When Christmas Was Illegal: The Puritans Who Cancelled Christmas

For over two decades in colonial Boston (1659-1681), celebrating Christmas was a crime punishable by a fine of five shillings - about a week's wages. In England, the Puritan Parliament banned Christmas entirely from 1647-1660, and soldiers patrolled the streets making sure no one was feasting, decorating, or enjoying themselves. Get caught with a Christmas dinner? You could be arrested.

The Puritans hated Christmas for multiple reasons - there was no biblical mandate for December 25th, the celebrations were too rowdy and drunken, and many traditions had pagan origins. They called it "Foolstide" and considered it a mockery of Christ. In England, soldiers would search homes for hidden Christmas dinners and confiscate festive foods. Shops were required to s ...