Outlawing the celebration of Christmas sounds a little extreme, but it has happened. The ban existed as law for 22 years in Massachusetts. The Puritans who immigrated to Massachusetts to build a new life had several reason for disliking Christmas. </font>
- It reminded them of the Church of England and the old-world customs, which they were trying to escape.</font>
- They didn't consider the holiday a truly religious day. December 25th wasn't selected as the birth date of Christ until several centuries after his death.</font>
- The holiday celebration usually included drinking, feasting, and playing games - all things which the Puritans frowned upon. One such tradition, "wassailing" occasionally turned violent. The older custom entailed people of a lower economic class visiting wealthier community members and begging, or demanding, food and drink in return for toasts to their hosts' health. If a host refused, there was the threat of retribution. Although rare, there were cases of wassailing in early New England.</font>
- The British had been applying pressure on the Puritans for a while to conform to English customs. The ban was probably as much a political choice as it was a religious one for many.</font>
In 1659, the ban became official. The General Court banned the celebration of Christmas and other such holidays at the same time it banned gambling and other lawless behavior, grouping all such behaviors together. The court placed a fine of five shillings on anyone caught feasting or celebrating the holiday in another manner.
(All adapted from Massachusetts Travel, C. Danko)
Anyone for the ban today? We still see the same attitude, only add commercialism and greed to the list of Dr. Mather's condemnation . .
Let's Ban Christmas
Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Dr. Bob, Nov 30, 2003.
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Self portrait, Sue?
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Why, of course! That is the 'before' picture. This is the 'after' picture (after my heart grew two sizes).
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CHRISSMAS AND EXMAS -
Another paragraph reemphasizing why I hate the writing of Lewis . .
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Baaaaaaaaaaaaaah Humbug!!
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Oh No! Oh No! I don't dooooo Christmas, but I am thankful for it for one MAIN reason. It actually closes down McDonalds one day a year! Praise the Lord!
Thanks -------Bart -
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Okay...well first of all...weren't the Puritans the same fanatical religious group that was creditted for the Salem Witch trials? Seems that group saw evil everywhere. That isn't Christianity to me. Sorry.
I like Christmas. The Christmas season brings out a certain kindness towards others that isn't seen every day.
So...Christmas stays as far as I'm concerned. :D ;) -
Hey! Obligatory decorating, gift-giving, card-sending, and over-eating support our entire economy. Are you guys subversives???
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Gonna go put out my lights tomorrow. It's been a pain the past few years, but this year I bought a couple of those rope lights.
Put 'em in the shape of a cross on the front of my house. Other than a tree, that's about all the decorating that'll be done. -
Just think no more expensive gifts, no more Christmas musicals, boring Christmas parties, Plastic snowmen in 60 degree weather. I'm down with that.
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The Jews don't do Christmas. Shall we join in with them?
About two weeks ago the public high school and junior high where we live put on quite a choral program at a local church. Many of the songs were about praising God and giving thanks along with God being the creator of the heavens and the earth.
The combined choirs totaled about 260 students. -
If Christians try to do away with Christmas, based on the premise that Christmas is not Christ-like, will the ACLU reverse themselves and try to force Christmas on everyone?
Roy -
What will Christians think of next? Try to make Christmas a religious holiday? :eek:
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This is the truth, If I'm lyin' I'm dyin'
I was in a Western Sizzler (Batesville, Ar)the week before Halloween, and they had an evergreen tree up in the entranceway and had pumkins and ghosts and goblins hanging on it. I thought what a deal. Now they got it right! Ha Ha!
What's next? A yuletime evergreen with flags and banners for the 4th? How about an evergreen with eggs? Wow, lets just leave it up all year round and use it continuously. If Wal-Mart could capitalize I know they'd use it year round and there would be some dumb shoppers being trampled continuously.
Thanks ------Bart (and the time is so exciting) -
This may be the only thread where I agree with everybody. :D -