CHRISTMAS — 1914 Germans and British stop fighting to celebrate Christmas; 1862 Elijah Roades writes Christmas Memoirs, Bing Crosby introduces White Christmas, all-time best selling song; 1776 Washington crosses icy Delaware River
CHRISTMAS
1914 – The Germans and British stopped firing at each other. The Germans actually got out of their trenches early Christmas morning, walked into no man’s land unarmed. The British couldn’t believe it. They climbed out of their trenches and…shook hands with the Germans. Then they exchanged gifts of cigarettes and plum pudding. Some opposing enemies even played soccer together. This moment of ceasefire was used to remove those who had fallen in battle as well. Christmas proved for this moment in time that beneath the brutal clash of weapons, the soldier’s basic humanity proved stronger. After that story, if you still don’t believe in Santa, you’re missing the point entirely.
1941 – Bing Crosby introduces White Christmas to the world. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this is the biggest selling single of all time, in excess of over $100M; although rumor has it that Elton John’s Candle in the Wind topped that record. When Irvin Berlin wrote the song, he told his secretary, Grab your pen and take down this song. I just wrote the best song I’ve ever written – heck I just wrote the best song that anybody’s ever written.
1862 – Christmas for Union Soldier Elisha Hunt Rhodes. Lt. Rhodes, who served the Union army o the Potomac throughout the Civil War, spent the day singing with other officers and writing memoirs in his now famous diary. In 1990 Ken Burns would quote from that diary on the PBS special The Civil War. On Christmas 1863, He wrote in his diary, This is my fourth Christmas in the Army, I wonder if it will be my last. It would be; he was discharged after the war ended and worked as a cotton and wool trader in Rhode Island.
1776 – One person was definitely not in the Christmas mood. General George Washington decided to cross an icy Delaware River on Christmas Eve, with 5,400 troops, to attack a group of unsuspecting Hessians celebrating Christmas in Trenton NJ. Things weren’t going well for Washington; he had recently lost New York and other strategic areas to the British. This would be an extreme move. It was actually the coldest night in that area in years. The plan was for Washington’s men to cross the Delaware by midnight then walk ten miles to Trenton by 5am. Not so fast. Rain, sleet, ice, and pure darkness made this journey almost impossible for that many troops, let alone on schedule. Some large munitions seemed to take forever to cross the river.
Luckily for Washington, this was the last thing the Hessians expected from the Americans and were still too drunk or hungover to fight. Washington had the critical element of surprise, which is the only way he realized he would have a chance against the British army. It was a small victory, but sent a message that great Americans such as George Washington have determination, drive, creativity, and will not be denied. George Washington and the gutsy Delaware crossing everyone….like a boss! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!