————— current events through a historical lens————————
Being that this has been a tumultuous year for many, I thought I would share a Christmas message of hope. It is not a happy message per say, but one of peace. As an American Civil War historian, one of my favorite Christmas songs is, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
That may sound strange as most do not associate the two together, however, “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is a Civil War song. Most versions of the song do not include all the verses, but when all are used, you can understand that it is a song about the pain and struggle during the war. It is also powerful enough to resonate with anyone during difficult times. In the years before the Civil War, the great poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would have enjoyed Christmas like most in the Victorian era, with his wife and six children enjoying their version of a Dickens’ holiday.
These early memories might have even been the inspiration in the song’s first verses: I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Till, ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day. A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
However, for the Longfellows, like so many others during the Civil War, their lives would be shattered as the nation tore itself apart and caused the deaths of thousands. For the Longfellow household, their suffering began when Longfellow’s wife, Fannie, caught her dress on fire and was killed in 1861. In trying to put out the flames, Longfellow himself was severely burned.
To make matters worse, right before Christmas in November 1863, Longfellow’s oldest son was wounded in the Battle of Mine Run. The letters from the doctors told him that he might be permanently paralyzed. Longfellow rushed down to Washington, D.C. to help nurse his firstborn back to health. It is easy to understand the next few lines: Then from each black, accursed mouth, The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men! It was as if an earthquake rent hearthstones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, goodwill to men! And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said; “For hate is strong And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
It is easy to imagine Longfellow’s pain as he wrote these verses. His nation in tatters, he was nearly committed to an asylum from the pain of losing his wife and now his son might join her fate. Yet his son, Charles, survived, and the Spirit of Christmas was able to overcome such great suffering. It was the very babe born in Bethlehem that Christmas celebrates that said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Since the Civil War there have been too many Christmases where families are separated and struggling, and I am sure many have had similar thoughts as Longfellow. I hope this year Christmas can bring you some joy and peace and, like Longfellow, be able to say: Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, Peace on earth, goodwill to men!”
I have enjoyed sharing some thoughts with you this year. I hope they not only entertained, but made you take a moment to think historically as events unfolded. Mostly I want to say from my family to yours, we hope you have a very merry Christmas.
James Finck is a professor of American history at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. He may be reached at Historical-lySpeaking1776@ gmail. com.
