It is not too late to join in the tour this year. You can still sign up at the sign up post.
This passage comes from page 243 of Anthony Capella's The Empress of Ice Cream.
I told Elias we would be spending the winter out at Hampton and his face fell.
"What is it, boy?"
He said hesitantly, "It is just that we will miss Christmas."
"Elias!" his mother said, overhearing. "Christmas! What is this I hear?"
He hung his head in shame. "Some of the other children are saying that it will be a holiday."
Without asking my permission, she whisked him off into a corner. I thought she must be scolding him over his lack of enthusiasm for his work, until I realised that her objection was a different one. She was trying to speak quietly, but anger made her voice carry.
"... bad enought that you work for a papist. But I will not be celebrating papist festivals as well. Now be off with you, and no more talk of Christmas."
***
"You don't celebrate Christmas, I take it?" I said neutrally.
"We do not."
"May I ask the reason?'
"Under the Protector, it was seen that there was no need for it."
"Whereas the Protector's own birthday, no doubt, was a public holiday?"
She glared at me. "Show me where in the Gospels it says that December the twenty-fifth is Christ's birthday, and we will celebrate it. Until then the Sabbath is enough Lord's Day for us."
Interesting passage, Marg. Something we take for granted as having always been in existence, and it hasn't. Not even close. from some of the religious historical books I have read (history of religion, I mean), seemed to think Dec 25 has an old source in early religions. It escaped them that kings had roles to play in deciding what we celebrate, too. I enjoyed reading this. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMarg ~ you realise Cromwell BANDED Christmas and had may Roman Catholics killed for their faith?!
ReplyDeleteYou can definitely learn some intersting things from historical fiction. I learnt a lot about the industral revolution in england from reading the barforth trilogy. I was so interested I did some research and it certaily seemed that the bulk of the content was accurate.
ReplyDeleteBecky, It's one of the reasons why I love to read HF.
ReplyDeleteMarshalslion, frowned upon might have been a bit of a tame word. Christmas itself was still recognised, you just couldn't celebrate it in the way that had become tradition (ie wassailing and feasting etc) and if you were found celebrating you were arrested.
Susan, my understanding is that the dates for Christmas were set based on other pagan festivals that were in existence at the time.
The quotes from this book gave me the chills, Marg. I can't imagine not being able to or not being encouraged to celebrate Christmas! I need to read this book!
ReplyDeleteZibilee, I really like most of Anthony Capella's books. I do warn you, you will want to eat ice cream when you read this book!
ReplyDelete