Tag: Christmas

James I to Restoration, 17th Century history, Interregnum, Religious history, Social history

Christmas Day in the Commons, 1656

For those of you still working in Christmas week, Dr Stephen Roberts, editor of the Commons 1640-60 section, discusses the Commons’ debates on Christmas day, 1656: still sitting, of course, and rather disappointed that the rest of the country seemed to have taken the day off… On Christmas day 1656, the second parliament of Oliver Cromwell’s protectorate met as usual to transact business. Some years … Continue reading Christmas Day in the Commons, 1656

Stephen Roberts4 Comments
Interregnum, 17th Century history, Social history

Parliament and Christmas during the Civil War

One  of the worst insults today thrown at Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans in the mid-17th Century House of Commons is that they ‘cancelled Christmas’ (although I’m sure some of you fighting in the shops or eating yet another mince pie may have some sympathy!) In this post, Dr Stephen Roberts, editor of the House of Commons 1640-1660 section, puts the record straight about the … Continue reading Parliament and Christmas during the Civil War

Stephen Roberts7 Comments