Bah Humbug is one response to Christmas, exemplified by Dr Seuss’ The Grinch. In 1644 Parliament was peopled with Puritan Grinches, and their declaration cancelling Christmas has now been reproduced on a tea towel.
Clearly these were not populists, appealing to the lowest common denominator. I wonder sometimes how they managed to garner support at all. Did anybody advise them to lighten up?
You can now buy, for the Grinch – or the theologian - in your life, a tea towel printed with a Puritan denunciation of Christmas.
Everybody needs tea towels, and anyway they can be used as ecologically sound wrapping paper: you could easily wrap a bottle of whisky in one. Consider giving it to your Vicar, in case s/he has fallen into extream Forgetfulness.
The recipient might be expected to show how clever they are by deciphering the script, which reads as follows:
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament for the better Observation of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ
Die Jovis, 19 December, 1644
Whereas some Doubts have been raised, whether the next Fast shall be Celebrated, because it falleth on the Day which was usually called the Feast of the Nativity of our Saviour: The Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled, do Order and Ordain, that publick Notice be given, that the Fast appointed to be kept the last Wednesday in every Month ought to be observed, until it be otherwise Ordered by both Houses of Parliament, and that this Day in particular, is to be kept with the more solemn Humiliation, because it may call to Remembrance our Sins, and the Sins of our Fore fathers, who have turned this Feast, pretending the Memory of Christ, into an extream Forgetfulness of him, by giving Liberty to carnal and sensual Delights, being contrary to the Life which Christ led here on Earth, and to the Spiritual Life of Christ in our Souls, for the Sanctifying and Saving whereof Christ was pleased both to take a Human life and to lay it down again.
The Christmas is Banned tea towel is available from Present Indicative.
Wonderful language of this declaration and you are right…why didn’t someone tell them to lighten up and allow extream forgetfulness? Fascinating to be reminded of the links between our 16th Century predecessors and current day practices in some religious circles.
As always, an arresting post, for which thanks. It would be interesting to explore how far other Puritans or equivalent Christians elsewhere in 17th century Protestant Europe took a similar view and equivalent steps in their own jurisdictions. What view did the migrant refugees from France take of Christmas festivities?
That’s a very good point, and I will have to dig into it. The Calvinist emphasis was always on the plain and simple, and strict observance of the Sabbath. In my childhood our family was not supposed to do anything on a Sunday except attend chapel, eat and read the Bible or, at a push, an improving book. Absolutely no work or leisure activity.
What the Reformed Faith aimed to reform was the “corrupted” Catholic Church, and celebration of Holy Feast Days was seen as part of that corruption. As Strict Baptists, the only celebrations we acknowledged were Christmas, Easter and Whit Sunday – although Harvest Festival did creep in there as well. No alcohol was consumed.
I like the fact that the ordinance and tea towel highlight ‘carnal and sensual delights’ in red. What a bunch of wet blankets those Grinchy Puritans were! Where does the name ‘Grinch’ come from, I wonder? Was there once a Mr Grinch, and a Mrs Grinch, and several little Grinches who went around demonstrating their disapproval of anything that might bring pleasure? Or did Dr Seuss make the name up to echo Grouch, perhaps? Anyway, I defiantly and doughtily wish you and your many fans a festive Christmas full of carnal and sensual delights.
Thank you! “Grinch” is indeed a wonderful name – echoing, as you say, “grouch” but I think also “pinch”, with all its many meanings.
I wish you too the best of the season’s delights!