Rex Regnant Sed Non Gubernat

In 2006, peace on earth is as elusive as ever as small wars occur regularly and expand into bigger conflicts. Territorial “imperatives,” aggressive tendencies and desire for plunder always interfere with an ability to sustain a lasting peace. Wars are such a regular routine for humanity that the European lack of a continent-wide conflagration between the final exile of Napoleon in 1815 and the beginnings of the Great War (World War I) in 1914 is sometimes referred to as the “hundred year’s peace.”

In the first two centuries after the birth of Christ, Roman power and will kept the Mediterranean world in a state of relative calm known as the “Pax Romana.” Even there, however, small conflicts occurred regularly on the fringes of the empire. Some modern historians use a similar phrase, “pax Americana,” to refer to the lack of a major world conflict as due to American power and will. The United States, like Rome, has had to deal with smaller wars during that time.

As a general rule, wars and conflicts are extensions of foreign policy goals for nations and peoples. For this reason, the rationale for quarrels sometimes eludes those fighting. This explains why governments feel compelled to begin massive propaganda campaigns as a means of convincing the people of the righteousness of the cause. This is especially important for the soldiers themselves. Units of soldiers learn to protect each other because of cohesiveness as much as or more than hatred of the enemy.

What would happen, then, if the soldiers themselves simply decided to not fight? There was a popular poster in the ’60s that said “What if we had war and nobody came?” On this Christmas Eve we might remind ourselves that this is precisely what happened in December 1914 along several places in the trenches of the Great War.

The famous Christmas Eve truce spontaneously began at several points along the line as German, British, Scot and some French soldiers began to fraternize. It may have started with German soldiers placing Christmas trees on their parapets or with singing. One account has German soldiers singing “Stille Nacht” while their English counterparts sang “Silent Night.”

By the next day, foods were being exchanged along with small gifts. Soldiers from both sides mingled in no-man’s land and shared photos of family back home. There are stories of a soccer match played between Germans and British that the Germans won 3-2. Other accounts state that burial ceremonies were attended by soldiers from each side.

Attempts by higher officials to end the truce failed in most cases as it carried over until the end of Christmas day. In at least one case, the truce lasted until New Year’s Day. Not wanting to repeat this episode in subsequent years, artillery barrages were ordered on Christmas Eve and soldiers were routinely shuffled so they would not be too friendly with the enemy across the way. Nevertheless, much smaller episodes did occur in the following years.

Lesson of history: Throughout history there has existed a tension between people willing to fight for narrow national and ethnic interests, and the desire of individuals to get along with others. The result of that tension usually falls on the side of war, but on rare occasion comes down on the side of peace. The insanity of the Great War that began in August 1914 gave way to a brief moment of sanity in December as soldiers quit fighting to enjoy Christmas.

May your Christmas season be a time of peace and joy as you enjoy the birthday celebration of the Prince of Peace.