Christmas is a national holiday in the U.S., the U.K., and a host of other countries. For many people—regardless of their religion—it’s a paid day off from work. But employers actually aren’t compelled to grant the benefit, at least in the States and in Britain. If you get to stay home on December 25th, it’s due to company policy or specific contract rights.
With some jobs, of course, working on Christmas is part of the deal when you sign on. This coming Monday, cadres of nurses and doctors, fire fighters and police officers will be on duty for at least part of the day.
There was a time when working on Christmas was the rule—not the exception. The devoutly Christian Puritan settlers in Massachusetts banned all celebrations of the day, associating such events with paganism and idolatry. (England had similar prohibitions, as well.) Even after such laws were formally repealed, making merry on Christmas was long frowned upon socially. The holiday, as we now know it, didn’t really ascend until the late in the 1800's.
My list above of careers where working on holidays is a condition employment didn’t include military service. It warrants special attention, as the sacrifice is far greater, with postings far from home and orders that aren’t subject to negotiation. It can entail risk to life and limb.
That’s true for anyone in uniform, no matter what flag that they serve under or whatever is their faith. The holidays that they observe, joyous or somber, may find them in harsh conditions, far from home.
These are troubled times around the globe, with open conflict in some areas, and rising tensions in many others. There is ample reason for concern. There is also need for hope.
Being mindful of this made me think about the Christmas Truce that flickered briefly in the early part of World War I. At one spot on the front, opposing soldiers laid down their weapons, cautiously emerged from their trenches, and met in the middle of the contested battlefield.
They sang carols together in their different languages, and exchanged food and drink. When the sun rose low in the sky Christmas morning, the soldiers played soccer and shared their common humanity. You can see a fictionalized portrayal of this moment from the 2005 film, Joyeux Noel here. If you are as sentimental as I am, Kleenex is advised.
This brief, spontaneous truce did not last. Commanders on both sides ordered their troops to resume fighting, apparently under threat of execution if they disobeyed. The war (known then as the “war to end all wars”) went on for four more years. Many millions died. Even more were maimed or displaced.
You can take this story as one more example of how hard it is to end war once it is under way. There’s no arguing with that. But I choose to see it also as evidence of how deeply runs the desire for peace.
For those of us who will enjoy the warmth and comfort of family and friends over the coming holidays, I hope we’ll remember others who won’t have that opportunity. And in 2018, may we do our best to foster peace in our homes, communities, organizations and—to whatever extent we can—in our world more broadly.
With some jobs, of course, working on Christmas is part of the deal when you sign on. This coming Monday, cadres of nurses and doctors, fire fighters and police officers will be on duty for at least part of the day.
There was a time when working on Christmas was the rule—not the exception. The devoutly Christian Puritan settlers in Massachusetts banned all celebrations of the day, associating such events with paganism and idolatry. (England had similar prohibitions, as well.) Even after such laws were formally repealed, making merry on Christmas was long frowned upon socially. The holiday, as we now know it, didn’t really ascend until the late in the 1800's.
My list above of careers where working on holidays is a condition employment didn’t include military service. It warrants special attention, as the sacrifice is far greater, with postings far from home and orders that aren’t subject to negotiation. It can entail risk to life and limb.
That’s true for anyone in uniform, no matter what flag that they serve under or whatever is their faith. The holidays that they observe, joyous or somber, may find them in harsh conditions, far from home.
These are troubled times around the globe, with open conflict in some areas, and rising tensions in many others. There is ample reason for concern. There is also need for hope.
Being mindful of this made me think about the Christmas Truce that flickered briefly in the early part of World War I. At one spot on the front, opposing soldiers laid down their weapons, cautiously emerged from their trenches, and met in the middle of the contested battlefield.
They sang carols together in their different languages, and exchanged food and drink. When the sun rose low in the sky Christmas morning, the soldiers played soccer and shared their common humanity. You can see a fictionalized portrayal of this moment from the 2005 film, Joyeux Noel here. If you are as sentimental as I am, Kleenex is advised.
This brief, spontaneous truce did not last. Commanders on both sides ordered their troops to resume fighting, apparently under threat of execution if they disobeyed. The war (known then as the “war to end all wars”) went on for four more years. Many millions died. Even more were maimed or displaced.
You can take this story as one more example of how hard it is to end war once it is under way. There’s no arguing with that. But I choose to see it also as evidence of how deeply runs the desire for peace.
For those of us who will enjoy the warmth and comfort of family and friends over the coming holidays, I hope we’ll remember others who won’t have that opportunity. And in 2018, may we do our best to foster peace in our homes, communities, organizations and—to whatever extent we can—in our world more broadly.
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