In the early 20th century German parties of the left opposed Christmas. The Communist Party liked to use the holiday to attack capitalism by vandalizing stores and interrupting church services. The Social Democrat Party was less violent but criticized middle class attitudes to Christmas, reminding their followers that it was the workers who provided all the goods: the real Weihnachtsmann was the “working proletariat’. A 1900 collection entitled The Worker’s Christmas in Song published “Arbeiter-Stille-Nacht” – “The Worker’s Silent Night”, by Boleslaw Strzelewicz (1857-1938).
Silent night, sorrowful night,
All around splendid light.
In the hovels just torment and need,
Cold and waste, no light and no bread.
The poor are sleeping on straw.
The poor are sleeping in straw.
Silent night, sorrowful night,
The hungry babe cries out his plight,
Did you bring us home some bread?
Sighing the father shakes his head,
“I’m still unemployed.”
“I’m still unemployed.”
Silent night, sorrowful night,
Working folk, arise and fight!
Pledge to struggle in all holiness
Until humanity’s Christmas exists
Until peace is here.
Until peace is here.