As we enter the second week of Advent, the theme of peace takes centre stage. Peace can mean a number of things, including moments of calm in a busy world, reconciliation between people, or stopping for some simple quiet reflections. Through my perspectives as someone on the autism spectrum, I share five Christmas idiom stories that explore the different shades of peace, bringing warmth and understanding to this special season.
Peace on Earth: Finding harmony in a noisy and bustling Christmas parade.
Silent Night: A peaceful and serene night filled with the singing of carols and wonder.
Goodwill Towards Men: Acts of kindness that help to foster community and unity.
Make Your Peace: Reconciling differences over shared traditions.
Calm Before the Storm: Anticipating change and appreciating quiet moments.
Setting: Christmas is coming. A Christmas parade is taking place in a small, bustling town square. There, decorations glitter, coloured lights shine brightly, and cheerful music fills the air.
Characters:
Alex, a curious autistic teen.
Jordan, their older cousin, a kind and patient mentor.
The parade winds down the main street. Alex and Jordan stand watching it from just outside a café. There, Alex is sipping a hot chocolate. A moment later, they spot the colourful floats passing by. Soon, a float displaying a large banner reading "Peace on Earth" comes into view.
Alex: (pointing at the banner) "Peace on Earth. What does that mean? How can the whole Earth be peaceful? There’s always noise to be heard somewhere."
Jordan: (smiling) "That’s an interesting question Alex. It’s a phrase we may hear often around Christmas time. It can be about hoping for a world where we are kind to one other, and don’t fight."
Alex: (frowning) "But there’s always fighting somewhere. That’s impossible, right?"
Jordan: "Yes, that’s true. However, it’s not something that happens overnight. It’s more like a wish, a hope for the future. But peace doesn’t have to start big. In fact, it can even start with the smallest actions, like small steps. One way of doing this can be starting with how we treat other people."
Alex: (thoughtfully) "So, like when we try to get along with our classmates, even when they’re annoying?"
Jordan: "Exactly. Peace can be as small as saying sorry after an argument, or being patient when someone doesn’t understand you."
Alex watches the float disappear around the corner. A group of kids from their class is nearby, laughing and chatting. One of them, Jamie, waves at Alex, who hesitates but waves back shyly.
Jordan: (noticing) "Isn’t Jamie the one you had that argument with last week?"
Alex: (nodding) "Yeah, about who should be the leader for the group project."
Jordan: "Well, now maybe a chance to make peace. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be best friends. Just start small. Examples of things you could do are saying hi, or asking about the project."
Alex: (taking a deep breath) "Okay… I’ll at least try."
Alex walks over to Jamie, nervously at first but then smiles. The two start chatting, and Jamie’s face lights up in response. Jordan watches on proudly from the sidelines.
Jordan: (to themselves) "Peace on Earth starts right here."
Scene ends with the parade music fading into the distance as Alex and Jamie laugh together, a symbol of hope and understanding.
Setting: A snowy park and street lit with twinkling fairy lights. Families gather around, listening to a choir singing Silent Night.
Characters:
Lila, an autistic girl fascinated by the calmness of the night.
Sam, her older sibling, always ready to explain things patiently.
Scene Opens:
Lila and Sam sit on a nearby bench, sipping a steaming mug of hot chocolate. At the same time, the choir’s soft voices fill the air.
Lila: (tilting her head) "Why is it called Silent Night? It’s not really silent. People are singing."
Sam: (smiling) "That's a good observation. It’s called that because the song is about a peaceful and quiet night when something really special happened. It was the first Christmas."
Lila: "So it doesn’t mean no noise at all?"
Sam: "No. What it is is, it’s more about the feeling. Like tonight, even though there are people singing and talking, doesn’t it feel calm and peaceful?"
Lila looks around at the warm smiles, soft lights, and the glowing moon and stars sparkling in the sky.
Lila: (nodding) "Ah, I think I'm beginning to get it now. It’s like when everything feels safe and happy."
Sam: "Exactly. And sometimes, when the world feels loud and overwhelming, we need moments like this to remind us of peace."
Lila: "So a silent night is more about how you feel inside?"
Sam: "You got it."
The choir finishes the song, and Lila claps enthusiastically, her face lit up with understanding.
Setting: A food bank during a Christmas donation drive. Volunteers are busy packing boxes of food and gifts.
Characters:
Ethan, an autistic teen volunteering with his mom.
Mrs. Nguyen, a friendly volunteer coordinator.
Scene Opens:
Ethan stacks cans of food into boxes while his mom chats nearby. Mrs. Nguyen approaches, holding a clipboard.
Mrs. Nguyen: "Great work, Ethan! This will bring so much goodwill toward men this Christmas."
Ethan: (pausing, confused) "Goodwill toward men? But we’re not just helping men."
Mrs. Nguyen chuckles and sits down beside Ethan.
Mrs. Nguyen: "You’re absolutely right—it’s not just about men. It’s an old phrase that means kindness and care for everyone."
Ethan: "So it’s like when people try to help each other?"
Mrs. Nguyen: "Exactly. Especially at Christmas, when we try a little harder to show compassion and help those who need it."
Ethan: (smiling) "Like how we’re packing these boxes for people who don’t have enough food?"
Mrs. Nguyen: "Yes! You’re spreading goodwill through your hard work."
Ethan beams with pride and continues packing, understanding the true meaning of goodwill.
Setting: A warm kitchen. In there, Two friends are baking Christmas cookies, but tension lingers after an earlier argument about the recipe.
Characters:
Ryan, an autistic teen who values rules and order.
Sophie, Ryan’s friend, who is more spontaneous.
Scene Opens:
Sophie sprinkles extra sugar on her cookies, ignoring the recipe instructions. Ryan watches, clearly frustrated.
Ryan: "You’re not following the recipe. It’s not going to taste right."
Sophie: (shrugs) "I just like experimenting. It’s not a big deal."
Ryan: (crossing his arms) "But it’s wrong."
Sophie notices Ryan’s frustration and sets down her spoon.
Sophie: "Hey, Ryan. I think we need to make our peace about this."
Ryan: (frowning) "Make our peace? How do you make peace?"
Sophie: "It just means we stop arguing and try to understand each other. I’ll explain why I like experimenting, and you can explain why the rules matter to you. Deal?"
Ryan: (pauses, then nods) "Okay. But what if I still don’t like your way?"
Sophie: "That’s fine. Making peace doesn’t necessarily mean we have to agree. All it means is we try to get on well together."
They talk it out, and Ryan feels more at ease. They finish the cookies, laughing as they try each other’s creations.
Setting: A bustling family gathering on Christmas Eve. The living room is filled with laughter, wrapping paper, and snacks, but a sudden quiet falls as people anticipate the moment of gift-giving chaos.
Characters:
Emily, an autistic child who notices the sudden change in atmosphere.
Aunt Clara, a kind and observant relative.
Scene Opens:
Emily looks around the room, puzzled by how the chatter has died down. She tugs on Aunt Clara’s sleeve.
Emily: "Why is everyone so quiet? It was so loud a minute ago."
Aunt Clara: (smiling) "This is the calm before the storm."
Emily: (confused) "Storm? But there’s no storm outside."
Aunt Clara: "Oh, it’s not a real storm. It’s just an expression. It means things are quiet now, but they’re about to get really busy and exciting—like when everyone starts opening their presents."
Emily looks around at the expectant faces and the growing pile of gifts.
Emily: "So the storm is all the noise and excitement?"
Aunt Clara: "Exactly! But right now, we’re enjoying the calm before it happens."
Emily: "I think I like the calm better."
Aunt Clara: (nodding) "That’s okay. It’s good to enjoy the peaceful moments."
The gift-giving starts, and Emily smiles as she watches from her warm and cosy spot beside Aunt Clara.
Explore the hope of Advent Week 1 through idioms like ‘Christmas Comes Early’ and ‘Light Up Like a Christmas Tree.’ Discover these short stories told through my autistic perspectives.
And now, in Part 3, I delve into the joy of Advent Week 3 with idioms that celebrate the theme of rejoicing.
Think you can guess missing idioms? Join the fun quiz to test your holiday phrase knowledge! Take the quiz here
Peace can mean so many different things during Christmas .
Which of these idioms resonates most with you?
Are there any idioms not featured here that you believe are related to the theme of peace and resonate with you?
Have you experienced moments of peace that have brought deeper meaning to the holidays?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, personal stories, or questions about the idioms and their connections to the theme of peace. Let’s continue this conversation together. Your voices could potentially add more to this journey.
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