Christmas celebrations in 18^th Century America had some similarities with but also many differences from the Christmas celebrations of today. Most surprising of the differences was that some of the New England Colonies actually had laws banning Christmas celebrations mostly due to the Puritan influence. But the Puritans were not alone in not celebrating Christmas; the Quakers, Presbyterians and Baptisms also avoided Christmas celebrations. A Massachusetts law sanctioned anyone who "is found observing, by abstinence from labor, feasting, or any other way, any such days as Christmas day . . . ." Such bans on Christmas continued well into the 19^th Century.

Although not widely celebrated in New England and among certain religions, those Colonies with Anglicans and with immigrants for other parts of Europe, such as the Dutch and Germans, did have joyous Christmas celebrations with a combination of religious services, social festivities and sumptuous banquets. Some of today's Christmas traditions can be found in the Colonial Christmas celebrations.

Religious Services and Music

In the Anglican Church, the services and liturgy during Advent focused on the prophetic pronouncements of Christ's birth and earthly ministry by John the Baptist and the Prophet Isaiah. Some of the popular English hymns and carols sung during the Christmas season included some of which are still a traditional part of Christmas: "Joy to the World", "The First Noel", "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen", and "I Saw Three Ships".

Christmas Trees and Decorations

Legend has it that the first Christmas trees in America were the Tannenbaums (German for fir trees) introduced by Hessian mercenaries fighting in the Revolutionary War on behalf of the British. Whether this legend is true or not, a Christmas tree was not likely to have been part of many Colonial Christmas celebrations. However, many Colonial homes and churches would have been decorated with evergreen boughs, berries or mistletoe.

Gift Giving

In Colonial America, Christmas was not yet a children's holiday and, as such, there was not Santa Claus or stockings hung by the chimney with care. These arrived later and were uniquely American even though some antecedents can be traced back to European immigrants (for example, the Dutch tradition of Sinter Claes and the wooden shoes of children filled with small gifts and sweets). Nevertheless, Christmas time in Colonial America was a day of gift giving between masters and servants, mentor and apprentices, shop owners and employees. The gifts, always given by the superior person to those of lesser status and not reciprocal, consisted of small gifts or cash.

Festivities

Christmas time was a time of socializing and festivities for its celebrants. Dances, banquets, and parties were always enjoyed, but focused on the adults and not the children.

Christmas Feasts

Throughout the history of Christmas, food has always been a central part of the celebration and this was also the case in Colonial America. Colonial Christmas banquets included a wide array of delicacies and special foods, such as fish, oysters, beef, goose, ham, mincemeat pies, brandied peaches, wassail and eggnog. George Washington's recipe for eggnog was heavy on the spirits - on quart of cream, one quart of milk, a dozen eggs, one pint of brandy, a half pint of rye, a quarter pint of rum and a quarter pint of sherry. Several glasses of Washington's eggnog would have certainly put the Christmas party-goer in a joyous Christmas spirit.