Poetry · Chapter
Christmas-Day, 1878 explained
The speaker reflects on the weariness of Christmas repeating year after year, but finds renewal in the daily presence of Christ, the Eternal Son, and expresses a longing to be born anew each day as a child of God.
What happens
The speaker reflects on the weariness of Christmas repeating year after year, but finds renewal in the daily presence of Christ, the Eternal Son, and expresses a longing to be born anew each day as a child of God.
Themes in this chapter
Divine Fatherhood
The poem emphasizes God as Father and Christ as the Eternal Son, with the speaker longing to be recognized as a child of God.
Redemption and Grace
The speaker seeks new birth each day through Christ's presence, highlighting the theme of continual renewal and grace.
Longing for Immortality
The speaker expresses a desire for eternal life and an end to the cycle of weariness, yearning for everlasting union with Christ.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker who expresses weariness of the recurring Christmas day and finds renewal in Christ's daily presence.
- Jesus Christ
Addressed as the Lord of eternal life and the Eternal Son, whose daily coming brings new birth to the speaker.
- God
Referred to as the Father, with Christ as the Son, and the speaker as His child.
Key passages
“I think I might be weary of this day That comes inevitably every year, The same when I was young and strong and gay, The same when I am old and growing sere— I should grow weary of it every year But that thou comest to me every day.”
I might be tired of this day that always returns, unchanged from my youth to my old age, except that you come to me daily.
The speaker acknowledges the monotony of Christmas but finds solace in Christ's daily presence.
“Take everlasting house with me, my life, And I shall be new-born this Christmas-day.”
Make your eternal home with me, my life, and I will be reborn this Christmas.
A plea for Christ to dwell permanently within the speaker, leading to spiritual rebirth.
“Thou art the Eternal Son, and born no day, But ever he the Father, thou the Son; I am his child, but being born alway— How long, O Lord, how long till it be done? Be thou from endless years to years the Son— And I thy brother, new-born every day.”
You are the eternal Son, not born on any single day, while the Father is always Father and you always Son. I am God's child, yet always being born—how long, Lord, until this is complete? May you be the Son forever, and I your brother, reborn each day.
The speaker reflects on the eternal nature of Christ and the ongoing process of becoming a child of God, yearning for completion.