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Stop the ACLU

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Could it be the Roman festival of
Saturnalia? You do realize December 25 was choosen to coincide with that celebration and Christ was most likely not born in December, don’t you?

And the whole Christmas celebration thing was a hit or miss thing in the colonies.

The celebration of Christmas was outlawed in most of New England. Calvinist Puritans and Protestants abhorred the entire celebration and likened it to pagan rituals and Popish observances. In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts forbade, under the fine of five shillings per offense, the observance ‘of any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forebearing of labour, feasting, or any such way.’

The Assembly of Connecticut, in the same period, prohibited the reading of the Book of Common Prayer, the keeping of Christmas and saints’ days, the making of mince pies, the playing of cards, or performing on any musical instruments.

In 1749, Peter Kalm noted that the Quakers completely dismissed the celebration of Christmas in Philadelphia. Kalm made another interesting observation about the Presbyterians as well. He wrote in his diary:

Christmas Day. . . .The Quakers did not regard this day any more remarkable than other days. Stores were open, and anyone might sell or purchase what he wanted. . . .There was no more baking of bread for the Christmas festival than for other days; and no Christmas porridge on Christmas Eve! One did not seem to know what it meant to wish anyone a merry Christmas. . . .

http://www.history.org/almanack/life/xmas/xmasqa.cfm

In the American colonies, Puritans, Baptists, Quakers, and Presbyterians opposed the festivities, while Catholics, Anglicans (Episcopalians), Dutch Reformed, and Lutherans approved.”

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/christmmas1.html

How about not only the other religious and meta-religious celebrations, but Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day? Or are these the sole purview of Christians as well?

The Pennsylvania German settlements had community Christmas trees as early as 1747.

By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S.

And guess what? They called them “Christmas” Trees and wished each other “Merry Christmas.” Only in the 1990s did this start changing: enter political correctness…

Answer this: when you wish someone “Happy Holidays” — what holidays are you talking about?

Huh? 150 years ago was 1855.

You don’t know your history if you think colonists celebrated Christmas.

Early English colonists such The Pilgrims only recognized three types of holidays as approved by the Bible: the Sabbath, days of thanksgiving, and fast days.

They did not recognize Christmas!

Celebrations of Christmas and Easter were viewed as holidays constructed by the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.

Also, please share any historical info about Christmas in America that contradicts the fact of it being celebrated as a Christian holiday. Again, we’re talking about America. Will be sure to include your thoughtful commentary.