Re: A Rutherford Christmas Tradition
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In reply to:
A Rutherford Christmas Tradition
Gary Harding 12/20/04
In 1638 the General Assembly in Edinburgh tried to abolish Christmas all together. In Scotland, the rigid laws of the new Kirk frowned upon the celebration of Christmas, so it stayed underground. Only the High church and the Catholics kept the old traditions going. Christmas was restored during the reign of Charles II and the new laws flipped. Under Charles they threatened anyone who refused to observe the holiday with the loss of his team of oxen if they were found plowing in the field. Brrrrr……….. In fact, Rev. Samuel Rutherford’s good friend and cousin Alexander Gordon of Earlston hitched up his 10 sons and plowed all day Christmas to protest this law.
"Old Earlston, at once to protest against the persecution, and at the same time to save his draught-oxen, yoked ten of his stalwart sons to the mid-winter Plough, and, after Ploughing the whole of Christmas Day, openly defied both priest and bishop to distrain his team. Christmas Day, whatever its claims and privileges might be, had no chance in Scotland till it came with better reasons than the threat of a Popish king and Parliament."
Rev. Samuel Rutherford did not celebrate Christmas or Easter nor did any of the Covenanters for that matter. Oliver Cromwell had essentially cancelled Christmas, Easter and Boxing Day. In addition, ivy, mistletoe and holly were outlawed as "ungodly branches of superstition". It’s easy to understand why Scottish Christmas was at best a rather somber occasion prior to World War II. Indeed it wasn't even a public holiday, but a regular work day ………… Bah Humbug!!