|
The Battlefields of Flanders gave new meaning to the word war. Thousands of German, French and British soldiers engaged in trench warfare. Man’s newest killing machine, the machine gun, turning the trenches into a slaughter house of human flesh. Cold, wet, and, hungry both sides committed to their cause, fighting for what they saw was a justice.
Suddenly tiny lights began to flicker; the French and British troops struggled to figure out the source of the light. Was it a new weapon, some unknown force about to be unleashed? Was the living nightmare about to become a living hell?
From the short distance that separated the warring factions a melody could be heard. What was that melody? The flickering lights, a strange melody, and the guns lay silent. Was it “O Tannenbaum”? To the amazement of the French and British Troops “Fritz” was celebrating Christmas. The tiny lights proved to be candles decorating little Christmas Trees just outside the trenches. Soon the melody was replaced with “Merry Christmas Tommy” in a heavy German accent.
Not to be outdone by the Germans the Brits start singing “The First Noel”. When the Brits broke into “O Come All Ye Faithful” the Germans responded in-kind with “Adeste Fideles”, the same hymn in Latin.
Soon both sides began meeting in the no man’s land that separated the heavily fortified trenches. Exchanging well wishes, food, and tobacco, foes celebrated Christmas together. Playing cards, toasting the truce, and even playing soccer both sides took a step back to acknowledge the holy night.
Two mortal enemies committed to each other’s destruction, lay down their weapons, if only briefly to celebrate the Joy that is Christmas. It was the Eve of Christmas 1914, on the Western Front in Northern France and Belgium.
Here’s hoping the Christmas Miracle fills you and yours with Peace and Joy. Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!
|
