On May 11, 1659, the Massachusetts Bay Colony did something that would make Ebenezer Scrooge proud: they made Christmas illegal. The General Court passed the "Penalty for Keeping Christmas" law, declaring that anyone caught observing the holiday "by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way" would be slapped with a 5-shilling fine.

For the next 22 years, Christmas cheer could literally cost you.

The Puritans vs. Santa Claus

The Puritans weren't being cruel—they genuinely believed Christmas was ungodly. Their reasoning was threefold: First, nowhere in the Bible does it say to celebrate Jesus's birth on December 25th. Second, they viewed Christmas as a pagan festival that Catholics had co-opted without scriptural authority. Third, the rowdy celebrations of the 1600s—complete with drinking, feasting, and "wassailing" (where poor folks demanded gifts from the rich)—struck them as the opposite of pious behavior.

To the Puritans, celebrating Christmas was basically spiritual malpractice.

What Could Get You Fined

Skipping work on December 25th
Eating a special feast
Any form of merriment whatsoever
Decorating or gift-giving

Basically, if you acknowledged Christmas existed, you were breaking the law. The fine of 5 shillings was substantial—roughly equivalent to a day's wages for a skilled craftsman.

The Ban's Demise

In 1681, England's King Charles II had had enough of Massachusetts's quirky theocratic rules. Under pressure from royal commissioners demanding the colony's laws align with England's, the General Court reluctantly repealed the Christmas ban. But don't think Christmas suddenly became popular—Puritans continued viewing the holiday with suspicion for over a century.

Christmas didn't become an official state holiday in Massachusetts until 1856—nearly 200 years after the ban was lifted and 80 years after American independence.

The Irony

Massachusetts went from banning Christmas to becoming home to some of America's most beloved holiday traditions. Today, Boston hosts massive Christmas celebrations, ice skating on the Common, and the famous tree lighting ceremonies. The state that once fined you for saying "Merry Christmas" now can't get enough of the holiday.

It's a reminder that even the most rigid social rules can change—and that today's controversial celebration might be tomorrow's cherished tradition.

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