When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid the country of decadence. As part of the effort, they cancelled Christmas. The holiday was rekindled when Charles II was restored to the throne.

However, the pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. For many years, the holiday was actually outlawed in Boston, and anyone exibiting Christmas spirit was fined five shillings.

In what year was Christmas declared a federal holiday in the U.S.?

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