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Show Mince Pies Prohibited in Days of the Puritans Tills mince pie has had many en einles. The Puritans would have none ol It, and even In the Eighteenth cen tury It was a forbidden delicacy to a large number ol clergymen. During the Commonwealth the holding ol Christmas festivals was forbidden. In 1G-I4 parliament passed an acl ordering ail citizens to observe Christ limn day as a solemn fast, to be spent In silent atonement for previous fes tlvals that had passed In riotous II v Ing and merry making. This ordei remained In force for 12 years. The authorities In several towns tried to reduce Christmas day to the level of other days. In Canterbury, by order ol the mayor, It was proclaimed thai "Christmas day and all other superstitious festivals should be put down." People who attended service In the cathedral were mobbed. The Inhab ltants formed themselves into two parties, and reeling In the matter frequently resulted In the exchange of blows. In 1052 It was proclaimed that "no observation shall be had ol the Ave and twentieth day ol December, com monly called Christmas day, nor any solemnity used or exercised In churches." This order was enforced by soldiers. Oven? and larders were searched, and where seasonable dainties or decora tlons were found they were carried off and destroyed. A changed attitude towards the Puritan dislike ol Christ mas festivities came with the restora tion of King Charles. |