According to a BBC tribute to John Betjeman, “Depression was for him what daffodils were for Wordsworth." Regarding Christianity and the Christmas story, he hoped it was true but entertained great fear that is was not. His doubt and depression, quite possibly, resulted from his failure to learn enough about the history and influence of Christ to appreciate and accurately understand them.
“Christmas” consists of eight six-line stanzas with the rime scheme ABABCC, with the exception of the first stanza, which has the rime scheme ABCBDD. The odd scheme develops because the third line ends with the word “night” which fails to rime with “ring” from the first line. To make up for this lopsided rime, line three has an internal rime: “And lamp-oil light across the night.”
First Stanza: “The bells of waiting Advent ring”
The speaker describes the sights and sounds that begin the Christmas holiday celebration with Advent: bells are ringing, and “stain-glass windows” are shining with red and green traditional colors.
Second Stanza: “The holly in the windy hedge”
The speaker reports that the foliage outside will be brought inside the church for decoration, and he adds a somewhat blasé tone: “So that the villagers can say / 'The church looks nice' on Christmas Day.”
Third Stanza: “Provincial Public Houses blaze”
He continues to observe the signs that indicate that season: “And bunting in the red Town Hall / Says 'Merry Christmas to you all'.”
Fourth Stanza: “And London shops on Christmas Eve”
The speaker has now moved from Advent to Christmas Eve: “And London shops on Christmas Eve / Are strung with silver bells and flowers.” He also comments on the shop workers, as he throws a glimpse to the sky: the “hurrying clerks” leave London for their “pigeon-haunted classic towers,” and the “marbled-clouds go scudding by.” And so as not to sound redundant for no reason, he adds, “The many-steepled London sky.”
Fifth Stanza: “And girls in slacks remember Dad”
Next, he makes rather rude comments about people and the ways they celebrate: “girls in slacks remember Dad, / And oafish louts remember Mum.” And children, of course, eagerly anticipate Christmas morning. The Christmas-morning bells ring out a welcome to all: “Even to shining ones who dwell / Safe in the Dorchester Hotel.” The Dorchester Hotel is famous for its wealthy patrons.
Sixth Stanza: “And is it true”
In the sixth stanza, the speaker gets to the heart of the matter: questioning the Christmas story about the birth of Jesus the Christ. He asks the question: “And is it true” that “The Maker of the stars and sea / Become a Child on earth for me?”
Seventh Stanza: “And is it true? For if it is” and Eighth Stanza: “No love that in a family dwells”
Then he repeats the question: “And is it true?” And adds that if it is, nothing “Can with this single Truth compare,” after going through the catalogue of things that take place at Christmas time from decorating to gift giving.
Commentary
The last two lines of Betjeman’s “Christmas” demonstrate a profound misunderstanding of history: “That God was man in Palestine / And lives today in Bread and Wine.” “Palestine” did not exist at the time Jesus was born. It came into existence in 70 A.D. (70 C.E.) when the Romans renamed the Land of Israel “Palestine” (after the Philistines, enemies of the Israelites) as they slaughtered many Israelites and sent others fleeing.
Perhaps Betjeman used that term simply for the sake of rime. If so, too bad that he found rime more important than historical accuracy. Surely, he understood that “Bread and Wine” are symbolic, not literal.
Another Betjeman article: Betjeman's “Westgate-On-Sea”: Measured Encumbrances
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