Cromwell Bans Fun

A cousin and Lucy arrive at Oliver Cromwell’s door carrying a festive goose. Their cheerful visit quickly runs into his strict Puritan rules: Christmas dinner, the pub, the theatre and a kick-about are all forbidden. Lucy’s make-up earns its own reprimand. When the visitors finally suggest an activity that sounds suitably pious, Cromwell finds another reason to call in a guard. His brief Christmas greeting gives way to an order to imprison his relatives.

Christmas restrictions began before Cromwell became Lord Protector; the sketch exaggerates his personal role in imposing the bans.