleanse the country of decadence". Unfortunately, this included Christmas...and all the traditions that had become a part of this holiday event.
During that time period, Christmas was frowned upon by the Puritan sect of English society as a wasteful festival and one that posed a threat to the core of Christian beliefs. Christmas was celebrated in a much different matter than we know today.
In the mid 1600's Christmas celebrations in England could be likened to a "Mardi Gras" event, much like what is celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana today.
It was not until "A Christmas Carol" written by Charles Dickens in 1843, that Christmas took on the appeal and popularity we are accustomed to in our modern day society.
To no one's surprise, the banning of Christmas in 1644 was immensely unpopular, and many chose to celebrate Christmas...even at the costs of fines, put in stocks, or thrown in prison.
During this time in history, Christmas was a huge "merry-making" festival. All work places were closed on the 25th of December and for the next 12 days work days were often shortened and festival activities continued right on through the New Year and up to around the 6th of January. These 12 days of celebrating was "merry-making" at its finest!
There was non-stop dancing competitions, singing carols...both religious and the popular "bar tunes" of that era, there were an exchange of gifts, and numerous stage plays. Foods for this extended celebration included roast beef, plum porridge, minced pies, and ales..all kinds of ales and beers, some made exclusively for the Christmas celebration.
Where the festival of Christmas got its notoriety of that time period was the excessive drinking, promiscuity, and gambling that was prevalent throughout the duration of the festival.
Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan believers kept the ban on Christmas in tact for a little over 15 years. Cromwell passed away in 1658 and in 1660, Christmas was declared once again a national holiday....England was jolly once again!
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