Christmas inspires history
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
In Christendom the powerful symbolism of this day has since inspired leaders to mark momentous occasions. A few such historical events which occurred Christmas Eve or Christmas Day include:
The crowning of Emperor Charlemagne by Pope Leo III, 800. Called the “Father of Europe,” this Frankish warrior-king and devout Catholic militarily united much of the continent and restored the Western Roman Empire. His 13-year rule brought (forced) religious, legal, and educational reforms which sparked a cultural revival.
On Christmas Day in 1066, William Duke of Normandy, a.k.a. William the Conqueror, was crowned king of England, changing the course of history and introducing the feudal system which preceded common law. He built the Tower of London (at times just a royal residence) and Windsor Castle. His French influence on the English language still holds today; many modern English words have French derivation.
On Christmas night in 1776, George Washington crossed the icy Delaware River. It was daring, and morale was low after British battle victories. His gamble paid off with minimal bloodshed; the enemy was hung-over after holiday celebrations. The victory became a revolutionary rallying cry.
The U.S. and Britain ended another war Christmas Eve of 1814 — the War of 1812. Negotiations for the Treaty of Ghent began in Belgium four months earlier, after British forces set fire to the White House and U.S. Capitol.
A lesser-known moment in the U.S. Civil war occurred at the stroke of President Andrew Johnson’s pen Dec. 25, 1868. Proclamation 179 gave amnesty to “all and every person” who fought on their side in the war. Earlier pardons restored limited rights to certain soldiers, but had not gone this far. Christmas seemed a fitting time to forgive, if not immediately forget.
An inspiring moment of forgetting came at the instigation of German troops during World War I in Belgium on Christmas Eve in 1914. They stopped firing, decorated their trenches, and began to sing Silent Night (in German, no doubt). British troops responded with “The First Noel,” and the French followed suit. Soon the combat-weary soldiers on all sides walked into “no man’s land” — the space separating the trenches — to shake hands, make merry, and share cigarettes, whisky and even a game of soccer with the same men they’d been firing upon.
May this day inspire more peace on Earth and goodwill toward men, wherever they are and whatever they believe. More unites us than divides.
Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network and may be reached at Sholeh@cdapress.com.