Christmas Was Actually Illegal in America

Описание: In 1659, the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Boston passed a law fining five shillings for publicly celebrating Christmas. Many Puritans saw December 25 as a day of excess—rowdy feasting and idle revelry—and argued that it wasn’t grounded in Scripture. Town watchmen could enforce the rule, and for years the holiday had no official place in civic life.

Why did the ban end?
• Shifting attitudes: As New England grew more diverse, strict Puritan norms faced pressure from other Christian traditions that did celebrate Christmas.
• Practicality & culture: Merchants and families gradually embraced seasonal customs; the law felt out of step with daily life.
• Repeal: In 1681, the colony repealed the ban, opening the door for public observance—though full acceptance took time.

From colony law to national holiday
Christmas only became a U.S. federal holiday in 1870, long after Boston’s ban was gone, reflecting how slowly American communities normalized the celebration.

Sources
Massachusetts Archives / Mass.gov; Harvard Divinity School resources on Puritan practice; History.com overview.
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