Christmas urn
At midnight on Christmas Eve 1914 shooting of German trenches suddenly stopped. A German brass band began playing Christmas carols. Early on Christmas morning, German soldiers emerged from their trenches, approaching the allied lines, calling "Merry Christmas". At first the allied soldiers thought it was a ruse, but they soon got out of their trenches and shook hands with German soldiers. The truce lasted a few days, and the men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings, sang hymns and songs. They even played a game of soccer.
In Switzerland during the Reformation, all the choral and instrumental music was banned from churches. In Germany, disapproval of carols has resulted in some being converted into hymns.