Grab a Kleenex. If this Christmas ad from Sainsbury doesn’t make you cry or at least put a gulp in your throat, you might not be human. The commercial is a re-enactment of events that took place on Christmas Eve 1914 when British and German soldiers reportedly ceased gunfire and celebrated the holiday with friendship and football.
From the Sainsbury Chocolate Bar Christmas Ad
By December 1914, the Great War had raged for five months and claimed nearly 1 million lives.
Letters and diaries from the Western front describe how the guns fell silent on Christmas Eve.
German soldiers in the trenches began singing Silent Night…
Special hat tip to my friend Teresa for sending me the link!
Also, at the end of the commercial comes a beautiful rendition of an old hymn, Leaning On The Everlasting Arms, by Elisha A. Hoffman.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
The ad has already received nearly 14 million views on YouTube. I’m sure it going to join the annals of iconic Christmas commercials.
I tried to buy the chocolate bar online from Sainsbury, a large supermarket chain in the United Kingdom, but they’re only selling it in stores. The majority of proceeds are going to charity, The Royal British Legion. (Click here to learn more about the Christmas Truce on their website.)
Demand for the chocolate bar is high. I decided to see if any had been posted for sale on eBay and sure enough they are. You can get one now for about $150. Nevertheless, some people don’t like the use of World War I images in a supermarket ad. I think it’s helping a good cause and spreading some much-needed Christmas cheer.
Happy Christmas, friends!
The story of that Christmas truce always gives me the chills!