Behind the glitter of parades, the clang of fireworks, and the rituals of celebration, lie centuries of forgotten history, surprising origins, and curious transformations. In this article, we dive into five strange but true historical facts about festivals, as highlighted or inspired by episodes of QI—a journey that takes us from pagan rites to global misunderstandings, with stops in medieval Europe and revolutionary France along the way.
Christmas Was Once Illegal in England and America
For many, Christmas conjures cozy images of decorated trees, joyful carols, and warm traditions. But as QI reminded its audience, this wasn’t always the case. In fact, Christmas was once banned—not in some totalitarian regime, but in England and New England during the 17th century.
The Puritan Ban
In 1647, under Oliver Cromwell and the Puritan Parliament, Christmas was officially outlawed in England. Puritans saw Christmas as a Catholic invention, filled with excess and unbiblical rites. Instead of the celebration of Christ's birth, they perceived it as a day of drunken revelry, gluttony, and "heathen customs." Shops were ordered to remain open, and those who celebrated could be punished.
In a QI segment, panellists noted how Puritan disdain for festivals stemmed from their strict Biblical literalism—since there was no biblical command to celebrate Christ’s birth, they deemed it heretical.
The Ban Crosses the Atlantic
When Puritans emigrated to North America, they took their anti-Christmas attitudes with them. In Massachusetts, Christmas was banned in 1659, with a five-shilling fine for anyone caught celebrating. The ban remained for over two decades.
Only in the 19th century did Christmas become widely accepted in both Britain and the U.S., thanks to writers like Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria’s royal Christmas trees. What we now see as a traditional and peaceful holiday was, for over a century, considered dangerously subversive shutdown123