What echoes of the 18th-century Christmas still survive?

[rug]

December 1 - December 31, 2011

America cherishes its freedoms, among them the freedom to practice any religion or no religion at all.

The modern Christmas celebration may be the fullest expression of that right, with some choosing a religious observation, some enjoying a secular holiday, and others who do not mark the day in any way.

It hasn't always been that way. Despite the persistent mythology that America was built on religious freedom, history tells us a story of early colonies who had little tolerance for religions other than their own. In Virginia, failure to attend church was a crime, public taxes were collected to fund the church, and public office was barred to anyone who was not a member of the Anglican church.

In the founders' time, Christmas was a modest observation anchored by religious services. Church attendance might be the only feature of the modern celebration that an 18th-century colonist would recognize.

http://www.history.org/connect/index.cfm#.TtfGWcEqnug.reddit

Lots of interesting info at link.

[Adsos Letter]

1. "What echoes of the 18th-century Christmas still survive?"

I'll be damned if it isn't my mother-in-law's fruitcake... :dunce:

[rug]

2. Lol!

[Angry Dragon]

3. All fruitcale gladly accepted at the Dragon's Den

[silverweb]

7. Seriously.

The mockery of fruitcake is something I've never understood. Are fruitcake haters just snobbish foodies or what?

I love the chocolate cherry cordial candies that they mock, too. Does that make me unacceptable to polite society?

It's baffling to me.

[Angry Dragon]

8. We shall start the Friends of Fruitcake Society

:hi:

[silverweb]

13. Wonderful idea!

LOL

:hi:

[Adsos Letter]

14. *cough*

It's only the suspected age of her fruitcake, not the contents of that candied-fruit baked good, that is a residual of the 18th-century...so many of us in the family suspect, anyway. :D

[silverweb]

15. Thank you for that clarification!

:D

[izquierdista]

4. Freezing your ass off in Pennsylvania?

I'm sure the homeless there have a lot in common with the Valley Forge soldiers.

[rug]

6. Yeah, it's starting to get raw in the morning.

:scared:

Funny you mention Valley Forge. I was rreading about the different Occupys winter plans and thought of it. If they make it through the winter it will be a glorious spring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxW5yvpeHg4

In 1649
To St. George's Hill,
A ragged band they called the Diggers
Came to show the people's will
They defied the landlords
They defied the laws
They were the dispossessed reclaiming what was theirs

We come in peace they said
To dig and sow
We come to work the lands in common
And to make the waste ground grow
This earth divided
We will make whole
So it will be
A common treasury for all

The sin of property
We do disdain
No man has any right to buy and sell
The earth for private gain
By theft and murder
They took the land
Mow everywhere the walls
Spring up at their command

They make the laws
To chain us well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven
Or they damn us into hell
We will not worship
The God they serve
The God of greed who feed the rich
While poor folk starve

We work we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to the masters
Or pay rent to the lords
Still we are free
Though we are poor
You Diggers all stand up for glory
Stand up now

From the men of property
The orders came
They sent the hired men and troopers
To wipe out the Diggers' claim
Tear down their cottages
Destroy their corn
They were dispersed
But still the vision lingers on

You poor take courage
You rich take care
This earth was made a common treasury
For everyone to share
All things in common
All people one
We come in peace
The orders came to cut them down

[Adsos Letter]

9. I was introduced to Winstanley's writings while taking a class on the English civil war

A very pleasant surprise they were. :)

[rug]

10. Yes, the Chrisrian communist movements always fascinate me.

I remember a group in the 60s who called themselves Diggers but weren't religious as far as I could tell. They ran a Free Store in Manhattan.

Here's a great site about them.

http://www.diggers.org/top_entry.htm

[Adsos Letter]

11. Thanks, rug, I'll read that this evening.

I was impressed by how modern Winstanley's writings sounded. Much preferable to the ideas of the Fifth Monarchy Men, in my opinion.

Have you read any Christopher Hill? I have several of his books, but World Turned Upside Down remains one of my favorites.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the thought-world that was exposed by the English civil war.

[rug]

12. I haven't. Thanks for the suggestion.

:hi:

[xchrom]

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