If you keep the truth in your back pocket… you’ll spend your whole life standing.
I went bobbing for apples at the Thanksgiving day state fair when I was around six years old. There was a teenage eskimo named Elsinore that ran the apple booth that I knew from down the street. I knew him because he worked the crosswalk on schooldays and would always help the younger kids get across the busy intersection. I think I was the only one that ever spoke to him as we waited for the traffic to clear. He was different, angry, and always looking up into the sky, like it was too much trouble to just tilt his head down to see who you were. I stood in line at the fair and tried to get an apple a total of seven times that day and never once even came close to biting into one. Elsinore said that my mouth just wasn’t big enough to wrap itself around a big apple yet, much like some brains aren’t big enough to wrap themselves around some ideas. He said that he couldn’t change the apples, but not to worry because the years would change my mouth. Elsinore always said weird things, but I liked him anyway.
One day at the crosswalk I asked him what it was like to be an eskimo, if he’d ever seen any elves, and why they would EVER choose to move away from Santa!! Elsinore said that he used to not believe in any of that stuff, but that his identical twin sister Elsie, who still lived in an igloo up at the North pole certainly did, and that she convinced him… and then he proceeded to tell me a story about believing, the same story that Elsie had told him.
Searching for magic in a week of no Sundays.
It was a story about an entire world war that happened a long, long time ago, where people were dying and killing each other faster than ever before in history. He said that it was like a game of dodgeball, and that both sides were hiding in trenches about half a football field apart, and that they’d just climb out and charge through a sort of no-mans land to the other side, only to get chopped to pieces by enemy gunfire, and that there were some places in no-mans land that the bodies were stacked three people high, that the trenches were freezing and muddy, and that people were dying of exposure even if they didn’t charge… and that this went on for about 120 days before something changed. And that’s when it happened. Out of the silence, and long after the sun had gone down, a German soldier started singing a song, and his voice carried all the way across no-man’s land. Belgian and British soldiers heard, and slowly joined in from the other side until the communal chorus was almost choir-like . Finally, when the sun began to show it’s head, so did the sworn enemies. From both sides, the soldiers began to peek over the trenches and see each other. But, this time was different. Not a single gun was fired. Instead of diving back into their respective trenches upon seeing their enemies, this time they just stared deep into the eyes of each other. Out of nowhere, the soldiers from both sides decided to lay down their weapons, and slowly climb out of their trenches… completely unarmed. Some approached their enemies with tears in their eyes. Some just stood in utter astonishment at what was happening… but no one fought. Elsinore said that they gave themselves the greatest gift they’d ever received. They gave themselves peace for a few wonderful hours. They laid down their guns and spontaneously decided not to fight. He said that it was a silent order from Santa Claus’ boss not to fight, and that because they all believed… they all heard him that night.
…Hope.
He said that it WAS hard to leave Santa, but that he sees elves every single day… and that so do I. He asked me who I thought made the best gifts in the world. I said elves. He then told me that the best gifts in the world are the gifts we give ourselves, so we must all be elves. And that our consistent belief in Santa keeps us building our own gifts all year round. I told him that some of the kids said that Santa didn’t exist, and asked him if he was sure he’d seen him up there. He said that if Santa didn’t exist, then we’d stop giving ourselves all the cool stuff in life. He said that we all come from some place, and that we’re all going some place, and that Santa’s boss is in charge of it all, and that he didn’t build a staircase to nowhere. He said that if we stop believing in tomorrow, then we won’t bother with taking care of today, and that without a today… we’ll just sort of wither away..
Elsinore said he’d asked for a gift from Elsie, and that if Santa was real, then he’d get it. He said it was the best gift in the world. I reminded him that he said that the best gifts in the world come from ourselves. He just looked up into the sky again, and said… “exactly”. It didn’t make sense at the time, but what did I know… I was just young and stupid.
I never saw Elsinore again after that holiday break.. His twin sister Elsie was working the crosswalk the first day back after the new year, and she said that Elsinore had told her everything about me. She said that Elsinore told her to tell me that Santa Definitely existed, and that he knew because he got his wish, and that he traded with Elsie and is now living with Santa up at the North pole. I knew in my heart that Santa existed anyway, but it sure felt good to have Elsinore’s first hand confirmation. But, he was wrong about the identical part. He and Elsie were different. She was nice, friendly, and always smiling… and she even looked at me. She even looked at everybody.
Believe
A wonderful moment in time.
THIS is the real incident that Elsinore was referring to:
The Great War
Although one of the deadliest wars in history, WWI had only been raging for 120 days when men were being slaughtered at a record pace. Death and bodies were everywhere, with men being shot after having barely escaped the cold of the previous night covered in mud. Soldiers faced each other in wet trenches that were at some points no more than 50 yards apart. Like clockwork, men would rise, climb the ladder out of the trench and sprint towards their enemy through no-mans land, only to get lacerated by the gunfire and fall on a heap of previously killed men from both sides. This continued day in and day out with neither side gaining so much as an inch. It continued because both sides were convinced that their respective foes were five steps below human, with absolutely no redeemable qualities whatsoever & who welcomed death to defend an inexcusable ideal.
Amidst such a horrible display of humanity arose one of the most monumental moments in the history of humankind. Something absolutely magical happened completely out of the smoky black haze that separated the sky from the rain and smoke and fire and death that blanketed the area. A certain thing entered that place and provided a glorious episode of sanity from amongst the slaughter that encompassed the front. Something occurred that spoke to the soldiers in a universal language and convinced them not to fight. For a brief few hours, both sides spontaneously laid down their weapons and slowly climbed out of their trenches and approached each other. Some bearing gifts of chocolate and tobacco, with tears in their eyes. Some picking up their foes in a warm embrace. Some even began playing a friendly game of soccer, while others just stood frozen in astonishment at what they were witnessing. But all in accordance with a silent, but understood cease-fire. This wonderfully magical moment actually happened. And if it happened once, then it can happen again. THIS is what I want to bottle and hand out to all of humanity. Whatever the circumstances were that happened on that day need to be located, identified, distilled, contained and handed out to any and all. We need to bottle “belief”. People for one very brief moment believed in something bigger, larger, and more important than themselves. They believed in each other. They believed in the universal “us”.
SO, what is it exactly that happened? I’ll tell you what happened. …Christmas happened… and it happened on December 25th, in the year 1914. Not a holiday… but Christmas. …Christmas Fourteen.
The very next day, under strict orders, both sides went back to fighting, to slaughtering… to altering each of their families lives forever. But for one beautiful moment, they all believed. WE… all believed.
ChristmasFourteen.com
God bless
-Sean Patrick Flanery
Beautiful, my friend. Thank you.
Beautiful. The first time I read about the ceasefire of 1914 it brought tears to my eyes. I never tire of hearing it. Without hope what is left?
Merry Christmas and thank you for sharing.
Sean this is beautiful. I’ve heard the story of that christmas before, but I must say that you put it in a context the I will never forget. For we all must treat ourselves to what is true and believe that for a few moments in time we are all at peace. We are all one in this world with common love and respect. Have a beautiful holiday sean and I hope you and donut have a wonderful new year.
That moment from WWI was just magical. I’ve been reading about it since I was quite a small child and I’ve always found it very comforting, yet deeply sad moment. Thank you for writing about it.
Happy holidays to you and yours.
Love,
Rika from Finland (pretty close to the Elves & Santa, actually)
i’d heard the story before in passing and wondered the validity of it. Thanks for the history lesson.
A very Merry Christmas to you, Lauren, Lola, Charlie, Donut, Disco and the rest of your family and all you hold dear, Sean 🙂 xoxo
Very profound. A lovely piece to read first thing in the morning on my birthday 🙂
Merry Christmas, Sean!
thank you for sharing a wonderful story with us. and merry christmas to you and yours!
How do u know that Elsinore was transgender? Was he Elsie? lol
This literally brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for reminding us what’s truly important this time of year! Much love.
Also, pleas let me know which charity(s) you support. I’d like to make a donation in your honor for Christmas.
I may not believe in anything religious as it’s presented to us nowadays but I do believe that there must be something else, something bigger than all of, something that links us all together and helps us to go thru…And reading the things you write really makes me feel like I can do anything, that there’s people out there who really appreciate me and that I’m able to reach the stars if I really want to.
In fact, I’m grateful for people like you exist because no matter what, they make you feel like you can grab their hands and just keep on going, despite being so awesomely far away from you.
So thank you Sean for being the way you are. Thank you, Shepherd 🙂
Thanks Sean for reminding me of this beautiful story it has been so long since I have heard it I believe the last time was in basic training and it made even the men tear up in the class room. I just read it to Ally and Cassie and we talked about it and I was surprised to hear Ally say she had heard it before! The look on their faces and the goosebumps on my arms gave me a wonderful proud moment thank you for that moment with my girls. This is why I love you xoxo
Breesie
one beautiful moment.beautiful story.thank you&verymerry Xmas
I’ve never heard of Christmas 14 before. What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing these stories. My step-mum’s uncles fought in WWI and she’s often mentioned one uncle telling her family about spending Christmas in no-man’s land singing Christmas carols and sharing drinks and food with the German soldiers. All those young men, boys really, just trying to find a few hours of camaraderie and comfort in a terrible, terrible place. This moment of history is a tremendous reminder of how “human” we can be to one another if we just reach out and make the effort. I too hope that someday they find a way to bottle this generosity of spirit for all to share. :^)
Beautiful!!!! Merry Christmas, Sean!!!
There’s alot of thing that I wont bother to read nowadays, mostly because the people that are writing them, haven’t a clue in the world what they are referring too or even stating in their stories. I dont trust that many people in this world, but I do “believe” and know that ANYTHING you write must be the truth and must be real. Why would someone go through so much to just tell us a bunch of nonsense? Well…I know of some people haha but you sir aren’t one of them. This story and your wisdom and your thoughtfulness of wanting to share something like this, makes you to be a genuine wonderful man. Thank you for everything and for all the time and love you give all of us. You deserve the best! Merry Christmas Sean to you and your loved ones 🙂
Beautiful. Had to read several times due to my tears. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Merry Christmas, Sean. And never stop believing!
Your words were my Xmas gift! Thank you!
Christmas Fourteen…….I wondered about the significance of the name you chose for your new website. Now I know….and it’s a beautiful choice. Christmas 14 will be amazing. I look forward to being one of your Christmas 14 warriors. I’ve been patiently waiting for the website to be up and running. Can you share a projected begin date for the website?
Thank you so much, Sean, for this stirring blog. You gave me chills and tears…..again. Merry Christmas, God bless and shine on my friend.
Thank you for sharing such an amazing story. Each person can make a difference and together we can truly change the world for the better. I wish you and your family a lifetime of love and happiness. Have a wonderful Christmas and a year full of overflowing laughter. Much love
This is absolutely stunning. Every Christmas eve, our family’s tradition is to sit around the tree and read a Christmas story together. This year I’m going to read this to them. It really speaks volumes and It goes to show that the important messages in life can come from anywhere, we just have to be big enough to experience them with open ears and open hearts.
I am so grateful to have made your acquaintance this year, you may very well be my Elsinore.
Merry Christmas and God Bless!!
<3!!
Emili
Thank you for that beautiful story. Happy holidays to you and yours
We’ve lost something in this world. We’ve lost the ideals we once had. We’ve lost the value of goodness and life. If, for just a brief time, we could only regain it, it might once again, set in motion who we used to be.
Beautiful piece, Sean.
Loved it! So true and we all need to be reminded about the importance of life and love and that we are all brothers and sisters here on this earth and the One who created us smiles when we do realize this!
He knows that deep down we are GOOD as He is!
Merry Christmas Sean and I hope you and your loved ones have a beautiful one!
Niki
Thank you. I have been going through a rough time this season (absolutely nothing compared to war) and I think I needed to read this today to adjust my perspective a little. I think I’ll go bob for some apples today…
Sean Patrick, Thank You for Sharing Something So Beautiful!!! I hope you & your family & donut have a Very Merry Christmas!!! Shine on Sean!!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this wonderful little piece about the goodness there still is in humanity! It was very touching, and it’s clear that it left a huge impression upon you. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones!
Very beautiful story both of them! The gift of acceptance is the most beautiful gift of all. Have a merry Christmas Sean an happy new year.
Merry Christmas to you and Donut!
I’d never heard this story before. Thanks for sharing it with us! ‘Tis the season for compassion, kindness and peace on Earth. Hope you and Donut and all your family and friends have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!!
Touching story, reminds me of that beautiful movie, especially the last part.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050825/
Wow this is really amazing and beautiful!I love it! I love the way you express yourself with words so deep! Merry Christmas Sean!
Merry Christmas Sean!!
Will definitely be sharing this with my family. Thank you and merry Christmas, Sean! C:
Beautiful story Sean, I enjoyed reading your post very much!
God Bless and Merry, Merry Christmas Sweetheart. ~ Dri
There is a movie called ‘Silent Night’ about American and German troops during WWII. It’s based on a true story on Christmas. It’s a beautiful movie and well made. WWI and WWII are the only times I can think of where this kind of thing happened on Christmas. It isn’t just a story, but something that actually happened and not because of Santa. If it doesn’t make you think about everything in general, than there is something wrong with that picture.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story:). I knew the christmas peace story , had heard it from my greatgrandfather who actually fought in ww1. And the song was silent night holy night. For me the best christmas song ever. Merry xmas !
That is still the best christmas story. We all need a little reminder that love and understanding is the perfect ‘gift’ for any occasion. Have a Very Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Sean, to you and all your loved one. And to all your other fans here. Also to Elsie. God bless all those that came out of those trenches that Christmas Day.
I learned the meaning of the greatest Christmas gift this year myself. I had been wantin one thing, hoping to get it because it would be the “best gift ever”, The same night I thought that, I found an 8 month old email I had missed from a lady in Kansas. She worked for the government in Augusta and they had been sent a scrapbook that seemed to belong to my late grandmother. She asked if I would like it. I immediately replied, telling her that after all this time I understood if she had disposed of it. She had not and sent it to me at her own expense. (I had offered to pay shipping)
I got the scrapbook Friday. It actually belonged to my great-grandmother and had letters my grandmother had sent her from the Philippines in 1940. There were baby pictures of my father, who had died on Dec. 13 nine years ago. Andeven telegrams announcing his birth. All those picture they thought they had lost in 1941 when the Philippines wereinvaded and my grandparents and father (he was 1 at the time) were place in a prison camp. They all made it back out, but these photos were thought long gone. Now, I have them.
That, to me, is the greatest gift I ever received. My family.
Magical story! Thanks for sharing it, I’d never heard it before. Merry Christmas and may your and yours be blessed this holiday season!
That was nice. Hope you and your family have a great Christmas and New Year.
Have a great Christmas and New Years! Love this I always love hearing about christmas 14.
Beautiful words! Like always.. Love you Sean!
Beautiful and well worth the wait! I’m sure I’ll come back a few times over the next couple of days to read it again. Many thanks and much love to you, Sean! You and your family have a very Merry Christmas!
That is a most beautiful story! I truly believe if we have love and faith and belief in our hearts, there is no room for hate! GOD IS LOVE!
Merry Christmas to you, Lauren, Lola, Charlie, and Donut! Much Love and God Bless You Now and Forever! You are an angel on this earth Sean Patrick Flanery…that is what I believe!
Thanks Sean for sharing this story!!
I have always felt faith is exactly what it takes to get through uncertainty. Faith makes things possible, Hope makes things work, Love makes things beautiful.
Wishing you faith, hope and love! & a very blessed Christmas!
Love you Sean, I love hearing what you have to say and look forward to what is next in your blog and your movies. You are truly an amazing person!!
Your fan always, ~Louann
Thank you Sean, this was beautiful! Merry Christmas to you and yours. xoxoxoxooxo
Beautiful story Sean! Merry Christmas to you and Donut! Much love <3
Joyeux Noël <3 Have a wonderful Christmas 🙂
Merry Christmas, SPF and all your family. Blessings for 2013, too. Paul McCartney’s video for the song Pipes of Peace
I was feeling a little down tonight, thinking about how different Christmas Eve is now compared to years ago when it was magical. I never heard the story about Christmas Fourteen before. Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you and Donut.
This is such a shining example of humanity’s constant willingness to surprise me. The fact that something can happen between two opposing armies, at the same moment, gives me hope for the future of the human race. I wish that something like this would happen again in all of the war zones of the World, but that it would last longer than a single day. Merry Christmas, Sean.
Such a beautiful story Sean. We all need to believe & have that hope & faith to bring back special moments in time like this. Where we come together as human beings with love & kindness in our hearts. If we had more of this the world would be a much better place. Merry Christmas Sean!
My grandfather used to tell this story & I make a point to try & think of it each yr with hope 🙂 especially with my brother serving in Afghanistan. Thanks Sean hope you & yours have an Awesome, safe & happy peaceful Chrissy. Rip it up :)!!!!
very beautiful and inspiring i never heard the story before here in spain so thanks for share with us,i wish you a merry christmas and all the happiness xxxx feliz navidad! 🙂
What a moment it was indeed. Thank you for the story. Merry Christian feast
This story makes me happy and sad. Im not sure what else to say.
I have read this story and so many responses tonite with more than a few tears falling. Peace within truly is the greatest gift of all. Amazing thing about Peace is that as it grows within u,s some spills over and spreads to others. May the blessings of Christmas be held onto day in and day out. Merry Christmas to you and your Family Sean.
Merry Christmas to you and yours Sean. This is how Christmas should be every year, it has become so commercialized that most people have forgotten the real reason Christmas is celebrated. If people would just take a moment to think about loved ones here and loved ones lost and just appreciate life the world would be a much better place.
Peace on Earth to all and may everyone be blessed with the love of family of friends
They made a great movie from this incident called Joyeux Noel.
Wonderful blog & beautiful story..for one day they had peace & love in a horrible situation. I read this blog many times (which I do with many of yours) & I tear up everytime. It’s a bittersweet story. That day showed humanity at it’s best & the good of those men. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to bottle that up to spread the love & goodness. Belief is a beautiful thing. I do believe that most people are good & that circumstances can make you feel lost. Loved your story too & hope that Elsinore (Elsie) is still finding happiness in his gift~The best gifts are the one’s we give ourselves 🙂 I believe in the spirit of Santa & the love of God..also the love of people. I signed up for & look forward to Christmas Fourteen. I know anything you are involved in will have lots of heart & will be inspiring. Hope you & your family had a Merry & Blessed Christmas 🙂 Hugs to you & Donut 🙂 P.S. Did you ever go bobbing for apples again? 😉
Everytime I hear this story,I tear up.So many different emotions…. no words………
This is a beautiful story Sean, I remember reading about that Christmas when I was in high school. I even performed the song “Bellawood” by Garth Brooks, the song that describes that Christmas in 1914, for my co-workers a few years ago. We were all working the night before Christmas Eve and a few of my co-workers were scheduled to work the next day. We all sat in the break room that night and a few people were complaining about working on Christmas, how shopping was a nightmare, how they couldn’t stand some of their other co-workers and I just couldn’t take it anymore, so I brought up how our military men and women were going to be missing more than just Christmas Day with their families. I brought up Christmas of 1914 and started singing the song. I didn’t want to make anyone feel guilty, just to put things into perspective. Have you heard the song? If not, I recommend giving it a listen. It may put things into perspective.
This is Truly Amazing!! 🙂 I Love It!
I can’t believe how lovely it is to see that I am not the only one that believes in the happiness of others and their ability to share. There is nothing so beautiful as hope and your lovely story inspires it. Santa indeed. I still believe in him and every year, still, I read “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” to my children and they are 17, 18, and 22 now. They bring their friends and I make cocoa from scratch and we eat cookies and laugh and share with each other. It’s the most loving and beautiful day of the season for me.
I have also always believed that the greatest gift you can give is your time – to others, to yourself. It’s the greatest gift to show your love, gratitude, caring, and compassion for another living soul.
Thank you for this post. It’s fabulous. I thank the powers that lead me to your site.
Enjoy. Many blessings and peace to you.
Thanks for sharing this story! To find peace in a time of destructive chaos/violence is a magical gift. I believe we could use another Christmas Fourteen.
You, Mr. Flanney are indeed a breath of fresh air. As I see it, Universal Us is the Truth that will not filter out and The Beautiful We WILL always continue to be – this is the Hope of Love and Life. The moments, like your Christmas 14, peek their lovely head out of the propaganda mire that says we don’t really want or deserve happiness; but, nonetheless, the Moments remind us who and what we will become, if we press on. The Moments which are more and more evident as we pass through the Birth Canal of Evolution – ask any woman with a baby – birth is some kind of pain unimaginable-but prove to be worth it – the Moments of Pain pass into Moments of Purity like an Old School Kaleidoscope Telescope – seamlessly – and like the Libra Scales, our Trust lies in a belief that all will come back into Balance of Beauty or will be devoured.
You know what the difference between a plane playing taxi on the ground and the bird it is in the sky? One mile an hour….one stinking mile an hour makes all the damn difference. I am going faster, as are you. Prepare for take off, people – and know it is possible to have an un-bumpy ride – since that is what we want and deserve. For those who continue to love the chaos, it sure was nice knowing you – but you won’t be missed. See, war/chaos is the fire that separates the silver and gold from dross. Stay Precious Pony Boys and Girls – STAY GOLD and SILVER.
I’ve known of this story for years. I have always thought it was, and is, one of the most beautiful and touching stories ever told. I truly think it is something that more people should take note of. So many people just don’t care anymore about whose standing next to them. That the people around you matter just as much as you. I’m not Christian, or Catholic, I’m Wiccan and proud of it. But I love Christmas. I celebrate it every year; not for tne religious connotations but for the shear belief in love and miracles. My husband can be kind of a Scrooge when it comes to the holidays and he doesn’t quite understand how it is that I turn I to a big kid every year at Christmas. But I have always loved the lights, the colors, the feeling of happiness. Christmas is truly a time of miracles not because of religion but because it is a time for love and hope.
You have such a beautiful way with words, and so many sides to you. I wish you could be my best friend! Lol. I want to chill and listen to the inner workings of your mind. Fabulous.
I’m very flattered. God bless.
WOW! At last I was able to understand this story. This story is so touching. I was in tears. I am so happy that your stories are now translated. Before that I understood only half. Your German fans do that really well. http://shineuntiltomorrowgermany.jimdo.com/2012/12/23/ein-typ-namens-elsinore-der-transsexuelle-eskimo-und-die-magie-von-vierzehn/
Now I can always write comments. The stories that I’ve read, are top notch. I love your Blog. Keep it up. I look forward to more.
Many greetings of Marlene
I’m glad it’s travelled to Germany. Thank you for reading!
You’re welcome! I thank you for your great stories and for your Blog.
Have you ever heard of this play?:
http://www.alliscalm.org/All_Is_Calm___The_Christmas_Truce_of_1914/Welcome.html
I have not!
This is a wonderful read! Thanks Sean! I now truly understand why you are all about saying Merry Christmas and keeping the belief alive. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! Peace! – Casandra
Thank you… and likewise!