"In
New England, for the first two centuries of white settlement, most people
did not celebrate Christmas. In fact, the holiday was
systematically suppressed by Puritans during the colonial period and
largely ignored by their descendants. It was actually illegal to
celebrate Christmas in Massachusetts between 1659 and 1681 (the
fine was five shillings). Only in the middle of the nineteenth
century did Christmas gain legal recognition as an official
public holiday in New England."
- In the Pulitzer Prize finalist, "The
Battle for Christmas”, by University of Massachusetts historian
Stephen Nissenbaum
"A
decree issued in 1659 formally banned the observance of Christmas
-and all other like holidays- with a penalty of five shillings to
be levied against any lawbreaker. "
-
Christmas in Colonial and Early America,
by
World Book Encyclopedia, p.11-12