Happy Easter - Fun Fact of the Day!

Easter in early Colonial America was banned because the Puritans believed it was a pagan celebration. Puritans believed that all days were holy, and since holidays like Easter and Christmas were not mentioned in the Bible, they were not to be celebrated. [1]

The Puritans were extremely strict about this because they believed that most people were going to be damned to hell and only a few would enter heaven as the elect. In 1659, both holidays were officially banned, and anyone caught celebrating them would be fined “either by forbearing of labour, feasting, or any other way … shall pay for every such offence five shillings, as a fine to the county.” [2]

On a side note, the Puritans are also responsible for the loss of Lenten celebrations in the Protestant churches because it is long associated with Catholicism. Thankfully, Easter and Christmas are no longer banned in this country. Christmas and Easter bans were overturned in 1681, but Christmas did not become an official federal holiday until 1870. Since Easter is always on Sunday, there is no official federal holiday designation.

1: Easter was banned in early America. - History Facts

2: When Easter and Christmas Were Banned - Owlcation