“Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, 1688.  Have a day of Prayer at our House; One principal reason as to particular, about my going for England.  Mr. Willard pray’d and preach’d excellently....  Intermission.  Mr. Allen pray’d, and then Mr. Moodey, both very well, then 3d-7th verses of the 86th Ps., sung Cambridge Short Tune, which I set...."[198]

“Febr. 12.  I pray’d God to accept me in keeping a privat day of Prayer with Fasting for That and other Important Matters:  ...  Perfect what is lacking in my Faith, and in the faith of my dear Yokefellow.  Convert my children; especially Samuel and Hanah; Provide Rest and Settlement for Hanah; Recover Mary, Save Judity, Elisabeth and Joseph:  Requite the Labour of Love of my Kinswoman, Jane Tappin, Give her health, find out Rest for her.  Make David a man after thy own heart, Let Susan live and be baptised with the Holy Ghost, and with fire...."[199]

     “Third-day, Augt. 13, 1695.  We have a Fast kept in our new
     Chamber...."[200]

In New England Thanksgiving and Christmas were observed at first only to a very slight extent, and not at all with the regularity and ceremony common to-day.  In the South, Christmas was celebrated without fail with much the same customs as those known in “Merrie Old England”; but among the earlier Puritans a large number frowned upon such special days as inclining toward Episcopal and Popish ceremonials, and many a Christmas passed with scarcely a notice.  Bradford in his so-called Log-Book gives us this description of such lack of observance of the day: 

“The day called Christmas Day ye Govr cal’d them out to worke (as was used) but ye moste of this new company excused themselves, and said yt went against their consciences to work on yt day.  So ye Govr tould them that if they made it mater of conscience, he would spare them till they were better informed.  So he led away ye rest and left them; but when they came home at noon from their work he found them in ye street at play openly, some pitching ye bar, and some at stool-ball and such like sports.  So he went to them and took away their implements and tould them it was against his conscience that they should play and others work.”

And Sewall doubtless would have agreed with “ye Govr”; for he notes: 

     “Dec. 25, 1717.  Snowy Cold Weather; Shops open as could be for
     the Storm; Hay, wood and all sorts of provisions brought to
     Town."[201]

“Dec. 25, Friday, 1685.  Carts come to Town and shops open as is usual.  Some somehow observe the day; but are vexed I believe that the body of the people profane it, and blessed be God no authority yet to Compell them to keep it."[202]

     “Tuesday, Decr. 25, 1722-3.  Shops are open, and Carts came to
     Town with Wood, Hoop-Poles, Hay & as at other Times; being a
     pleasant day, the street was fill’d with Carts and Horses."[203]