5 of history's biggest killjoys

Who would declare war on Christmas, alcohol, and sex? These extremely uptight people.

A portrait of Oliver Cromwell and his daughter
(Image credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

1. Oliver Cromwell, (1599-1658): Stole Christmas

Technically, it wasn't Cromwell himself that stole Father Christmas from England in the 1640s. It was the government he presided over as Lord Protector. During the brief period between the execution of King Charles the First and The Restoration of the monarchy with Charles II, Christmas was forbidden.

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Therese O'Neill

Therese O'Neill lives in Oregon and writes for The Atlantic, Mental Floss, Jezebel, and more. She is the author of New York Times bestseller Unmentionable: The Victorian Ladies Guide to Sex, Marriage and Manners. Meet her at writerthereseoneill.com.