我盼望著年忙忙碌碌盡管有人說我可能不止一次兩次聽到生日歌，他把一個天使放在家里的圣誕樹頂提醒我們紀念了一個家庭的故事。

英國女王2016圣誕致辭2017-07-26 22:57:48 | #1樓回目錄

Atthistimeofyear,fewsightsevokemorefeelingsofcheerandgoodwillthanthetwinklinglightsofaChristmastree.

ThepopularityofatreeatChristmasisdueinparttomygreat-great

grandparents,QueenVictoriaandPrinceAlbert.Afterthistouchingpicturewaspublished,manyfamilieswantedaChristmastreeoftheirown,andthecustomsoonspread.

In1949,IspentChristmasinMaltaasanewly-marriednavalwife.Wehavereturnedtothatislandovertheyears,includinglastmonthforameetingofCommonwealthleaders;andthisyearImetanothergroupofleaders:TheQueen'sYoungLeaders,aninspirationalgroup,eachofthemasymbolofhopeintheirownCommonwealthcommunities.

Gatheringroundthetreegivesusachancetothinkabouttheyearahead-Iamlookingforwardtoabusy2016,thoughIhavebeenwarnedImayhaveHappyBirthdaysungtomemorethanonceortwice.

Italsoallowsustoreflectontheyearthathaspassed,aswethinkofthosewhoarefarawayornolongerwithus.ManypeoplesaythefirstChristmasafterlosingalovedoneisparticularlyhard.Butit'salsoatimetorememberallthatwehavetobethankfulfor.

Itistruethattheworldhashadtoconfrontmomentsofdarknethisyear,buttheGospelofJohncontainsaverseofgreathope,oftenreadatChristmascarolservices:'Thelightshinesinthedarkness,andthedarknehasnotovercomeit'.

Onecauseforthankfulnethissummerwasmarking70yearssincetheendoftheSecondWorldWar.OnVJDay,wehonouredtheremainingveteransofthatterribleconflictintheFarEast,aswellasrememberingthethousandswhoneverreturned.

TheprocessionfromHorseGuardsParadetoWestminsterAbbeymusthavebeenoneoftheslowestever,becausesomanypeoplewantedtosay'thankyou'tothem.

Attheendofthatwar,thepeopleofOslobegansendinganannualgiftofaChristmastreeforTrafalgarSquare.Ithas500lightbulbsandisenjoyednot

justbyChristiansbutbypeopleofallfaiths,andofnone.Attheverytopsitsabrightstar,torepresenttheStarofBethlehem.

ThecustomoftoppingatreealsogoesbacktoPrinceAlbert'stime.Forhisfamily'stree,hechoseanangel,helpingtoremindusthatthefocusoftheChristmasstoryisononeparticularfamily.

ForJosephandMary,thecircumstancesofJesus'sbirth-inastable-werefarfromideal,butworsewastocomeasthefamilywasforcedtofleethecountry.It'snosurprisethatsuchahumanstorystillcapturesourimaginationandcontinuestoinspireallofuswhoareChristians,theworldover.

Despitebeingdisplacedandpersecutedthroughouthisshortlife,Christ'sunchangingmessagewasnotoneofrevengeorviolencebutsimplythatweshouldloveoneanother.Althoughitisnotaneasymessagetofollow,weshouldn'tbediscouraged;rather,itinspiresustotryharder:tobethankfulforthepeoplewhobringloveandhappineintoourownlives,andtolookforwaysofspreadingthatlovetoothers,wheneverandwhereverwecan.Oneofthejoysoflivingalonglifeiswatchingone'schildren,then

grandchildren,thengreatgrandchildren,helpdecoratetheChristmastree.Andthisyearmyfamilyhasanewmembertojoininthefun!

ThecustomarydecorationshavechangedlittleintheyearssincethatpictureofVictoriaandAlbert'streefirstappeared,althoughofcourseelectriclightshavereplacedthecandles.

There'sanoldsayingthat'itisbettertolightacandlethancursethedarkness'.Therearemillionsofpeoplelightingcandlesofhopeinourworldtoday.

Christmasisagoodtimetobethankfulforthem,andforallthatbringslighttoourlives.

IwishyouaveryhappyChristmas.