I'm not a historian, but wasn't the real war on Christmas waged by the puritans? Didn't they literally ban it?

Question

They thought it was too Catholic, no?

Answer 1

Yes sir. Damn Calvinists.

"For preventing disorders, arising in several places within this jurisdiction by reason of some still observing such festivals as were superstitiously kept in other communities, to the great dishonor of God and offense of others: it is therefore ordered by this court and the authority thereof that whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way, upon any such account as aforesaid, every such person so offending shall pay for every such offence five shilling as a fine to the county."

From the records of the General Court,
Massachusetts Bay Colony
May 11, 1659

"The generality of Christmas-keepers observe that festival after such a manner as is highly dishonourable to the name of Christ. How few are there comparatively that spend those holidays (as they are called) after an holy manner. But they are consumed in Compotations, in Interludes, in playing at Cards, in Revellings, in excess of Wine, in mad Mirth ..."

- Reverend Increase Mather, 1687
More on Increase: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Increase_Mather

Answer 2

--NO ,NOT only the puritans but by Countries:

*** g88 12/8 p. 19 Christmas—Is It Christian? ***
In 1643, England’s Parliament even outlawed Christmas because of its pagan background, but later it was restored. In 1659, it was also outlawed in Massachusetts, but there too it was later restored. And U.S. Catholic reports: “Because Christians in the U.S. . . . associated Christmas with pagan customs, they didn’t celebrate Christmas in a big way until the mid-19th century.”

*** bh chap. 16 p. 158 par. 10 Take Your Stand for True Worship ***

"The pagan roots of Christmas have long been recognized. Because of its unscriptural origin, Christmas was banned in England and in some of the American colonies during the 17th century. Anyone who even stayed home from work on Christmas day had to pay a penalty."

*** g02 12/8 p. 16 What You Should Know About Christmas ***
>>Christmas Banned
If you take a few moments to research this subject, you will find that Christmas has no roots in true Christianity. Many Bible scholars of various religious denominations acknowledge this. With that in mind, it should not surprise you that in England, Cromwell’s Parliament decreed in 1647 that Christmas be a day of penance and then banned it outright in 1652. Parliament purposely met on December 25 every year from 1644 to 1656. According to historian Penne L. Restad, “ministers who preached on the Nativity risked imprisonment. Churchwardens faced fines for decorating their churches. By law, shops stayed open on Christmas as if it were any regular business day.” Why such drastic measures? Puritan reformers believed that the church should not create traditions that did not exist in the Scriptures. They actively preached and distributed literature denouncing Christmas celebrations.

*** ed pp. 17-18 The Challenge of Religious Diversity ***
When learning the facts about Christmas, how have some reacted? The Encyclopædia Britannica observes: “In 1644 the English puritans forbad any merriment or religious services by act of Parliament, on the ground that it [Christmas] was a heathen festival, and ordered it to be kept as a fast. Charles II revived the feast, but the Scots adhered to the Puritan view...”

--SO TO THE many who are going to celebrate, why not celebrate it as it is-- a Roman festival and loose the hypocrisy of claiming it is a Christian celebration! ESPECIALLY If one engages in loose conduct with others because of the many wild partying going on!

--Have a good time with it as it is-- the Saturnalia, thus the reveling might not have guilt feelings with it , because indeed there was and is a lot of loose conduct with it!

Answer 3

Not the original war, but they were in one of the early battles on the north american continent. They banned it. And they fined people who did not follow the ban.

Chirstmas wasn't really even a celbration until about 350 or so. Before that, nobody wanted to celebrate it....they thought it was un-necessary. Apparently, they didn't know what an impact that would have had on Walmart!!!

Answer 4

Keep in mind they also thought it was pagan; there would have been no Yule festivities, for sure. The Puritans weren't completely against people having fun, but it was very prescribed and usually only allowed after someone had built a barn or harvested crops, etc.

Answer 5

Correct. My understanding is that Christmas never really took off in America until the late 19th century.

Answer 6

That is how it started. You are correct. Because it was a pagan celebration to the sun god and God does not approve of assimilation of various rituals into HIS people's beliefs system.

See 2nd Kings 10-16 for how God feels about sun God worship.

Many people don't know that God mentioned specifically the practice of sun God worship and what God wanted done with items from this practice.

Answer 7

Yes, they did because it was too much fun. It was banned here and in England as well. Fortunately once they got rid of Cromwell, the English started having fun again.

Answer 8

Yes, and the war on Halloween too. Funny how quickly Muslims become the scapegoat.

Answer 9

Yes, they were part of the "Blue Laws". They outlawed any observation of Christmas, up to and including (of all things) making mince pies.

Answer 10

Christmas was banned by Cromwell.