Festivals of colonial America: from celebration to revolution

Within a highly stratified colonial society that traditionally precluded the populace from political involvement, crowd action in pre-Revolutionary America became a potent force in successfully obtaining political goals. Participation in festivals contributed to this new sense of popular empowerment. The festivals of May Day, New England Election Day, Pinkster, the King's Birthday, Pope Day, and New Year's Eve allowed the populace forums to build dynamic group relationships, to gain experience in organization, and to pubHcly express opinions. Revolutionary leaders recognized the importance of festivals and drew on their rituals, objects, and symbols to energize the pubHc, and the public responded by further adapting festive elements for protest.