Christmas banned!

[LuckyTheDog]

http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas/real3.html

The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. ...

...After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America's new constitution. Christmas wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.

[mike_c]

1. it's PATRIOTIC to deny Christmas!

:patriot:

[Dhalgren]

2. It was the Founders' Intent to not observe Christmas! If we want

to be truly "originalists" we have to ban Christmas! Damn the Founders, those pricks!

[madinmaryland]

3. Why do our founding fathers hate amerika? n/t

[PurgedVoter]

4. Let's celebrate this Christmas like our founders did!

All we have to do is cross the Delaware and attack someone who is celebrating Christmas!

[Golden Hand]

5. Dang Puritans objected to the REAL traditional Christmas

A pagan pissup along the lines of Mardi Gras, with caroling basically a booze extortion scheme.

They also objected to the scripturally ridiculous decision by the Catholic Church to declare Dec. 25 Jesus' birthday, in order to coopt Saturnalia and other traditional pagan celebrations. It's clear from Luke (assuming you consider that accurate) that Jesus was NOT born in the winter. But who listens to the stupid Puritans?

Santa Claus has a much more central role than Jeebus in the American Christmas tradition, starting with his invention in 1809 by Washington Irving and perfection in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore.

Fundagelical Christians need to keep their damn paws off Christmas, which in America is about as much a Christian religious holiday as St. Patrick's Day is an Irish one. It's a pagan and/or secular American holiday that celebrates gift-giving, drinking and parties. It oughta scare them away worse than Halloween.

[newyawker99]

6. Hi Golden Hand!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Bridget Burke]

7. I wish our neo-Puritans would go back to the Faith of their Fathers

Let them listen to an extra long sermon on December 25th while the rest of us celebrate as we wish.

The Church's decision on the date of Christmas may have been scripturally "ridiculous"--but it worked. The date was not "stolen" from Paganism, as many non-Christian elements of the celebration continue to this day.

Even Santa Claus has roots that go 'way back. To Saint Nicholas--or even Odin.

[SiouxJ]

8. Great link - thanks! I'm emailing it out, along with this:

If you get any of this stupid "war on Christmas" stuff in your email, just reply with this: (history channel link).

Apparently our founding fathers didn't really care about Christmas. I'd say if anything, we are at the most pro-Christmas period in our history. Everywhere you go, there it is! There are Christmas Sale television commercials and newspaper ads, Christmas Music, Christmas lights etc. People are always complaining that they start putting up the Christmas decorations right after Halloween etc. Nothing has changed. We've been wishing people "Happy Holidays" for decades and now suddenly that's an affront on Christmas? It's not at all; it's called being respectful and considerate of others who may celebrate something else. I don't know about you but, my parents taught me to be considerate of other people but now we're being told (by people who profess to be followers of Christianity) that it's better to be selfish and only think of yourself. Hmm, I wonder what Jesus would think of that idea? Anyway, let's just put an end to this silliness for once and for all - there is no "war on Christmas" PERIOD. These ridiculous people are trying to create an issue where there is none. If you ask me, this is just a distraction from the real problems of the country. It is also being used to divide people - not a very Christmas-like sentiment.

It's a time for peace on earth, and goodwill to men etc. Not this narrow-minded ridiculousness.

[Initech]

9. Happy Festivus!

[DemGirl7]

10. You know what this means...

Falwell, Gibson, and O'Reilly are now going to try to build a time machine, so they can go back in time, and sue the pants off of our foundering fathers, and ask them why they hate baby Jesus so much. :P