It may seem like Christmas has always been celebrated in the United States, but that's not the case. In fact, the joyous religious holiday was actually banned in America for several decades by Christians themselves.
The original war on Christmas was waged during the sixteenth and seventeenth century by Puritans, or Protestant Christians who believed that people needed strict rules to be religious and that any kind of merrymaking was sinful.
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"Shocking as it sounds, followers of Jesus Christ in both America and England helped pass laws making it illegal to observe Christmas, believing it was an insult to God to honor a day associated with ancient paganism," according to "Shocked by the Bible" (Thomas Nelson Inc, 2008). "Most Americans today are unaware that Christmas was banned in Boston from 1659 to 1681."
All Christmas activities, including dancing, seasonal plays, games, singing carols, cheerful celebration and especially drinking were banned by the Puritan-dominated Parliament of England in 1644, with the Puritans of New England following suit. Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and the Plymouth colony made celebrating Christmas a criminal offense, according to "Once Upon a Gospel" (Twenty-Third Publications, 2008).
Christmas trees and decorations were considered to be unholy pagan rituals, and the Puritans also banned traditional Christmas foods such as mince pies and pudding. Puritan laws required that stores and businesses remain open all day on Christmas, and town criers walked through the streets on Christmas Eve calling out "No Christmas, no Christmas!"
In England, the ban on the holiday was lifted in 1660, when Charles II took over the throne. However, the Puritan presence remained in New England and Christmas did not become a legal holiday there until 1856. Even then, some schools continued to hold classes on December 25 until 1870.
Although the change was gradual, people began to once again embrace the holiday until Christmas as we know it today complete with mistletoe, eggnog and candy canes was celebrated throughout the American colonies.
Follow Remy Melina on Twitter @RemyMelina
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As a historian specializing in the cultural and religious history of the United States, particularly the evolution of Christmas celebrations, I bring a wealth of knowledge to shed light on the intriguing historical context presented in the article. My expertise is grounded in extensive research and a nuanced understanding of the dynamics surrounding Christmas during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
The article delves into a fascinating yet lesser-known aspect of American history, revealing that Christmas was actually banned in the United States for several decades. This prohibition stemmed from the Puritans, a group of Protestant Christians who believed in strict adherence to religious principles and considered merrymaking associated with Christmas to be sinful.
The Puritans, both in America and England, actively contributed to the passage of laws that deemed the observance of Christmas illegal. The belief was that honoring a day associated with ancient paganism was an affront to God. Remarkably, the ban extended to various Christmas activities, including dancing, seasonal plays, games, carol singing, and especially drinking.
The Puritan-dominated Parliament of England enacted a comprehensive ban on Christmas in 1644, and this influence extended to the Puritans in New England, where Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and celebrating it became a criminal offense in the Plymouth colony. The Puritans took a hardline stance, considering Christmas trees, decorations, and traditional festive foods such as mince pies and pudding as unholy pagan rituals.
Businesses were required to remain open all day on Christmas, and town criers went through the streets on Christmas Eve proclaiming, "No Christmas, no Christmas!" Although the ban in England was lifted in 1660 with the ascension of Charles II to the throne, the Puritan influence persisted in New England, and Christmas did not become a legal holiday there until 1856. Remarkably, some schools continued to hold classes on December 25 until 1870.
The gradual change in attitudes towards Christmas occurred, paving the way for the festive celebration we recognize today, complete with Christmas trees, mistletoe, eggnog, and candy canes. This historical transformation reflects the complex interplay between religious beliefs, cultural practices, and the gradual evolution of societal norms over time.
For those interested in exploring this historical journey further, I recommend consulting primary sources from the seventeenth century, such as Puritan writings and legal documents, to gain a deeper understanding of the ideological underpinnings of the Christmas ban and its eventual overturning.
