Thinking about the centenary of the First World War this year, and the amazing stories that came back from the Christmas truce, I’ve been wondering just how Christmas would have been celebrated. The focus for many on Christmas day is the huge turkey and the family gathered round a table groaning under the weight of vegetables and trimmings and wine and pudding, festooned with crackers and jokes and table gifts.
I wonder if you remember the Oxo family tribute to Turkey leftovers?
It is unlikely that Christmas would have been anything like this for those serving in the trenches. Rations were variable depending on where you were located: on the front line obviously cooking facilities were limited, further back there was a lot more creativity, and even ‘pop up’ cafes in the front rooms of local houses!
The staple ration though was something called ‘Machonachies Stew’ – a tinned stew which consisted mainly of fatty pieces of ‘meat’ and which did not taste particularly pleasant:
When served hot, as per the instructions on the tin, it was said to be barely edible. Eaten cold for days on end in the trenches, where a warm meal was usually no more than a fantasy, it was said to be disgusting.
http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/129/590x/secondary/193927.jpg
Alongside this could be hard tack (biscuits so hard that they could break teeth) and bully beef (corned beef). And when fruit and vegetables were unavailable the soldiers were issued with lime juice! A parcel from home containing luxuries such as chocolate was more than welcome. The Germans, we understand, were fed even less luxuriously.
This makes it even more amazing when we hear stories from that first Christmas of the unofficial truce. Not only did the soldiers stop firing, but they shared the little they had. Letters home tell of German soldiers giving Tommys sausages, and, according to Sainsbury’s at least, English soldiers shared their chocolate.
I find this challenging, We spend so much time and energy looking after ourselves and our own: buying presents, indulging in festive treats, making wishlists…. do we ever take the time to think about the needs of others?
Once an Ox shared his breakfast with a newborn baby boy in need of a bed.
Once the light of the world broke into the most unexpected of places and shared his hope, his kingdom, his life with us.
nothinglikeadane 
