100 Years ago: The Christmas Truce of 1914

100 years ago at Christmastime, a most remarkable thing happened, as, inspired by the Christmas Spirit, soldiers in the trenches on both sides of the line met, unarmed, in No-Man's Land and exchanged carols, gifts, and a lively football (soccer) game, putting to a pause World War I in what became known as the Christmas Truce of 1914.

This amazing true story was, another World War and some decades later, made by John McCutcheon into a moving song that deserves to become a Christmas staple, especially on this 100th anniversary of the Christmas Truce of 1914.

Christmas in the Trenches

~ John McCutcheon

When I saw John McCutcheon perform this song some years ago, he introduced it, as he does here, with a chilling story of his experience playing it in Denmark to an audience including some German World War I Veterans. Please give a listen: