The "Christmas Truce" of 1914
In 1914, on Christmas Eve, the German and British troops on the Western front of WWI ceased fighting for a day. It was an unofficial, unplanned cease-fire. It began by the Germans decorating trees with candles, and then singing Christmas carols (Stille Nacht). The British troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English Christmas carols.
The two sides began to shout Christmas greetings to each other. Soon they were calling each other to cross enemy lines and visit. And that is just what they did. Small gifts were then exchanged. A game of football (soccer?) was played. Recently fallen soldiers were brought back and given proper burials. The artillery in that region fell silent that night.
The "truce" spread to other areas of the lines that day. Soldiers spent Christmas together, talking and playing soccer.
In many places the truce lasted through Christmas night, but in some areas it continued until New Year's Day or longer.
Letter Documenting WWI Christmas Truce Found
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, so It's A Wonderful Life is not theologically correct in some ways. Angels don't earn their wings. But it is a cool movie in some other ways. Check out this link to read about the movie.
Check out this link also. But keep in mind the beginning of this little movie is not theologically correct. God is represented in two persons. As bunnies. Ok, so that's pretty bad, but we all know God is One God in Three Persons. And not a bunny. Watch the cartoon anyway and ignore the "God is a bunny talking to Clarence part" in the first second of the film.
It's A Wonderful Life (in 30 seconds, re-enacted by bunnies)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No, I don't believe you should actually do what this next article says. I am kind of horrified that somebody would regift like this. What if the original giver is at the party? But I am including this article because it is so bizarre and funny!
How to Throw a Re-Gifting Christmas Party
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
game: Sled Game
Gospel reading: Luke 1:57-66
