Christmas in the 1600s
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Christmas in the 1600s
The early settlers of Massachusetts thought Christmas Day not much more than a pagan holiday that had been taken over (which in many ways is true). In order to strip down religion to its true and religious meanings, they did not celebrate Christmas. Governor William Bradford of Plymouth Colony even said in 1621 that on "the day called Christmas Day," that everybody should keep working. For those few that tried to take the day off, "he would spare them until they were better informed." Some of those few tried to celebrate outside anyway, and he sent them into their homes.
Comments
9/23/2007 6:53:33 PMSandra Garrett said:
very interesting, it is something I never realized about my ancestors in Boston...
12/27/2007 11:55:39 PM
Arthur L. Foster Jr. said:
It seems that Governor William Bradford had good biblical merit for taking a stance against christmass and I am delighted that he took such a stance. I wish that more pastors and teachers would take a stand against man- made holy days.
12/15/2008 4:07:35 PM
Morgan said:
Very intersting....
