For today’s post, I would like to share with you a time when Christmas was banned in Scotland. Yes, it really was! And to mix things up a bit, I thought I’d have a little fun and try my hand at writing it as a poem. Perhaps it will sound a bit familiar to you. 🙂 Enjoy.
‘Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the land,
not a creature was stirring,
for Christmas was banned.
“Why?” you might ask,
when in Scotland of old,
the Yule was indeed
important we’re told.
You see, Yule – from the ‘Yuletide’-
was a festival of fun,
a time to laud the solstice
and the return of the sun.
Greenery was hung
as a symbol of life,
and the yule log burned warm,
merry, and bright.
In the year 1560, though,
something new happened.
The Reformation began –
spirits were dampened.
What used to be fun
was now frowned upon.
No more celebrations.
Beloved Yuletide was done.
From there it got worse,
more sadness and gloom.
And in 1640,
the Church lowered the boom.
Too pagan! Too Catholic!
Not biblical they said.
Go to work, eat your supper,
just be quiet instead.
Yuletide was banned,
the festivities finished.
If caught in celebration,
one would certainly be punished!
With no games, no gifts,
no more feasts to be had,
the people of Scotland
must have felt sad.
Thankfully, though,
cooler heads would prevail.
Nearly fifty years later
the act was repealed.
Three centuries more
was the notion suppressed,
though little by little
Christians welcomed the fest.
Old traditions and customs
that once had been barred,
were now part of Christmas,
reclaimed and restored.
Today Yuletide carols
are sung by a choir,
and Christmas trees sparkle
by the light of a star.
This Christmas as you
and your family delight,
I wish a happy Christmas to all
and to all a good night.
*Christmas became a public holiday in Scotland in 1958.
Enjoy your week, everyone, and I’ll see you again soon!
Cheers,
Love your poem. I did not know this about Scotland, learning something new about it every time I read your posts. Thank you. Many of my ancestors came from Scotland so I have new found appreciation and interest in your beautiful country. Merry Christmas
Thank you so much! I’m happy to know you are learning new things. Though I do have a little Scottish heritage, I am from the U.S. I live in Virginia, actually. I’m just very passionate about Scotland. Maybe someday I’ll be able to call Scotland ‘home’. 🙂
Clever poem!
Yes! This is amazing to me. And, so they say, the lack of celebration at Christmas is a contributing factor to how Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) got to be a 2-3 day blow out. Which reminds me, I’d better think about making a batch of Atholl Brose.
One of these days I’d like to experience a Hogmanay celebration. I’ve read that Stonehaven’s is pretty amazing, complete with fireballs. Looking forward to making your cake this coming weekend!
I think until recently, when Christmas got really hyped up, Hogmanay and New Year was always considered more important here in Scotland. Like your poem!
Thanks! Just curious, did you grow up celebrating Christmas in your family?
Yes, I did – but I was brought up in England (by Scottish parents) so no restrictions applied. My mum remembers when it was just another day though.
I think Christmas here in the U.S. wasn’t really celebrated until the mid-1800’s. Now living in a time when Christmas (here) is the most major celebration of the year-even for non-believers- it’s difficult to imagine what it would be like without it.
Like the poem. I still hear this same sentiment from certain Christians.