What is the Christmas Truce?

The Christmas Truce is one of the most well-known events of the First World War. Taking place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 1914, the truce saw British and German soldiers lay down their weapons to sing carols, exchange gifts, and play impromptu games of football in no man’s land. For that day, enemies became friends.

The Truce involved thousands of soldiers and happened hundreds of times and in hundreds of different ways along the battle lines around Ypres.

“I am sure, if it were left to the men, there would be no war.”
– A Gateshead man, possibly Northumberland Hussars writing on Christmas Day to a friend

2021 is the 10th edition Premier League Truce Tournament, founded in the spirit of the Christmas Truce. This year the Truce Challenge focuses on this powerful story of football and friendship which the tournament celebrates.

Big Ideas worked with Premier League Academies across the UK to create meaningful and engaging projects sharing the story of the Christmas Truce with friends, fans and families. Sign up to our newsletter to hear about the entries and winners, or email truce@big-ideas.org for more information. Read our news piece and watch the highlights video here.

You can read about the 2019 Christmas Truce challenge, Flu100, here.