Christmas – Citizens Project

The Canterbury Christmas Riot of 1647

In 1647 the celebration of Christmas was declared by Parliament to be a punishable offence. In Canterbury, attempts to enforce this led to discord, rebellion, and violence that erupted in a series of riots. On Wednesday 22nd December 1647 the Canterbury Town Crier declared that Christmas Day would be a normal market day. The mayor … Read more

Christmas is Cancelled

If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should! A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens and published in December 1843, is a much loved Christmas tale. Its … Read more