Every year at this time it is worth remembering the Christmas truce of 1914, the year WWI started.
After Pope Benedict XV called for a “truce” at Christmas that year, no official cease fire was declared by either side, but stories are told of German and Allied troops on battlefields across Europe singing Christmas carols to each other on Christmas Eve.
Then at dawn on Christmas morning soldiers on both sides dared to leave their trenches and walk across no-man’s-land toward one another, calling out “Merry Christmas” in their native language. The stories also say that these sworn enemies shook hands, laughed, sang more carols, and even exchanged presents of cigarettes. Supposedly in a few instances soldiers from opposing sides played a game of soccer with a make shift ball.
Who knows what the faith traditions of those soldiers were. Probably some had none at all. It didn’t matter. What did was the fact that they were not fighting, not killing each other. They were being civil.
It didn’t last, of course. The unofficial truce gave way the next day to official war that went on for the next four years.
But the brief truce did what war cannot ever do. It showed the best side of humanity. It showed that all of us are made of the same stuff, have the same instincts, and long for the same things in life.
It’s easy to forget that, to forget that when all is said and done people are people wherever they live, whatever their politics may be, whatever religion they may practice.
It’s easy to forget that no nation is better than another, greater than another, more human than another.
People are people, and sometimes under the worst of circumstances the best that is in all of us comes out.
That’s what the Christmas truce of 1914 proved. I don’t know exactly what led those soldiers on the battle fields across Europe in 1914 to put down their guns and meet one another as human beings, but the least we can say is that they were filled with the spirit of Christmas in spite of the circumstances they were in.
I think that is the potential power of the Christmas spirit every year. And you don’t have to be Christian to experience it. You don’t even have to be religious.
Christmas is a holy season for the Christian community, but it is also a joyous holiday season for everyone who has the Santa spirit.
If you look up the definition of “Santa Claus” you will find that one of its meanings is “the spirit of Christmas as represented by a plump jolly old man with a white beard who is dressed in a red suit and delivers presents to children.”
That is something everyone can celebrate.
Maybe this year the Christmas spirit can do for the world what it did for those soldiers in WWI. I truly wish it would do so to our nation. We are a divided people today, engaged in warring factions that are tearing us apart and have virtually brought our government to a standstill.
We desperately need the Christmas spirit to help us realize that differences don’t have to prevent us from seeing one another as human beings, seeing that it is still possible for us to be one nation, under God, indivisible, and seeing that we can still be committed to doing whatever it takes to have liberty and justice for all.
So that is my Christmas wish for our nation. And it is my wish to all of you.
May the spirit of the one who was born, and the spirit of the mythical one children are waiting for to come to town, fill your heart and soul to overflowing.
Merry Christmas!
linnposts.com 
A most timely reminder of the 1914 Christmas truce that reflected man’s humanity in the worst of times. Your evocation of the Christmas spirit that all people can embrace is wonderfully stated and so badly needed in 2015 and beyond……
Thanks, Bill. Jesus and Santa can make for strange, but good bedfellows.
AMEN! And a Merry Christmas to you and yours, and to all who respond to your blog. I enjoy every issue and its comments. Thank you for great work.
Thanks, Wally.
My Christmas prayer for humanity is ‘Peace on Earth!’ We’re so fractured these days it’s hard to envision any true peace. Though I do have hope. As religious dogma gives way to a common belief in the universal Creator of All, that some call God, perhaps we can find some unity and unconditional love toward our global sister and brothers. Peace!
That is a wish all of us can embrace. Thanks, Rollie.
Beautiful and thought provoking article. Jan! Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family!!🎄🎄
And you and yours as well, Virginia.
About 20 years or so ago, I visited the mother of a German friend of mine. Her husband was a survivor of Stalingrad, being released from captivity only in 1955. This lady brought my attention to the story of the Stalingrad Madonna, which appears on this link: http://tinyurl.com/njkylkt
Like the 1914 Christmas Truce, it too is a moving story.
Indeed, Nigel, a beautiful story, and assurance once again that light shines in darkness and humanity can remember its own humanness whatever the circumstances.
Thank you for this uplifting post, Jan. May you, Joy and your whole family be fully immersed in the joys of “family closeness” this Christmas! God’s grace to you all!
Many thanks, Bob.