THE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSED CHRISMAS

You’re probably familiar with the "War on Christmas," the perceived erasure of Christian influence in American culture around the holiday season.

It seems like every year there’s a new front in this war, whether that’s Starbucks’ holiday cups not being Christmasy enough, or the growing popularity of the greeting "Happy Holidays".

In many ways, the War on Christmas is its own little American tradition. But did you know it's also a Christian tradition? And one that goes back a long way, as it turns out.

Indeed, the first assault on Christmastime was not masterminded by sinister atheists hoping to erase Christianity, or ‘woke’ corporations bowing to public pressure to be politically correct… but by the Puritans.

This is the story of the original War on Christmas.

Raucous December revelry dates back to ancient times, and many pagan cultures celebrated the winter solstice with bonfires, feasts, and drunken singalongs. Yule, as they called it, was basically the ultimate office holiday party, just without Gary in accounting hitting up the karaoke machine (thank the gods).

When Christianity began competing against paganism across Europe, Christians “borrowed” many of those customs, and over time the old pagan traditions were folded into the new Christmas holiday. As Christianity spread far and wide, so too did many Christmas traditions.

The technology may be different, and the food is probably better, but the Christmases of 17th century England were not that different than they are today. Feasts, drinks, family, gifts – it was all there in some form or another.

All through December, lords and commoners alike looked forward to the most wonderful time of the year. Everyone loved it!

Well, okay, not everyone. Across the pond, those famous sourpusses, the Puritans, despised Christmas with a tenacity that makes the grinch seem like a jolly holiday spirit in comparison...read more