These times of Christmas cheer gives one the opportunity to think of aspects and episodes of goodwill and camaraderie.

To start with, the carols: the English Oh come all ye faithful, the Italian Tu scendi dalle stelle and the German Stillige nacht, heilige nacht, which have now become universal and broken frontiers.

Even in times of war we come across episodes of Christmas lulls. Alpha of the Plough, in his charming essay Appy ‘Einrich,relates a heart-rending story of the trench warfare of World War I when the British and the German troops were hopelessly engulfed in the mud of the Meuse, particularly the deadly salient of Ypres, or Wipers as it was called by the British.

At sunset, a friendly Boche called Heinrich would put up his steel helmet on a bayonet and then get up and sing. The British troops would clap and join in, making a chorus.

One day, the regiment was changed and when Heinrich got up to sing a British soldier shot him. Alas poor ‘Einrich.

Songs are associated with the two world wars, not necessarily at Christmas. During World War I, for example, Tipperary, accompanied by bagpipes and drums, took over from the God Save the King and accompanied the entry of the victorious British troops everywhere.

Nearer my own time, in World War II, we would sing “I”ll hang my washing on the Siegfried Line” but the winner was the German Lili Marlen, which was translated in all languages as Tutte le sere, The lady of the lantern and what have you.

These songs have broken barriers and brought people closer together. Just in the spirit of Christmas.

May it be so with all readers.