I love Christmas, and it’s not just because of my name. I wasn’t born on Christmas but was told by my mother I was a twinkle in my father’s eye that year. My birthday proves it. I think the reason I like the season so much is that despite the world’s woes, and there are many this year, there is still joy and anticipation. Plus I do love giving gifts. Selecting the right ones is my idea of fun.
This year I plan to write some posts about the history of Christmas, the way in which it is celebrated in different countries. a book review of Home for Christmas (which will first appear on Rosie Amber), and other ‘stuff.’
I can start by telling you that the Pilgrims did NOT celebrate Christmas. How’s that for a downer?
The Pilgrims strongly believed that the Church of England, and the Catholic Church, had both strayed from Christ’s true teachings in their established religious rituals, church hierarchies, leading to their first label as the Separatists. While they were still in England, before their exodus to Holland, they used a printing press to print and illegally distribute Separatist books. One of these books rejecting Christmas got Elder Brewster into hot water with the King of England, who confiscated their printing press.
The Pilgrims did strictly honor the Sabbath, not doing any labor on Sunday; their services last from 9 AM to noon and from 2-5 PM, and they studied the works of Martin Luther and John Calvin. In the Plimoth Colony, their church was the bottom floor of the fort at the top of Leyden Street on Burial Hill. Isaac de Rasieres, who visited Plymouth in 1627, reported how the Pilgrim’s began their church on Sunday: “They assemble by beat of drum, each with his musket or firelock, in front of the captain’s door; they have their cloaks on, and place themselves in order, three abreast, and are led by a sergeant without beat of drum. Behind comes the governor, in a long robe; beside him on the right hand, comes the preacher with his cloak on, and on the left hand, the captain with his side-arms and cloak on, and with a small cane in his hand; and so they march in good order, and each sets his arms down near him.” The sexes were separated in the church, with the women and children on one side, the men on the other. The men always brought their muskets to church; you could be fined 12 pence if you failed to do so.
So the Pilgrims did not celebrate Christmas and Easter. They believed that these holidays were a human invention to memorialize Jesus, were not illuminated in the Bible nor celebrated by early Christian churches. Therefore they could not be considered Holy days. John Robinson, their first pastor, taught, “It seems too much for any mortal man to appoint, or make an anniversary memorial [for Christ].”
Another great lesson, Noelle. Thank you.
I, too, love Christmas for the tradition part, a chance at joy and anticipation, as you say, and a chance to once again see family members. Love the story behind your name. 🙂
I will now have that song in my head until possibly after Christmas! I had heard that the Pilgrims didn’t celebrate Christmas but didn’t know as much about how church was laid out. I thought the only religion who really separated the genders were the Shakers. Great post and I look forward to seeing more about different Christmas traditions.
Thanks, Katherine. Now I have to produce!
Wonderfully informative, Noelle,
and a genuine pleasure to read.
Best Always
john
I sympathise with the Pilgrims. 🙂
Interesting post about the Pilgrims and their lack of Christmas festivities. I’m looking forward to reading the review of ‘Home for Christmas.’
Thanks, Kate!
I’m one of those people who’s not such a huge fan of Christmas. To be fair, I think I’d enjoy the holiday a lot more if I wasn’t forced to celebrate it for two entire months. I like giving gifts too, and small doses of Christmas things make me smile, but everything Christmas is now so familiar to me that I’m mostly bored and borderline annoyed by the holiday when it rolls around. 🙁
I think your feelings are shared by many. I do not watch the Christmas programs on TV or visit stores – I buy pretty much everything on line – and try to wall off all the foofarah until right before. I guess since I enjoyed my childhood Christmases so much, I’ve tried to keep Christmas that way with the old traditions.
Looking forward to hearing about different Christmases. Like you I have really fond memories of childhood christmases but the older I get the less Christmas means as far as family goes. We are scattered or dead and it has become a memory of the christmases past which creates a little sadness.
I know what you mean, Irene. This is our first Christmas without any visitors or at least one of our kids. But I love the season anyway.