In 1914, during World War I, a wide spread and unofficial Christmas
Truce broke out along the front lines of German and British soldiers.
Christmas hymns were sung by the Germans in their trenches, with the British joining in from their own dug in positions. The sides called out to each other, and agreed they would not shoot. They tentatively met, shook hands, and exchanged uniform buttons and other tokens of friendship.
In some places along the front lines they even shared meals and engaged in friendly games of football!
If we remembered our humanity and put aside our differences on one sacred day, why not do so every day?
Please join us and Imagine Peace.
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Photo Credits
1. Re-enactors Peter Knight and Stefan Langheinrich, descendants of Great War veterans, shake hands at the 2008 unveiling of a memorial to the 1914 Christmas Truce.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_Truce_memorial_ceremony_2008.jpg
2, British and German troops meeting in No-Mans's Land during the unofficial truce. (British troops from the Northumberland Hussars, 7th Division, Bridoux-Rouge Banc Sector).
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_Truce_1914.png
3. An article reporting the famous football match of the Christmas Truce during the First World War. Unknown UK newspaper, 26 December 1914.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ChristmasTruce.jpg
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More Information on the Christmas Truce
"During World War I, on and around Christmas Day 1914, the sounds of rifles firing and shells exploding faded in a number of places along the Western Front in favor of holiday celebrations in the trenches and gestures of goodwill between enemies." Short video from the History Channel here:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/christmas-truce-of-1914
"The Christmas truces were particularly significant due to the number of men involved and the level of their participation – even in very peaceful sectors, dozens of men openly congregating in daylight was remarkable – and are often seen as a symbolic moment of peace and humanity amidst one of the most violent events of human history." Quote from an extensive and well documented article on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce
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For more posts in the holiday spirit, see:
Jesus of Palestine
Merry Christmas from Bethlehem
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We can Imagine Peace, and then make it real!
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Boycott for Peace!
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