The "Christmas truce" is a term used to describe several brief unofficial cessations of hostilities that occurred on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day between German and British or French troops in World War I, particularly that between British and German troops stationed along the Western Front during Christmas 1914. In 1915 there was a similar Christmas truce between German and French troops, and during Easter 1916 a truce also existed on the Eastern Front.

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES

My name is Francis Toliver and I come from Liverpool
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school
To Belgium and to Flanders to Germany to here
I fought for king and country I love dear

T'was Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were still no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
There brave and glorious lads so far away

I was lying with my mess mate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up me boys," each solder strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear

"He's singing bloody well you know," my partner said to me
Soon one by one each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war

As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
God Rest Ye Merry Gentle Men struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was Stille Nacht "'tis Silent Night," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky

"There's something coming toward us," the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag like a Christmas star shone on that plain so bright
As he bravely strode unarmed into the night

Then one by one on either side walked into no man's land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and wished each other well
And in a flare lit soccer game we gave 'em hell

We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeeze box, they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart who lived that wondrous night
"Who's family have I fixed within my sights?"

T'was Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had crumbled and were gone forever more

My name is Frances Toliver and in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same

-John McCutcheon