Why was Christmas banned by law? The founder of Protestantism, Martin Luther , wrote carols, but the Puritans denounced them as pagan or popish or both. But when the monarchy was restored to England, so was Christmas and Carol writing began again. Today's carols: 'Away in a manger', 'While shepherds watched', 'We three kings', 'The waits carol' ('Greensleeves'), "The three kings'.