http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=369
" ...in 1659, a law was passed by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony requiring a five-shilling fine from anyone caught "observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way." Christmas Day was deemed by the Puritans to be a time of seasonal excess with no Biblical authority."
http://www.christmas-tips-advice.com/history-of-christmas.php
"it wasn't until June 26, 1870 that the federal government declared Christmas as a federal holiday."
2007-12-26 07:55:41 · 15 answers · asked by Fretless 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Because even to this day some fundamentalists like the Puritans feel it's a heathen holiday, as do the Jehovah's witness. They certainly don't believe in Santa , either.
2007-12-26 08:01:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
The ones who were not celebrating Christmas were not the founding fathers but the first English settlers in the northern regions of what is today the US. They were Puritans and ultra conservative in their beliefs. These are the same people who dunked witches. The founding fathers, like George Washington, John Adams, Thos. Jefferson and so forth did celebrate Christmas in the traditional English manner as they were used to. Then it wasn't the big commercial holiday it is today. They probably didn't have trees in their homes (that came later during the Victorian era) and may have had a form of Father Christmas for the children but mostly it was a day off work to feast, sing and be with family and friends.
2007-12-26 08:42:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because no one really knows when Jesus was born. Pope Julius II decreed that December 25th to be a day to remember Jesus's birth. This was an effort to Christianize the pagan Romans who celebrated the winter solstice. Obviously, this was an attempt to make the pagan holidays "Christian". It worked. But many other Christians were angry at this. Jehovah's Witnesses don't celebrate Christmas because of its pagan origins. Puritans didn't either. Many Christians were hesitant to celebrate something that had no biblical basis to it. Then, as time went by people got more into it and also liked the idea of gifts. Christmas is relatively new. Today many Christian celebrate Christmas but we know it's only tradition with no real biblical foundation to it.
2007-12-26 11:10:48 · answer #3 · answered by cynical 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well the fonding fathers were not yet around in 1659 this was by english rule that it was outlawed at that time due to the overwhelming puritan rule of things.
Later on it was associated as a english custom and was therefore avoided or shunned for some time.
However there are several mentions of george washingtons personal notes of his observance of christmas with his wife as it seemed he liked to keep the observance personal.
2007-12-26 08:08:05 · answer #4 · answered by sociald 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The puritians were not the founding fathers although there may have been a couple among them. In those days, the Puritans were the extremists and the colonies were all separate religions. The date of the law would give you more insight on that.
2007-12-26 08:04:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Because at the time, we were against all things British...Christmas was considered a British holiday, and we wanted nothing to do with it. Until, of course we realized that we had no holidays of our own.
2007-12-26 08:26:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the Puritans were on the extreme side. They didn't believe in celebrating holidays like Chrsitmas. However, they weren't the Founding Fathers. In 1659 I'm pretty sure none of them were even born yet.
2007-12-26 08:01:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋
June 26, 1870
6/26/1870
1+8+7+0 = 16
6-26-16
6-6-6 and 2-1
Coincidence?
YES!
Just like your question!
2007-12-26 08:22:02 · answer #8 · answered by stay_fan2 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Christmas was the first federally declared holiday, they just have never declared one before, but states had been doing for many years before.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE NOT DEIST.
2007-12-26 08:05:00 · answer #9 · answered by godgunsandgl0ry 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
our founding fathers did celebrate Christmas..just because the Gov't made it a holiday later in our history doesn't mean nobody celebrated it..
"General Washington's Christmas Farewell: A Mount Vernon ... warfare finally over, in 1783, George Washington wanted to go home for Christmas"
http://www.amazon.com/General-Washingtons-Christmas-Farewell-Homecoming/dp/
2007-12-26 08:04:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋