Norman Vincent Peale once wrote that: “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” Regrettably, the Puritans in England didn’t agree with this at all. They banned the celebration of Christmas for several years.
Most Christians loved celebrating Christmas during Charles I’s reign, which lasted from 1600 until 1649. They feasted on turkey and mince-pies, willingly gave presents, and sang carols. Holly, ivy, and rosemary decorated homes. Mummers performed plays and wealthy lords held dances and other events for their servants. Charity was enthusiastically encouraged by the churches and people distributed “boxes” of money to the poor. Christmas was also a public holiday to remember Christ’s birth, so shops and businesses were closed. Unfortunately, even though Christmas was a holy day, many people just regarded it as a carnival, indulging in sexual immorality and drunkenness.
A vicious civil war broke out in England in 1642 between Charles I and the Puritans, ultimately leading to the King’s execution. After the Puritans gained control of Parliament, they soon began clamping down on Christmas, eventually banning the religious celebration in 1644. They disliked Christmas for several reasons, including immorality, general misbehavior, and its historical association with Roman Catholicism. These religious zealots even renamed the event “Christ-tide,” removing the “mass.” Most importantly, the Puritans didn’t regard Christmas as authorized by the Bible. They didn’t think that Christians were told to celebrate Christ’s nativity in the Scriptures.
The Puritans also hated the pagan origins of some Christmas traditions, such as the Christmas tree and gift-giving. They thought that the festival had too much in common with Saturnalia, the Roman festivities held during the mid-winter solstice to honor the god Saturn. According to the article, “Pagan Roots? Five Surprising Facts about Christmas” by Stephanie Pappas at LiveScience on December 22, 2012: “The Christmas tree is a 17th-century German invention, University of Bristol’s Hutton told LiveScience, but it clearly derives from the pagan practice of bringing greenery indoors in mid-winter.” The Romans gave presents to their children and their friends during the festival.
After Christmas was banned, penalties were imposed on people who held or attended church services. The authorities occasionally called in the troops to break up services and ministers were arrested. The Lord Mayor of London even tried to tear down seasonal greenery! Guards patrolled the streets, on the look-out for anyone who dared to enjoy plum pudding and other Christmas foods. Theatre, bearbaiting, and drinking were also forbidden.
Discontented people in several towns, including Norwich and Ipswich, rioted against the severe laws. The worst riots occurred in Canterbury when a shopkeeper was put in the stocks for refusing to open his shop. The crowd protested and began playing a disorderly game of football, breaking many of the Puritan’s windows. Soldiers eventually had to be dispatched by Parliament to restore order.
Christmas was banned for twenty-six years. After the restoration of the monarchy, Charles II immediately began repealing the laws banning Christmas and Christmas became a merry time again with games, feasting, and carols.
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