Presented by Grammar School, Grades 3-4
Our Grammar School students shared the story of the Christmas
truce during World War I.
War had been declared in July 1914, and by Christmas there was no
end in sight. Millions of soldiers were in trenches along the Western
Front.
The soldiers were packed together, living in freezing conditions. Often
these soldiers were living a stone’s throw from their enemy, with the
distance between British and German trenches as close as 30 meters
in places.
Late on Christmas Eve German troops began unwrapping gifts from
home, with many having been sent Christmas trees with candles. As
the German soldiers lit their lanterns and displayed them on the edge
of their trenches, carol singing broke out.
Soon the British and French troops joined in. Christmas
greetings and well wishes were exchanged, and offers of a temporary
ceasefire were communicated between the trenches.
Fear and distrust gave way to humanity. As the sun rose on
Christmas morning, troops from both sides tentatively made their way
out to no man’s land. The troops began to greet one another, and
messages and gifts were exchanged. In a number of places
spontaneous games of soccer broke out.
There are many eyewitness accounts of the truce, including letters
from soldiers. One German soldier wrote, “The English are letting off
fireworks”. Another wrote, “At midnight a baritone stood up and in a
rich resonant voice sang ‘O Holy Night.’”
What makes the Truce of 1914 so surprising, is that it was not one
truce but many. The British-held area of the Western Front stretched
across large amounts of land, and was home to a massive number of
troops. Dozens of impromptu truces sprung up across the front
involving over 100,000 soldiers.
The Christmas Truce remains a powerful and inspirational story of
the love of God that is felt during Christmas. God’s light and love is far
reaching and was seen even in the darkest of circumstances in the
trenches of World War I.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.”
-By Mrs. Layton
This historical thought was delivered by our Grammar School students at devotional on 01/09/2025. Each week one class leads the student body in prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, scripture recitation, a meditation, and an historical thought. Family and friends are welcome, Thursdays 8:30-9:05 am.
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