A world turned upside down
In 17th-century England, under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell and his righteous Puritanism, Parliament passed laws ensuring that Christmas would be observed as a solemn occasion. Not all in the country agreed, particularly since Christmas had been one of the great festivals of social silliness where class distinctions were put aside for a few hours. Responding to the uptight rigor of governmentally imposed holiday restrictions, a new protest song swept through neighborhoods and quickly became the song of the day. It was called "World Turned Upside Down," and included these lyrics:
