Is Cake Allowed?

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Spurred into action by Radio 4's Food Programme trotting out the 'Cromwell banned Christmas' line, time for the annual public service clarification...



It being that time of year, it is only right and proper to debunk the commonly held 'fact' that Cromwell banned Christmas. 

The Puritans who held the majority in Parliament effectively banned Christmas as a) they believed it to be wasteful and a sin, and b) as an attempt to persuade the Scots Presbyterians that only by supporting Parliament could they achieve their goal of religious tolerance. 

Whilst I do err with the belief that Christmas has become a festival of mass consumption and over commercialism, and has forgotten what the mid-winter festival is actually about, I wouldn't be up for banning it outright.

Whilst happy to celebrate my Parliamentarian heritage and leaning (my great × lots uncle became General Treasurer of Lancashire for Parliament in 1643), if Parliament was against cake I may well have to become a turncoat and rally to the King's aide.

So remember kids, it was Parliament wot banned Christmas, not Cromwell. Now pass another mince pie please.


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Comments

  1. Roy Bumpsteed13 December 2025 at 11:20

    Thanks fcr putting The message out,Itried to buy you a mince pie but unless its me the link does not appear to be working?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Radar13 December 2025 at 12:02

      We can but try Royal! I'd have thought better of R4 to be honest, but Cromwell banned Christmas rolls of the tongue too easily.

      Thanks for the thought of a virtual mince pie, I have looked at the links and they are all working for me. I'll investigate some more. Happy Christmas!

      Delete

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