5 real-life Grinches from history that almost ruined Christmas

3 min de lectura
5 real-life grinches from history that almost ruined christmas
5 real-life Grinches from history that almost ruined Christmas

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It’s a well-known secret that the real inspiration behind the iconic Grinch was no other than Dr. Seuss himself. The man who gave us such endearing characters that shaped many of our childhoods had two sides. According to his family, he was the full personification of the Cat in the hat when he was in a good mood, but when things were a bit down, his soul would turn a bit grinchy.

However, that’s not the kind of real-life Grinch we’re referring to today. We’re talking about real historical figures that, for some reason, nearly destroyed Christmas at some point in history. Here are the meanest!

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The British officer who ended the Christmas truce

Ok, we have to address this. Who was the villain that stopped such an emotional moment that could’ve ended this gruesome war? This was the setting. It’s Christmas Day of 1914, just about six months since the war started. It’s already having a terrible toll, and soldiers were already tired. All of a sudden, in the silence of the night, soldiers from both sides start singing Christmas carols to ease their minds. The jolly spirit consumes everybody’s soul, and all of a sudden, little by little, soldiers from both trenches start getting out to share a unique Christmas. 

They danced, sung, played soccer, traded goods, and even wondered if this could be the end of that nightmarish war. It wasn’t; one of the British commanders ordered his men to go back to their posts and carry on with their duty. The firing started just a couple of hours later, and the war wouldn’t stop until four years later. The name of this villain was never recorded, and most likely if he hadn’t done so, a German officer might’ve. But still, this nameless man will always be remembered as the man who ended one of the most humane and emotional truces in history.

Brock Chisholm

Let’s start with this colorful character who came to be known as “the doctor to the human race.” Well, this psychiatrist, who is also remembered as the first director-general of the World Health Organization, had very polemic opinions towards Christmas, especially against Santa Claus. In a public event in Ottawa in 1945, just the year the world was hoping to go back to normal holidays, Chrisholm declared that “any child who believes in Santa Claus has had his ability to think permanently destroyed.”

For him, the idea of Santa Claus was completely unrealistic, and especially at a crucial historical time they were facing with the end of the war, children needed to think realistically. People all over the world were aghast with the remarks and wanted him to clarify his remarks, but he stayed firm on what he thought. He added that “Santa Claus was one of the worst offenders against clear thinking, and so an offense against peace.”

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Oliver Cromwell

Cromwell, known for being the man who led a coup d’etat against King Charles I in the 17th century, also had a grudge for Christmas. Although he didn’t ban the festivity per se, he did what he knew best, led a movement that would end Christmas. When Cromwell rose to power, he established the English Protectorate, which was pretty much a Parliament full of puritans that believed that all the joyful traditions of the season were a disgrace to the real meaning of the Christmas celebration. Caroling, feasting, presents, and any form of enjoyment was seen as sinful by these puritans, and such, they started banning them all including decorations and even Nativity scenes! This lasted almost two decades until Cromwell was overthrown in 1660.

Reverend Paul Nedergaard

Remember our first real-life Grinch? The psychiatrist who claimed Santa Claus was the worst offense against real thinking? Well, in 1958, while people were still recovering from these strong and hurtful remarks, Danish reverend, Paul Nedergaard, denounced a fund-raising agency for using the image of Santa Claus. He claimed he was the symbol of a pagan goblin and that people should stay away from that devilish figure. He started a whole campaign against Santa Claus and why it was a disgrace to their faith to honor that figure. 

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The Massachusetts Colony

Last but not least, we have a collective Grinch personified by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who in 1659 decided that the celebration of Christmas or any holiday similar to it was to be banned and punished. The Colony was run by a group of Puritans, and as we saw with Cromwell, they had a thing against anything joyful. The punishment for celebrating Christmas went from monetary fines to actual labor punishment. The Christmas ban lasted for over two decades, and even when it was lifted, Christmas celebrations in Boston wouldn’t come back until almost a century later.

Photos from Wikimedia Commons

Isabel Carrasco

Isabel Carrasco

History buff, crafts maniac, and makeup lover!

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