It would be nearly, if not completely impossible, to compile a history of the actions of a 16th century military leader, politician Puritan fanatic named Oliver Cromwell, without sparking an uproar. Cromwell is, arguably, the most controversial figure in British history. To some he was a hero, and others a tyrant, and to this day, he is the most hated man in Ireland.

Cromwell was a member of a radical fundamentalist movement that began within the Church of England that demanded the church be re-made into a more Protestant organization. The Puritans followed Calvinist theology, and believed they possessed a direct mandate from God to eliminate any resemblance in the Anglican Church to Catholicism. They also argued that it was the duty and obligation of the civil government to purge British society of sinful behaviors, practices, and basically anything that was not in agreement with the beliefs of John Calvin. The would wage three civil wars, attempt an ethnic cleansing in Ireland, and commit regicide (the killing of a king) to enforce their mandate.

In the civil wars that British history refers to as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Oliver Cromwell and his armies overthrew the British government, toppled the Monarchy, took King Charles I prisoner, later murdered him, laid waste to Ireland, leaving an estimated 41 percent of the Irish population dead from combat, starvation and disease, murdered Catholic priests, clergy, and monks, and instilled a dictatorial government with a parliament largely made up of Puritans. the remaining members were of other Protestant sects. Acts of legislation regulating social customs meant to force Calvinist thought and culture were frequently passed. One of particular act of legislation passed was more than Englishmen would tolerate, however, making criminals of millions of U.K. citizens.

The Puritans believed that centuries old customs relating to Christmas were not only abhorrent, but sinful as well. In fact, the Puritans and the Calvinist believed that people needed strict rules to be religious, and that any kind of merrymaking was sinful. Celebrations of any kind were hated. So, in 1644, Parliament passed an act forbidding celebrating Christmas, including bans on singing carols or other songs related to Christmas. Not content with that, three years later, they passed another act confirming the ban of the Feast of Christmas. Father Christmas, by two acts of Parliament, became an outlaw under British law. But not everyone in Great Britain was Calvinist. These parliamentary acts served only to create millions of outlaws, as well, because the Puritans, in their folly, did not “stop Christmas from coming,” they simply drove it underground. Christmas was celebrated just as joyously as ever, but in secret.

While Cromwell has many defenders to this day, he was not only unpopular throughout the United Kingdom, his dictatorship was becoming intolerable to the majority of citizens. Under his dictatorial laws, Church attendance was mandatory. Horse racing and cockfights were banned, plays were prohibited, gambling dens and brothels were closed. While Parliament was called during Cromwell’s reign (when he needed money), he often dismissed it when its members disagreed with him. When traveling, his bodyguard consisted of 160 of the best soldiers.

Cromwell’s power lay the armies he commanded. When he died in 1658, his son assumed the title of protectorate, but he was a weak and ineffective dictator. By the time Richard Cromwell surrendered his title in 1659, the British people, and even the Parliament, were sick of war, military rule, forced morality, and executions of legally seated government officials. As David Ross, editor of Britain express accurately stated it: “The results of the Commonwealth and the Protectorate confirmed in the English a hatred of military rule and the severe Puritanism associated with it. From this point on Parliament opposed Puritanism vigorously.”

In 1660, Parliament offered to restore the monarchy to Charles II, if he would agree to concessions for religious toleration and a general amnesty. Charles was not as stubborn as his father. He agreed to the concessions. He returned to London on a wave of popular support, and was crowned Charles II, King of England, Scotland and Ireland.

With Charles on the throne and the monarchy restored, the legislations passed by Cromwell and his Puritans during their dictatorship were overturned. This included the outlawing of Christmas.

Changes in attitude toward Christmas had changed during Cromwell’s dictatorship. The majority of the British citizens seemed to have lost interest in religion, or anything religious. Christmas became a simply secular celebration, and eventually fell out of practice. In fact, by the first decades of the 19th century, Christmas was nearly extinct. It would take two very influential men, one English and the other German, to revive the Spirit of Christmas. Charles Dickens and Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, would redefine Christmas, as well as its meaning, to the entire world.