The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1919-12-16
SANTA BANNED BY
PURITAN FATHERS
No Christmas Festivities or
Gifts for Children in Massa.
chusetts in Early Days
5iY IdST LIKE ANY OTHER
Condition eomewhat Better for Young.
sters In NV Arnsterdsr--HoIiday
Observance T>yIess In the Colo
mics in Sew. 7t,enth Century


In The early days Of thlsfcountry's
history Christmas festivities were not
generally observed and posr old "San-
Ia Claus" and all he represents, had
hard time Of II.
In Massachusetts, the observation Of
Christmas was utterly denounced as
an evil, ungodIy and perncious GUS
tom, and any child daring 10 think of
rs much as u plum pudding on that
day would make herself liable Ia re
proof by the authorities. All along
the stern and rock-bound coast, Ger
aldine Amcs writes In the Ohurchman.
the only Christmas trees In the days
Of the Puritan domination were those
that nature had planted there and h, u
adorned with heecy snow. The hres
burned brightly on the open hearths.
but as far MS the children knew
Christmas was Just like any ether day
In the calendar. Even after the Pur.
ltan reaction against the forms and
customs OF the old church had spent
itself 10 some extent the children Of
the seventeenth century still expected
no gifts IN honor of the birth Of Christ.
In New Amsterdam the outlook was
little better for the children. The
iioliahuers hhu Drought WIN mem
thelr ~. NichoIhs' ana MS pirthuh!
was celebrated ioyously by young and
old Just before Christmas, but Christ
mas was also observed. or course,
theN hnd nor many real toys as we
know them today, but IN the shoes
lhat me lltle Hoilnnders set by the
fireplace III the SHINING Kitchen, which
was also the living room' were nome
maze gus many OF these were OF
useiul chnracter' such us hand-khlt
cni's nuu "il'ehs' nut now ana theh
skli'tul iioihhuer. Wou'd carve
noueI OF y Doat such ms that which
IA" "rnusht 'he'n 10 new Amsterdam,
OF immature chest OF drawers ana
Vuc c"h ihhc! the recipieh's showing
.i,ese WIN prlue 10 tne wondering
n''ie in"i"n hoyS ana girIs when 'hey
ean'e W NC On terms vi su'hcient am
ny WIN 'nen TOT such conferences
In virginia where the church OF
hhginnu was strong ana It's adherents
stendinstiy observed Inc holidays MS
IN me nome country there was always
more OF me christmas spirit ana abun'
uhht cheer ana merrymaKlhg IMAM
ELSEWHERE at this season. here the
iu'" LOG hein MS plnce ana mere were
me shines ahe me teastihg mar maze
" indeed Tue merry season OF the year
La'er wheh New Amsterdam peenme
new YORK ana lhe hhgilsh chlhe IN
10 power the chnrncter OF the Nhrlst-
mas norway was chang'd somewhat
although the pulch influence cohtih'
ued uol''haht Tor mhhy years.
Throughout the colonies In the sew
enteenth ana eighteenth centuries
toys were an almost unknown rnctor'
hut Wherever CHRISTMAS observations
were NOT frowneu upon ny religion
roasting ana good cheer were aOun-
dnnt' ana bohd ana free' rich ana poor
Ola and young shared III the gaines
abundant iood ana geniai atmosphere
IN the elghteenth century toys began
70 make their appearance III the col
ONES some OF then We're brought
from over seas ana mad the enchant-
ing quality OF novelty Little girls
VINO hnd helped 10 mother their young