A Christmas Ban?

Embracing the Holidays During the English Civil War

This week, a snowy dig in the fields reminded us that Christmas is just around the corner! 

Arguably one of the largest holidays of our modern calendar, here in England, the name ‘Christmas’ meaning ‘Christ’s Mass’ was first recorded in 1038 AD, and our modern festivities are largely derived from this early Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus. But the true spirit of Christmas can be traced back much earlier, woven through the Pagan traditions surrounding the winter solstice. And one thing all of these celebrations had in common was a feast! 

Now, some of you may already know of our very own Roman Found holiday tradition. But for those of you who don't, each year we trace the history or the origin of an important Christmas tradition, only you won’t be finding us in the fields for this one. Instead, we will be in the kitchen cooking and eating our way through history. We’ve tasted the delights of a Roman Saturnalia, the Victorian Christmas Pudding, explored the importance of coins throughout the holidays, and this year we have decided to step into a world where Christmas itself was an act of rebellion. 

Our Civil War Shillings

In UK history there has only been one period that saw the first and only execution of an English King. The English Civil Wars. 

This period between 1642 and 1651 AD was a time of unprecedented events. England was in complete political and social upheaval, caught in the grips of three wars between Parliament and Charles I; the result of the final breakdown of a long and drawn-out struggle for total power and control over England. And the human cost of these wars was incredibly high, people of every social class saw themselves dragged into the conflicts, divided and caught between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists. It is estimated that as many as one in four adult men took up arms. People were simply left with no choice, with armies tearing through the country, nowhere was truly safe. 

Our treasure find of the year, our James I (1607 AD) and Charles I (1640 - 41 AD) shillings were lost in the turbulence and chaos of this period. A shilling would have represented around 12 pence each, a large denomination and a significant amount of money for the time. For comparison a common Civil War Soldier received only 8 pence a day, and they only saw half of that, and sometimes even less, as money was deducted from their wages for lodgings, clothes and weapons. Totalling as much as a whole week's worth of wages this was a pretty significant loss, and perhaps even one deliberately buried for safekeeping. After all, in 1644, not much longer after the latest coin here was minted, Lincoln did find itself on the frontline with Lincoln Castle stormed and the Royalist forces defeated.

Could this have been a soldier, nervous before battle, burying his savings in the earth, only to never return?

The Ban on Christmas

By 1647 Charles I was a prisoner and the first English Civil War was over. The Parliamentarians had taken control, and as much as the war was driven by political and social factors there was naturally a religious tension that led to one of the more unusual consequences of this new power. An outright ban on Christmas. 

For the Puritans, Protestants, and Parliamentarians, Christmas was a festivity that they had become suspicious of. It was seen as far too Catholic at a time when Catholicism was being persecuted, it wasn’t mentioned or justified in the bible or religious scripture and more generally Christmas had become a bit too jubilant; too drunken and exuberant with people giving in to their cardinal sins. And it is true that Christmas had become a huge celebration for many, involving twelve days of decorating, gifting and feasting. And now this new Parliamentarian Government wanted to continue the work begun in the English Reformation and ‘purify’ the English Church, removing these ‘wayward’ festivities for the greater good. 

You see they had already attempted to ban Christmas in 1644 after their monthly day of prayer, repentance and fasting fell on Christmas day. Church services were ordered to be cancelled and a specific ordinance was passed to enforce the fasting. But at this time Parliament didn’t control much of the country, and it was torn apart by the Civil War, so how many people really followed their orders? 

‘Christmas was killed at Naseby fight: Charity was slain at that same time, Jack Tell-truth too, a friend of mine, Likewise then did die, roast beef and shred pie, Pig, Goose and Capon no quarter found. Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turned upside down.’ - Royalist Ballad, 1646 AD, found in the Thomason Tracts.

But this next attempt in June 1647 was the outright ban, with Parliament in control. And it wasn’t just Christmas they outlawed either, removing Easter and Whitsun festivities too and offering a monthly bank holiday instead. There were fines imposed on those found not following the new rules, shops had to stay open, churches had to close and soldiers patrolled the streets ordered to remove any food they suspected of being remotely associated with Christmas. Of course, this didn’t go down well with the people of England, protests and riots soon broke out across the country, aptly named as the ‘Plum Pudding Riots’, soon becoming a quick and rebellious pathway into the outbreak of the Second English Civil War.

5 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Detectorist

Stuck on ideas for the digger in your life? These would be our picks…

1. Finds Identified III - Materials, Manufacture & Design

You can never have too many research books. A good detectorist needs an excellent library, and this series of richly illustrated books pull together finds from the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme to create a comprehensive guide. This long-awaited third book in the series follows the evolution of artefacts as new materials were introduced into their manufacture.

2. YETI Rambler® 20 oz (591 ml) Stackable Cup

One of the wonders of the YETI cup is that it’s versatile, keeping your coffee hot till the very last sip, or for the summer season, your beer cold. It’s the perfect companion to a digging adventure, no matter the weather. We would personally recommend the YETI in Wetlands Brown or Cape Taupe, the Roman Found approved digging colours. 

3. Snake Skinz

Now we love a Snake Skinz, who doesn’t like a bit of bling? In a world where all detectors look the same, why not get a fancy cable cover and stand out from the crowd, plus they protect your cable from cuts and abrasions too. Does anyone have any suggestions for what new colour we should get for the Manticore?

4. Barbour Wellington Bag

We would describe this option as a boujee digging accessory. You might think an Asda shopping bag will do for your muddy wellies but why not treat yourself to a Barbour one? Embrace the digging lifestyle. 

5. Evolution Extreme Digging Trowel

The Evolution Digging Trowel has proved itself as our favourite excavating tool, and trust us we’ve been through many of them - our thoughts still go out to our Garrett Edge Digger still buried in Field 12 of 2022’s Detectival. What stands out about the Evolution version though is its solid construction, perfect for levering out wedged horseshoes or rocks with no worry about it bending and sharp and manoeuvrable enough for that precise excavating needed to reveal a target.