“…Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men…” or so the old carol declares. Christmas has always been looked upon as a time of harmony and good will but sadly, some Christmases remind us that the work of reconciling the world is still in the process. One such example was the Christmas of 1914. The world was several months into the largest war it had seen to that point: World War I. Many people throughout Europe expected a peaceful Christmas because they anticipated victory before the first snowfall. But unfortunately, Christmas rolled around and the guns were still pounding. No victory had been acheived and deadlock was falling on the Western Front. However, in the midst of this bleak winter, the two warring sides were prepared to lay aside their differences and gather round a tree to sing carols with their enemies.
On Christmas Day, 1914, an unofficial Christmas truce was declared by the combatant nations’ units on the Western Front. For one day the guns were quiet, the trenches empty and the sky clear. For one day the British, French and German soldiers on the Western Front stood up and addressed each other as friends, not enemies. Gifts were exchanged, carols were sung and a soccer match was played. Officers and men partied with each other and passed along Christmas cheer to their enemy combatants. It was, in some way, a picture of peace and good will to men. In the midst of the most destructive war that had plagued the world to that point, enemies became friends and a spirit of joy and harmony abounded.
It is somewhat encouraging to read and learn about the Christmas Truce of 1914 but it is also tragic. The Christmas Truce is tragic because it lasted only one day. On December 26, 1914, the guns were back to their constant roaring, the trenches were filled with men and medics and the sky was clouded over by the smoke of war. One day, the men embraced as brothers, the next they killed as enemies. The tragedy of the Christmas Truce was this: that for one day, the man in the trench acted in a spirit of humanity and showed his true character. He acted as a friend to the man across No Man’s Land but when that magic day was over, the world went back to hate and strife.
An important lesson can be learned from the Christmas Truce of 1914: humanity is tragically bound by sin and hate. We cannot overlook our rivalries and disagreements to the point that we will kill on the 24th and 26th. Some look at the Christmas Truce and see an inspirational story of peace and good will. I look at the Christmas Truce and see an ugly tale of human corruption and arrogant striving.