Christmas no longer illegal
An article I’ve just written for the Generous website
Spend less and be more Generous
In 1647, the English Parliament passed a law that made Christmas illegal. Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas festivities, considering feasting and revelry on a ‘holy day’ immoral. Anybody caught celebrating Christmas was arrested. The ban was only lifted when the Puritans lost power in 1660.
The reason for mentioning this rather random historical fact is that I tend to feel rather like Cromwell’s long lost distant descendant at this time of year. Not because I aim to be, please understand. More because the ideas I choose to promote sometimes paint me as a bit of a Scrooge.
In actual fact, I’m totally in favour of ‘feasting and revelry’ and am a huge fan of the season in general. In addition to the standard merriment, food and partying, it’s a fantastic opportunity to show hospitality towards those neighbours or work colleagues that we tend to ignore. Also for using the occasion to strengthen family ties.
But when it comes to presents under the tree, ‘giving generously’ doesn’t mean we ought to re-mortgage our homes. If anything, it might be more generous to give a less expensive gift, but give it a bit more thought.
For example, a voucher that says, ‘I’ll babysit for you once a month this coming year’. Or what about buying books, DVDs, CDs, games etc. second-hand off eBay or Amazon… or from a local charity shop? And any money that we then save – by getting less expensive presents – could be directed towards those who really need it. Those who won’t be enjoying all of the festivities that we will; who wouldn’t notice if their country made Christmas illegal again. (As Bob Geldof would have us sing: ‘Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?’)
So, what about spending half as much as we usually would on family members this year, and, with the money saved, buy a goat (or similar) for those in need… and tell the family on Christmas Day? Or did you know that for £60 you can twin your toilet with one built in Burundi, for those who aren’t used to such luxuries (toilettwinning.org)?
If you’re feeling very ambitious and have time on our hands, then to make a present is a generous yet cheap idea: knit a scarf, bake a cake, paint a picture, compose a song, write a poem. Go on, I will if you will! It’s not illegal, we won’t get arrested, and, if we do something generous with the money we save by not splashing out, we’ll be making a difference to those in need, which can’t be bad.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:40 pm
what country made christmas illegal ???
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:58 am
England, in 1647, for 13 whole years!
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
christmas is the best time in the whole world
December 3rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
amen to that sister!
December 8th, 2009 at 8:56 am
I agree with thinking more & paying less. Our family has always had a policy that we don’t spend what we can’t afford on Christmas. ie. we don’t do ‘Christmas on credit’. When I was a small child I remember getting a hobby horse which my mum had made, and a few years later a fort – also home made, but with ’shop bought’ knights on horses (the horses were the key for me!). My brother’s first ‘Christmas bike’ was a second hand one which had been bought, refurbished, cleaned and polished. I never remember feeling short of presents on Christmas day. And it has carried on past my childhood years. Recently a family member spotted in someone elses cast offs a piece of the Denby china I collect. They rescued it, & gave it to me for Christmas. I was thrilled as the pattern is no longer commercially available. We don’t have an entirely recycled Christmas, but we do enjoy our celebrations, and don’t have a financial hangover afterwards.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I love that bit about the Denby China! Nice one!
Yes, a pressie that someone has clearly put thought into means a whole lot more than some smellies from Boots of a box of chocs, I think.
Like a novel I’ve mentioned I might like to read, but bought from a charity shop, would make an ideal pressie for me; in fact I’d be happier with this than if someone bought it for me new as I’d feel it was less of a waste of money!
December 19th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I recognize that tree. Yes, and our Christmas’s on the farm, were differant than those of today. The cows, pigs, and chickens had to be fed, and watered. A lot of work, but went well, after the jobs were finished. We knew the meaning of Christmas, Jesus came as a baby, more was made of that. It was not shopping and stuff, and TV, we didn’t have a TV, in fact we did not have electricity, how would they get on today like that? Those Christmas’s were special, good, brilliant, as you have allready mentioned, lets get back to basics. Good, go for it. Help others who can’t pay us back, just have a giving heart, to help others, seriously.
December 20th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Yes, I think xmas TV has a lot to answer for!
(That said, I always buy the xmas Radio Times and attack it with a highlighter – it’s a xmas tradition!)