Thursday, May 21, 2015

The Time They Cancelled Christmas

May 21

In 1643, the British Parliament officially abolished the celebration of Christmas. Oliver Cromwell banned the singing of carols and parties, thinking that Christmas should be a very solemn day. But it wasn't done without protest. Riots broke out in 1647, and the Mayor of Canterbury was mauled by a mob. The ban lasted for 17 years, ending a little more than a year after Cromwell's death.

May 20

Myths and legends of elves are very popular in Scandinavia, and many people make life accommodations in their everyday lives. They believe in "the hidden people," who live in nearby hills and rocky areas. Once, an official soccer game held in Reykjavik, Iceland, was called to a halt when the ball rolled off the field and stopped right next to a sign that marked the home of three elves living in the nearby rocks.

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