By Tara Rippin • Published: 25 Dec 2020 • 9:01
A Carol from Flanders by Frederick Niven ( 1878 – 1944)
In Flanders on the Christmas morn The trenched foemen lay, the German and the Briton born, And it was Christmas Day. The red sun rose on fields accurst, The gray fog fled away; But neither cared to fire the first, For it was Christmas Day! They called from each to each across The hideous disarray, For terrible has been their loss: “Oh, this is Christmas Day!” Their rifles all they set aside, One impulse to obey; ‘Twas just the men on either side, Just men – and Christmas Day. They dug the graves for all their dead And over them did pray: And Englishmen and Germans said: “How strange a Christmas Day!” Between the trenches then they met, Shook hands, and e’en did play At games on which their hearts were set On happy Christmas Day. Not all the emperors and kings, Financiers and they Who rule us could prevent these things – For it was Christmas Day. Oh ye who read this truthful rime From Flanders, kneel and say: God speed the time when every day Shall be as Christmas Day.
Michel and Steven Euesden would like to wish everyone reading this message a very Merry Christmas. “It has been a difficult year for everyone but hopefully as in 1914 – we can all find it in our heart to be festive during this holiday period…
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Tara Rippin is a reporter for Spain’s largest English-speaking newspaper, Euro Weekly News, and is responsible for the Costa Blanca region. She has been in journalism for more than 20 years, having worked for local newspapers in the Midlands, UK, before relocating to Spain in 1990. Since arriving, the mother-of-one has made her home on the Costa Blanca, while spending 18 months at the EWN head office in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol. She loves being part of a community that has a wonderful expat and Spanish mix, and strives to bring the latest and most relevant news to EWN’s loyal and valued readers.
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