Christmas in the Colonies

Christmas in England

• Celebrated as an “Adult Party” lots of food, gambling and drinking.

No presents for children

Father Christmas brings “Good Cheer”

Christmas in the Southern Colonies

Practiced the same as in England.

Slaves were given the day off from work

Horse races were very popular

Christmas in the New England Colonies

• The celebration of Christmas was forbidden by the Puritans

'More mischief is that time committed than in all the year besides ... What dicing and carding, what eating and drinking, what banqueting and feasting is then used ... to the great dishonour of God and the impoverishing of the realm.'

Christmas in the Middle Colonies

• German Quakers do not celebrate Christmas

• “Christkindl” (messanger of Baby Jesus) brings small presents to children.

• The “Tannenbaum” (Christmas Tree) is a tradition from before Christianity.

The German’sFroehliche Weihnachten!

Christmas in the Middle Colonies

• “Sinterklaas” brings presents to good children. He carries a big sack of toys.

The Dutch

'Zwarte Pieten’ Santa’s Helpers

Sinterklaas lives in Spain and arrives by boat then delivers

presents by riding a gray horse on the rooftops.

Sint Nicolaasfeest

If you are BAD!!!Krampus in Germany would put bad kids into his sack and carry them off.

Krampus would hit bad kids with “ruten” bundles of gold painted sticks