The early Pilgrims treated Christmas as any other day.The hardline Puritans could find no reference to the holiday in the Bible and considered it a pagan holiday. Christmas day in 1621 Governor Bradford had reluctantly let the “Strangers”(non-separatists) let them have the day off. As he and others went off to work the strangers went about and played in the streets including stool ball(an early version of cricket). Governor Bradford was furious when he returned and even confiscated their bat and balls. Told them it was unfair for them to do so in public and to keep celebrations indoors. In Massachusetts and Connecticut Christmas was actually against the law for many years until 1681 when the last of these were repealed. Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Wicked Awesome History : 1621 - Not so Merry Christmas in Plymouth
The early Pilgrims treated Christmas as any other day.The hardline Puritans could find no reference to the holiday in the Bible and considered it a pagan holiday. Christmas day in 1621 Governor Bradford had reluctantly let the “Strangers”(non-separatists) let them have the day off. As he and others went off to work the strangers went about and played in the streets including stool ball(an early version of cricket). Governor Bradford was furious when he returned and even confiscated their bat and balls. Told them it was unfair for them to do so in public and to keep celebrations indoors. In Massachusetts and Connecticut Christmas was actually against the law for many years until 1681 when the last of these were repealed. 
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