我盼望着年忙忙碌碌尽管有人说我可能不止一次两次听到生日歌，他把一个天使放在家里的圣诞树顶提醒我们纪念了一个家庭的故事。
英国女王2016圣诞致辞
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.