Every family has Christmas traditions, some are more conventional than others. On Christmas Eve in 1826, the cadets at the West Point Military Academy decided they would create a little tradition of their own with some holiday spirits, in both senses of the word. Unfortunately, what started out as some Christmas cheer with a young Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee, ended as a full on riot against the bureaucracy.

What is the history of Christmas? Who was Jonathan Pintard and what research did he do about Christmas?

Further Reading:

Christmas in America: A History, written by Penne Lee Restad

How Christmas Became Merry, written by Andrew Burstein

1826: The great ‘Eggnog Riot’ at West Point when cadets revolted, written by Jonathan Croyle

Related Content:

The Christmas Conspiracy, Liberty Chronicles Podcast

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