The Battle for Christmas: A Cultural History of America's Most Cherished Holiday

New England Puritans had banned Christmas and made it a regular working day. The holiday was far from the wholesome family affair that we think of today. It often involved a lot of public drinking and begging. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" has lyrics discussion some of this original behavior. The carolers went around begging and would not leave until the received something. This was a time of year when the poor would extract from the wealthy.

In southern plantations, the Christmas season was a time to help keep slaves in check. The masters would "serve" the slaves. They would receive one of the best meals of the year, including meat and copious amounts of alcohol. After spending the holidays in a drunken stupor, the slaves would feel that they need the master to keep them in order. The master would also use the time to give them gifts (such as winter coats). Slaves that did not cooperate during the year would see their gifts reduced.

Many of the traditions that we have today were "invented" as old traditions. Christmas trees and many other things we think of at Christmas were made popular in the 1800s. They were hinted at as being old traditions, but were not common among people before then. Gift giving to children became the primary behavior, with Santa Claus and the like constructed at that time. Christmas became a holiday in the home, rather than of drunken revelry. (Though we still have work Christmas parties continuing on the "old" tradition.)