Briglin
Briglin t1_j1jbtim wrote
Reply to Did Oliver Cromwell Ban Christmas? by Brattonismybae
Good question OP - YES he did! - and everyone hated him for it. He was a PURITAN. Remember the episode in Blackadder Great Boo's Up? They were Puritans.
I will explain: Cromwell thought Christmas should be spent in quiet contemplation of the scriptures, not getting pissed and having fun. The general populace disagreed - they liked getting pissed. Soldiers roamed the streets - any women with a painted face was grabbed and had her make up removed with a dirty rag. Anyone cooking goose would get their doors kicked in and it taken away.
After the Restoration of the monarchy the King had Cromwell's body dug up and he was hanged. He had been dead a few years so it must have been difficult. I think he was buried at Thyburn? Marble Arch - where they hanged common criminals. His body is in the middle of the road. Not sure ? And I seem to remember his head went missing? Someone please confirm
History is so much fun.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
http://www.olivercromwell.org/wordpress/what-happened-to-cromwell-after-his-death/
Briglin t1_j1jva1d wrote
Reply to comment by PolymerSledge in Did Oliver Cromwell Ban Christmas? by Brattonismybae
Bah you are nit-picking, he was Lord Protector and upheld the ban. He was in charge and Christmas was banned.
Officially, the ban on Christmas would be enforced throughout the rest of the reign of Charles I, and into the Protectorate and the Commonwealth. On more than one occasion, soldiers would patrol towns and cities, confiscating food and drink which was believed to be prepared for Christmas. But from here on, public celebrations of Christmas were usually suppressed by the authorities, but behind closed doors Christmas would continue to be celebrated. With the restoration of the Stuarts in 1660, followed the restoration of Christmas in England and Wales.