NOTR - CROMWELL & THE MYTH OF PAGAN CHRISTMAS - 12.25.21

Today's Show: CROMWELL & THE MYTH OF PAGAN CHRISTMAS - 12.25.2021

Chris discusses the history of the celebration of Christmas in the Western world, along with the controversies surrounding the day itself.  It is often claimed that Christmas was somehow taken from the old pagan world, and was originally the feast of Saturnalia or some other heathen event.  We review an article written by an Oxford educated historian who writes about the “myth” of a pagan Christmas, and argues that it has been a thoroughly Christian holiday from the beginning.  We also discuss the history of how the Puritans banned Christmas during the time of Oliver Cromwell.  Was Cromwell himself against the celebration?  We hear from the curator of the Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon, England on the subject, who also reveals how the legislation was received by the people of that time.  

LISTEN ON SOUNDCLOUD


PLEASE NOTE: Adobe Flash has been discontinued since January 2021.  This has removed the ordinary player featured on the NOTR website.  To listen to the show from our site, click on the DOWNLOAD button below, and then on the next page, click on the title of the show which is HIGHLIGHTED IN RED. 

By clicking this icon you will be directed to our archives page in order to get an mp3 version of today's show. With this file you can listen to Noise of Thunder from your iPod or MP3 player whenever you want.