7 fun facts about british Christmas

Which ones did you know already?

Was Christmas banned?

In 1647, Oliver Cromwell passed a law by which Christmas celebration in England was made illegal.  The law was overturned 13 years later.

More specifically, in January 1645, Parliament drew up a new, stringent Directory for Public Worship according to which, festive days, such as Christmas, should be spent in respectful contemplation rather than merriment or self-indulgence. 
From 1656, laws were enacted to make sure that every Sunday was celebrated as a holy day - the Lord's Day. Surprisingly, though, shops and markets were to stay open on Christmas Day, and in the City of London soldiers were commanded to patrol the streets and confiscate any food that was being concocted for Christmas celebrations.

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Why is it called 'Boxing Day'?

It all started in the UK roughly 800 years ago, during the Medieval period. It was the day when the alms boxes - collection boxes for the poor usually found in churches - were traditionally opened in order for their contents to be distributed to poor people. Several churches still do this on Boxing Day.

​It was also customary for servants to take the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families on Boxing Day. Prior to World War II, working people, like milkmen and butchers, would go door-to-door to their delivery places and collect their Christmas box or tip. 

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