It was only after the arrival of large numbers of Irish Catholics, and northern
European immigrants in the late 1700ís, that Christmas slowly weaved its way
into the fabric of American culture. Mirroring the opposition of early Christians
and the changing of Passover to Easter, the acceptance of the celebrations were
strongly opposed by the major denominations of that time.
ìA broad element of English Christianity still considered the
Christmas celebration a pagan blasphemy. The Puritans,
Baptists, Quakers, Presbyterians, Calvinists and other
denominations brought this opposition to early New
England. And strong opposition to the holiday lasted in
America until the middle of the 18th century.î 4In fact, as recently as 1901, only 1 in 5 homes in America even had a
Christmas tree. Now however, it is estimated that 80% of American homes have
a tree during the Season.
Charles Spurgeon is considered one of the great preachers of the 1800ís.
Towards the end of his time here on Earth, he had this to say about Christmas.
ìWe have no superstitious regard for times and seasons.
Certainly, we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical
arrangement called Christmas: first, because we do not
believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be said or
sung in Latin or in English; and secondly, because we find
no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as
the birthday of the Saviour; and consequently, its
observance is a superstition, because [it's] not of divine
authority. Superstition has fixed most positively the day of
our Saviour's birth, although there is no possibility of
discovering when it occurred.î 5 (emphasis mine)Many years earlier Spurgeon questioned how the Protestant Church could be
celebrating a purely Catholic holiday?
ìThere are no probabilities whatever that our Saviour Jesus
Christ was born on that day, and the observance of it is
purely of Popish origin; doubtless those who are Catholics
have a right to hallow it, but I do not see how consistent
Protestants can account it in the least sacred.î 6