Surviving Christmas

Another major highlight in our Christmas history came in the 16th century, when Pope Gregory introduced his new calendar, and indirectly with it, the Renaissance Christmas. The reverberations are still felt today - especially when it comes to Christmas celebrations!

The Pope's new calendar was not widely accepted at first. The Eastern Orthodox churches, and the protestant church kept the old (Julian) calendar. Even today, the Greek Orthodox church celebrates Christmas 13 days after the 'official' Christmas - on January 6th (our Epiphany)!

The 17th century saw the first "Christkindlmarkts" (Christ Child Markets) in Germany. These markets centered around the Nativity which was set up in the middle of the market space. Around this, vendors of all sorts of Christmas wares would set up their tents and tables. These markets are still very popular today!

(For those who cannot get to Germany to see the spectacle of these wonderful markets, several major US cities have them, including Chicago!)

Also in 17th Century Christmas history... The Puritans arrived in New England in 1620. With them, they brought their very austere and strict religion. Puritans did not celebrate Christmas.

They saw the celebration as a vile pagan observance. Since a Renaissance Christmas meant dancing, feasting, gift-giving and other festive occupations, the Puritans began in earnest to pass laws against this pagan festival in the New World as well.

When Oliver Cromwell took the British throne in 1645, he had also outlawed Christmas celebrations in Britain. The Puritans vowed to remove the decadence from England.

In 1659 they succeeded in the New World, and in Boston, one found celebrating the Christmas holiday could be fined 5 shillings! Though by 1681 these laws were no longer strictly enforced, it was not until the 1850's that some places actually repealed these laws.

It was not this way everywhere in the Colonies, though... In Jamestown, Virginia, Captain John Smith recorded in his diary that Christmas passed without incident, and was enjoyed by all.

When Cromwell died in 1660, King Charles II was restored to the British throne, and with him came the celebration of Christmas, and the repeal of the ban.

However, popular opinion was not so quick to change. With the growing disparity between the classes, and the continuing popularity of the Puritan religion, the traditions of Renaissance Christmas celebrations would not return to the masses for another two centuries.

Many Blessings
GrannySue