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| Christmas Carnivals » Christmas History » Christmas History in England |
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Christmas History in England |
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Christmas History in England emerged in 598A.D with St Augustine’s arrival to England from Rome on 25th of December to preach Christian doctrines. In ancient times (1st C B.C) people around the world celebrated mid-winter festivals. The Saturnalia festival of the Romans and the Yule festival of the Norse are some
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among them. The English people inherited the custom of gift giving, festive meals, and tree decorations from their Pagan ancestors.
When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they denounced Christmas for its Pagan roots. The celebration was legally banned and any one found observing it was chastised. There was no feasting or decorating events and people were forced to work on this day. After the restoration of king Charles II in 1660, Christmas was retrieved in England again.
The wealth and technologies generated by the Industrial Revolution of the Victorian era marked the Christmas History in England. With the publication of his famous novel “A Christmas Carol”(1843) Dickens succeeded in transforming Christmas from a sacred festival into a family feast. The first ever Christmas card was posted in England in 1840 with the introduction of “Penny Post”.
The Christmas tree is central to England’s Holiday celebration. It was in the 1846 that Queen Victoria and her German husband Albert popularized the custom of Christmas tree throughout England.
Originally Father Christmas was a character of an old English midwinter festival. Clad in green he signified the return of spring. But the story of Sinter Klass representing the generous St. Nicholas came from the Dutch. From the 1870's Sinter Klass became known in Britain as Santa Claus and with him came his unique gift distributing tradition.
To learn more about Christmas History in England go through Christmas Carnivals.
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