We all know the classic Christmas stories, generally; or at least we get the gist of them. We know ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Grinch, but here’s a couple interesting Christmas tales you can quiz your family on this Christmas, should you fancy yourself an Alex Trebek.
In the Plymouth colony following its founding, circa 1620~, Christmas was not celebrated. Not just for the fact that their very survival was at stake and celebrating a holiday was last on their minds, but for the simple fact that its celebration was made illegal by the Puritans. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “the Puritans? You mean those blokes famous for their tolerance?” Yea, those guys! The Pilgrims had arrived in Plymouth on December 20, so that December was totally focused on sheer survival. Governor William Bradford, taking over just after John Carver, dissuaded public celebrations on the day.
Pilgrim colonist William Bradford wrote at the time, “One day called Christmas-day, ye Governor called them out to work, but most of this new company excused themselves and said it went against their consciences to work on [this] day. So ye Governor told them that if they made it matter of conscience, he would spare them till they were better informed.” Later, he added, “He found them in ye street at play, openly; some pitching ye barr, & some at stoole-ball, and such like sports. So he went to them, and took away their implements, and told them that was against his conscience, that they should play & others work.”
That was more of an informal ban, but later, in Boston, in 1659, the governing body of the Massachusetts Bay Colony enacted a law titled the “Penalty for Keeping Christmas.” It stated, “festivals as were superstitiously kept in other countries” and went on to say it was a “great dishonor of God and offence of others.” Those found celebrating were to be fined 5 shillings, or about as much as a parking ticket today. As time went on and more non-puritans arrived in the colonies, Christmas celebrations began to be accepted and by the mid-1700s, they were fairly commonplace. Christmas was made a Massachusetts state holiday in 1856 and a national holiday in 1870.
On to the next tale! Many have some feeling of “Oh, Christmas was better back in the day, before it was commercialized and all about spending money. Also, the Christmas season starts too early!” That may seem like a newer sentiment. Maybe the last 50 years? The last 100? Surely a product of the Victorian Age? Let’s go back 1,600 years…
The Roman Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius was likely from modern-day Spain or Northern Africa around 400 AD. Christianity had only been legalized in Rome in 313, so not totally the de-facto religion of all in Rome. Many, if not most, still believed in and celebrated traditional Roman-pagan traditions. The end-of-year, solstice holiday was Saturnalia. Basically, replace “Christ” in Christmas with the god “Saturn” and you’ve got it.
Macrobius wrote seven books on the history and practice of the holiday of Saturnalia. The books contain many contracting statements and historical oddities, but they at least offer a window into the mind of a 5th-century Roman, and someone possibly not so different from ourselves. He complains of the loss of the “old ways” and fusses over overconsumption and indulgence. Saturnalia used to last a day, then a week, now close to a month!
Famous historian Pliny the Younger would even lock himself in his house for days to escape the lengthy partying. A real Grinch, if you will. Macrobius also complained that it used to be that gift-giving was more of an inexpensive ordeal, as an expensive gift was seen as “bragging.” Now, he was expected to shell out money for parties and gifts! Roman Senator Lucius Annaeus Seneca complained over rampant partying, merriment and drunkenness, saying famously in his Moral Letters, “Once, December was a month; now, it is a year.”
So, the complaints over Christmas and other end-of-year celebrations aren’t new at all. Actually, they’re ancient! Some things never change.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
By Sam Bishop