alternatehistory.com

December 25, 1554

The Sun rose in the east, as it wont to do.

It was the Birthday of Christ. Yes, the true date was probably in March, but that did not matter. Today was the day the church recognized. Today the was the day of celebration. Today was Christmas.

To most in Asia this meant little, another day of the year. Men and women from the frozen wastes of the north, to the deserts of the far south rose and worked, lived, and died as they otherwise might have. A man in might-have-been Australia picks up a yam and considered it. It was a rather small yam, disappointing. A fleeting image passed in his mind of a larger yam, one that was inexplicably red. He shrugs and continues on digging. A minor functionary in China discovers that it is some barbarian holiday from some rowdy foreigners. He wishes them well and moves on quickly. Across the rest of the Middle Kingdom the state trundles unward, not caring what the Spaniards and Portuguese celebrate.

These Europeans find it a joyous day, a day outside the drudgery of a strange land far from home. A chance to escape the discipline of the captains and enjoy themselves. A handful of converts join them, a bit confused but happy to be a part of the celebrations.

The sun moved west.

Central Asia and India were much the same as the far east, a few local celebrations but nothing sweeping. In Goa the Inquisition noted those who did avoided the services in favor of Hindu rituals. The native Christians, who could trace their lineage to Saint Thomas, shifted uncomfortably.

The Muslim lands saw more celebrations. The Christians of the region could celebrate openly, so long as they paid the right taxes. In some places the Muslims joined the celebrations of the birth of the Prophet Isa, in some the Christians were met with cold glares. In Bethlehem a few brave souls paid respect to their God at a variety of sites claiming to the manger. Far to the north the Kremlin awoke. Ivan rose and began his day. The others scurried away, but the Czar was not at his worst today. The first printing presses in the east lay silent for the holiday, but the traditional orthodox still glanced warily at this western intrusion.

The west was more jubilant. All throughout Europe men and women rested from their labors. In Lithuania the nobles rested from their efforts to fight the encroachment of Russia and Poland. They ate, they drank, they were merry. For a brief moment, it all seemed alright. In Vienna young Archduke Maximilian took mass, then retreated into contemplation with his personal priest. His priest suspected of Protestant tendencies. Many a quill went into a flurry over that particular incident. In Leipzig a small family welcomed a newborn boy into the world but wondered if he could be fed without his mother.

The Lutherans of the empire celebrated the coming departure of Charles from the halls of power, while the Catholics wondered whether Maximillian was the real deal. In Rome a guard tossed coins to a beggar, enough for bread, enough to live. Clement VIII gave mass for the powers that were, and they too quietly toasted the impending departure of Charles. No more would the Emperor be inclined to interfere in their affairs. The French ambassador rose and gave a toast to the independence of the papacy. It was a very long, and very insistent toast.

In France proper the mood was jubilant. Charles was leaving for good, and it seemed as if Protestantism was on the upswing in the Empire. The King and Queen had three healthy sons, the House of Valois was secure. In La Rochelle a Hugenot congregation came to church, only to find their minister's tongue had been removed for heresy. They wept and wondered if Vice-Admrial Durand's plans were so bad after all. Across the channel the mood is awkward. The King is in one of his moods. Mary has seen fit to spend Christmas away from London, and even Elizabeth and Katherine are growing uncomfortable. He spends dinner lamenting about how all the savages in the new world have only heard the Catholic Gospel. Someone he says needs to teach them the true word of God. Then he expresses doubt about his arranged marriage to a French princess. She was afterall a Papist.

Not all men stopped their work to mark the Messiah's birth. On the shores of Africa Spaniards and Portuguese alike loaded their ships to the brim with slaves. Ripped from their homes the slaves were crammed together in hellish conditions. They were to be sent to their death in the new world.

By the time the sun rose over the Americas, it had set in the far east.

Christmas mass on the Pampas took place in the summer sun. Masses of converts participated, many for the first time. Armed Mapuche stood guard, although no trouble emerged. Cabeza de Vaca announced a great assembly of chiefs to be held in the coming year. Protests immediately emerged, and before the day was done some Christains were even writing a letter to the Pope. More traditional leaders, still following the old ways, made plans for protests of their own.

In the heart of the Amazon basin a boy caught a fish. His family cooked it and ate it, enjoying their time together No one there had ever heard of Jesus Christ. They had never seen a cross.

In Kito a boy King heard tales of the birth of Jesus. The Welsers and native leaders not see eye to eye on the manner of religion, In Tumbez Castro took the holiday in his professional way. He did not work, but he did not allow the revelry to distract him from the task at hand: the final subjugation of the Tawantinsuyu. In the streets a teenage girl died of the measles, without anyone but tbr dead to hear her cries. Just outside of town a group of particularly zealous Spaniards forced church attendance. Those that resisted were beaten. A family hid in a gully, desperate to keep their faith.

In Cusco Quisipe-Tupac drank. He drank and he drank and he drank. Despite being a pagan he had been given yuletide gifts, and he found European alcohol a fine way to escape the pain of seeing his own fall from power. Titu Cusi took note of it. He sent word to his father, and began to ask the paragons of Cusco what they truly thought about the last son of Atahualpa. To the west a mob arose, angry at public displays of a foreign faith. They decended upon a small village. A family hid in a gully, desperate to keep their faith.

Manco Yupanqui's day was like any other. He stockpiled men and arms, readying the south for the day when he would deliver the Tawantinsuyu from the enemy. There were no Christians in the south. Well, almost alone. Four Portuguese men left by Mota celebrated alone, in one of the loneliest Christmases in history.

In the Caribbean Spaniards toasted and cheered. Another year unchallenged as masters of the sea. In Brasil Salvador sang, and the Jesuits took the opportunity to baptize all the souls they could. In Mexico a boy was flogged for stealing corn. On the Yucatan the Spaniards held boisterous parties while their Mayan subjects looked on in confusion.

The final part of the sun's journey was mostly over open ocean. In Hawaii a women knawed at some old pork, wondering what the day would bring. Further east, the fading glory of the Tui Tonga held court.

The world had seen another Christmas. At different times, at different places. Some had not even known what it was, some did and did not celebrate. But it was altogether, a decent enough day as days go.

The Sun set in the west, as it is wont to do.