Cromwell’s Christmas

Oliver Cromwell (1599 – 1658) was a military man who rose to be the leader of the New Model Army, which defeated the Royalists in the English Civil War. Much has been written about Cromwell and his exploits to create a republic and the English Civil Wars. However, Cromwell’s puritan beliefs were felt in many ways. One notably was in 1647 when the English Parliament passed a law that made Christmas illegal. Cromwell believed that revelry, feasting and festivities should not be held on this Holy day and to do so was immoral. Anyone found contravening this law was arrested.

It was not just for one Christmas either; the law remained in place until 1660. The Pilgrim Fathers also carried the puritan beliefs so that Christmas was banned in America between 1659 and 1681.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!