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celebrations. From that time through the middle ages, Christian themes gradually replaced or transformed the secular customs.
Interestingly one of the most virtuous of holiday customs, charity for the poor, and its cousin, the exchanging of gifts, though rightfully associated now with the aspects of religious spirit of the seasori, were practiced even in early Rome, when slaves and masters changed places during the winter celebration.
But despite the increasing influence of Christian practices, Christmas developed an increasingly raucous reputation as a time of hedonistic excess that some might associate with Madi Gras celebrations of today. Feasting and drinking, much of it in excess has been common in winter festivals through much -of recorded history. Some of this was a form of rejoicing for successful harvests of the preceding year. (But admit, it, sometimes it is just because it feels good).
However sometimes one group or another decides enough is enough of a ‘good thing’ as happened in England and some of the New England colonies in the 17*“ Century. In the late 1600s, the observance of Christmas was actually banhed by law in Massachusetts.
A similar ban had taken place under Cromwell in England.
The Puritans, those strictest of our Christian predecessors, felt that Christmas revelry was inconsistent with the simple, yet profound implications of the Nativity.
Piety rather than celebration was thus dictated in legal terms. (But just as with prohibition, there existed a sub-culture that continued happily along making merry.) Though it lasted only a bit more than 20 years the law did have a profound effect nonetheless. Christmas as a winter celebration slipped into , remission and was a relatively minor secular holiday until the early 1800s.
The combination of images and icons, sights, sounds, and smells, that we today associate with the secular aspects of Christmas today date from the late 1700s through the 1830s. The resuscitation of Christmas to its modern form may be attributed to immigration and to three literary works^ Beginning in the late 18^“ Century, German, Dutch and Irish immigrants brought with them Christmas trees, St. Nicholas, and holiday
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