The WW1 Christmas Story

When enemy combatants dared to celebrate Christmas together ...

Peace, joy and goodwill to all men

While some focus on the question surrounding the accuracy of the day we celebrate the birth of Christ, in 1914 German, French, Russians Austria-Hungary and British soldiers dared to celebrate Christmas on the day designated for the birth of Christ.

They intentionally choose to put away their weapons in no-man’s land and forget the horrors of war as they sang Christmas carols, exchanged gifts like food, drank wine together, and even reportedly playing soccer together in the spirit of Christmas.

For a few precious hours enemy combatants demonstrated love toward their enemies, joy in the midst of death and destruction, and peace while surrounded by the throes of war.

Granted, it was an unofficial but widespread truce that did not extend along the entire length of the trenches of the Western front, but the men who experienced that Christmas Day celebration were all greatly impacted by a memory they treasured till the day they died.

The birth of Christ

So much has been said about the birth of baby Jesus, but too much can never be said.

Born in the humblest of settings among animal dung in a feeding trough for animals called a manger, the King was born without pomp and ceremony.

His birth has to be acknowledged, even if we have the date wrong.

Without his birth there could be no death,

Without his death there could be no resurrection.

Without His resurrection there could be no forgiveness of sin.

Without forgiveness there could be no salvation.

The greatest gift of all this Christmas and every day of the year.

Thank God for Jesus who was sent to save mankind—first to experience all the temptations that we face before giving us the greatest gift —life everlasting …

From my family to yours:

Joy to the world and Merry Christmas to each of you,

Rick B.