Connecticut’s Christmas Ban: An Act That Will Blow Your Mind

In my opinion, Connecticut is the ideal place to celebrate Christmas and experience it at its best. If you agree, you might want to take a seat because what I'm about to tell you could rock the foundation of your Christmas spirit.

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Christmas was banned in the Nutmeg State! Here is everything you need to know.

Why Was Christmas Banned in Connecticut?

Imagine Christmas without snow-covered streets, lights twinkling in windows, or the smell of festive treats filling the air. Hard to picture, right? Well, there was a time when that was the reality in Connecticut. In the 1600s, Christmas was actually illegal in the state. The Puritans, who settled in New England, were strongly opposed to the holiday. They viewed Christmas as a mix of pagan and Catholic rituals that had no place in their strict religious society.

According to Seasons Magazine:

The Puritans frowned heavily upon Christmas... viewing it as a marriage between paganism and Catholicism. Their objective was to stamp it out completely." To make sure it was, they made celebrating Christmas a punishable offense, with fines for those caught in the act.

The Hartford Courant added: that to the Puritans, Christmas was a "corrupt religious, if not a pagan, ritual," so Dec. 25 was just another workday—unless it happened to land on a Sunday.

What Changed to Bring Christmas Back?

Thankfully, this ban didn’t last forever. By the mid-19th century, attitudes had shifted, and Christmas was finally accepted as a holiday in Connecticut. The change came about gradually, but by the 1800s, people started embracing the festive spirit. Connecticut eventually became a place where the magic of Christmas could be fully appreciated again.

Why Did the Puritans Hate Christmas?

So, what made the Puritans so opposed to Christmas in the first place? According to historian Stephen Nissenbaum, it was a mix of religious beliefs, and the rowdy celebrations associated with the holiday. The Puritans believed there was no biblical basis for celebrating Christmas. "Nowhere in the Bible is there a mention of celebrating the Nativity," Nissenbaum explained. They also saw Christmas as tied to pagan customs, particularly the Roman festival of Saturnalia, which had been co-opted by early Christians in the fourth century. For Puritans, the fact that Christmas was set to December 25th, the same time as Saturnalia, only reinforced their belief that the holiday was more about the winter solstice than about Christianity. They believed that the holiday was "basically just a pagan custom" adopted by Catholics without any real biblical backing.

How Does Connecticut Celebrate Christmas Today?

Fast forward to today, and Connecticut is a Christmas destination for people from all over the country. It’s hard to imagine the state without its festive decorations, cozy town squares, and holiday cheer. Whether you're strolling through historic villages or enjoying a snowy night with candles glowing in the windows, Connecticut truly feels like a Christmas wonderland. The state's architecture, landscapes, and traditions make it an amazing place to experience the holiday spirit.

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In the end Christmas won, Christmas always wins.