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| In England in 1644 Christmas was CANCELLED on the
grounds that the celebration of Christmas provided an opportunity for indulgence in
"carnal and sensual delights'. Not only were all festivities outlawed, but citizens
were directed to fast as a form of apology for any ungodly pleasures they or their
ancestors might conceivably have enjoyed in previous years. Parliament was so taken with
this concept that, in 1647, similar legislation was passed covering Easter and other
festivals. The only real consequence was widespread evasion of the law, leading to much
fulmination at Westminster. Oblivious of the fact that their antics simply made them look
ridiculous in the eyes of all but their most fanatical supporters (some things never
change), the Puritan faction even deployed the army to conduct house to house searches for
illicit Christmas dinners, which were sequestered on the spot (and no doubt, subsequently
eaten by the military). 
© P. M Ray in Notes and queries , Volume 4
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