The Puritans Banned Christmas In 1659

#PuritansDocumentary
The Puritans Banned Christmas In 1659 contemporary times, there are certain groups that constantly express concerns about the threat to Christmas posed by secular forces aiming to abolish the holiday altogether. Surprisingly, four centuries ago, the most ardent opponents of Christmas were not secularists but one of the most devout Christian groups of their era: the Puritans.
To comprehend why the Puritans took a stance against Christmas, it is essential to delve into what Christmas looked like in the 1600s. Today, Christmas is synonymous with family-friendly gatherings, emphasizing wholesome enjoyment, togetherness, and religious observance. Yet, its origins trace back to pagan solstice festivals, and Christmas in the 1600s bore little resemblance to the holiday we cherish today. A typical Christmas celebration during that era involved copious amounts of drinking, feasting, dice games, and a fair share of licentious behavior.
One of the customs of Christmases past was known as "wassailing," where less fortunate members of the community would visit their wealthier neighbors and seek favors. If their requests were denied, confrontations often ensued. If you've ever sung the line "now bring us some figgy pudding, we won't go until we get some" from "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and found it somewhat menacing, it is rooted in this historical context.
Although Christmas was embraced by more mainstream Christian denominations in the 1600s, it was destined to clash with Puritan beliefs. Puritanism was founded on the rejection of what they perceived as the excesses of mainstream Christianity, making raucous Christmas celebrations incompatible with their principles. On May 11, 1659, the legislature of the Massachusetts Bay Colony officially prohibited the observance of Christmas, imposing a five-shilling fine on anyone caught celebrating the holiday.
The Puritans eventually lifted the ban in 1681, driven primarily by the pressure to align their laws with those of England. However, the people of the Bay State continued to regard Christmas with skepticism until the mid-19th century. It was during this time that literary works like "A Christmas Carol" helped transform the holiday, gradually making it more popular among the masses.
#ThePuritans #PuritansDocumentary #ThePuritansHistory #ChristmasHistory #HolidayTraditions #HistoricalFacts #PuritanBeliefs #ChristmasEvolution #HolidayTransformation

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back in the day, things were really crazy.