Attribution: Frederic Villiers (1851–1922), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Christmas Truce
By Geoff Carter
The holiday season is all about family tradition. Whether it’s about going to Midnight Mass, carving the Christmas ham, avoiding the mother-in-law’s homemade eggnog, or sampling Grandma’s oyster stew, traditions are what makes our holidays special. But some people are hurting. Many are out of work. Some do not have enough to eat or a place to sleep. Not all families will be able to gather together. Some loved ones are gone forever. Yet, no matter the hardship and no matter their means, people will find a way to celebrate.
So, in recognition of our fragile and marginalized citizens who are doing the best they can to make this season festive and joyous, The Pen in Hand would like to present his collection of unconventional Christmas moments—snippets of film, TV, and audio—that celebrate the non-traditional, unusual, and exuberant holiday observances.
The Silent Night Scene from Joyeux Noel
On Christmas Eve, 1914, during the first World War, German, English, and Scottish troops declared an informal ceasefire along certain sectors of the front lines. They sang carols together, conducted burials and prisoner exchanges, met in no-mans-land, exchanged presents, and even played an impromptu game of football.
In this scene from Joyeux Noel, a fictionalized account of the famous Christmas Truce, these mortal enemies bond over a shared rendition of “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful”.