When Americans banned Christmas
The first "War on Christmas" was declared almost 400 years ago, courtesy of our Puritan forefathers

Listen to more audio explainers:
- The curious life of urban Christmas tree sellers
- How diamonds became the de facto engagement stone
- This week I learned what movie producers in the 1940s used for snow, and more
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Dan Stewart is a senior editor at The Week magazine. Originally from the U.K., he has been living in the United States since 2009.
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Crossword: July 26, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle