Complaints about the commercial-age corruption of Christmas overlook a critical fact: as a mass public celebration, the holiday is a rather recent invention.
The Puritans despised Christmas, associating it with debauchery and sinfulness, viewing it more as a false holiday connected to paganism than Christianity.
In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts made it illegal to celebrate Christmas, with a fine for those who feasted or took the day off.
Caroling sometimes escalated into violent trick-or-treating, with carolers demanding food and drink and vandalizing homes if their demands were not met.
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