My holiday greetings are a little tardy this year. Perhaps for the very reason my song dedication speaks about – many worries had taken a bit of a toll on my energy and time, but I am happy to be here with you.
“Happy Christmas (War is Over)” is one of my favorite Christmas songs and is the one I have chosen to share with you this year. And since it also addresses the Happy New Year, it is not a problem that it comes to you this late 😊
This song was originally recorded by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1971 and was a direct and clear message against America’s involvement in the Vietnam war.
Following the success of his single “Imagine”, earlier that same year, John Lennon learned that the most commercially successful way to get your message across was to “…put your political message across with a little honey”
“Happy Christmas (War is Over) elaborates on the themes of social unity and peaceful change enacted through personal accountability and empowerment” (quotes taken from Wikipedia)
…And now, following that intro and leaving my personal year end commentary for AFTER the song, here is John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Happy Christmas (War is over)”
My Commentary on the Lyrics:
So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
I always love that this song starts with this question. Christmas is the culmination of a year. And what have we done in that year? What have we achieved? What have we contributed? What Good did we do? What Love did we share? How did we use our gifts?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
I usually take December to review the past year and plan for the new year ahead. That is exactly what this verse is asking of us. More on my own review and 2026 plan later.
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And here we celebrate! We celebrate with family and friends, old and young, near and dear and we wish everyone a Happy New Year without any fear! Ah, fear! And are we not always surrounded by reasons for fear these days??? School shootings, murders and assassinations, wars in every part of the world, intolerance and hatred, climate change, wild fires, hurricanes and other ‘natural’ disasters. I could go on and on.
Things that were unthinkable just a generation ago, are now considered the norm and we are daily being desensitized. Our children growing up in a world of fear! They don’t even know what Love is. The Good Book tells us; perfect Love casts out fear. But how?, when we no longer even know what Love is???
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The road is so long
I like that he mentions both the strong and the rich here as also being on that long road. We often focus on the poor and weak as those who are suffering, and yes of course they are, but behind the doors of those mansions, there is much suffering and pain among the rich and strong too. It might not look the same, but there is still pain.
And so this is Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
This makes me smile, because if he had written this today, he might have been canceled for calling people yellow or red HAHAHA. But we get the message here.
Let’s stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
War is over
If you want it
War is over
Now…
And that is the best line in this song: “War is over IF YOU WANT IT…”
Clearly, this is speaking to the powers that be, but even so, we can take our own responsibility in this. The world around us is a manifestation of the thoughts and feelings we collectively put out there. Even with so many wars raging all over the world right now, and no matter which side you are on, we can at the very least keep our minds centered on Peace and Love. Perhaps if more of us are putting peaceful and loving thoughts into the universe, there could be a greater manifestation of this.
Then again, maybe this is a time of darkness that humanity has to go through as part of our evolution. And yet again, we can get through this time, with thoughts and acts of Peace and Love.
Again, I quote the Good Book; “… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”
The media does a excellent job of keeping us focused on the bad news. But you can and should INTENTIONALLY turn away from that and focus on what is good.
This brings love, not fear, into your heart, your mind and world around you. Your actions too will be fueled by love.
If every one of us would keep our hearts, minds and actions in this way,…well, then the war would be over, because we wanted it.
Of course, this is a great simplification. After all, the road is so long! But quoting the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.
Let us, each one, be the ones to take that step!
Let us, together, change the world!
And next Christmas, when we ask “what have we done?”, we will have something to show for it.
My dear ones, I hope you had a wonderful Holiday Season, whatever your celebration and I welcome you enthusiastically to 2026!
Happy New Year!
Let’s make it a good one, without any fear!
Sending you Peace and Love!
The Woman Hood 