The first Christmas was a rather noisy affair

The cattle were lowing and the donkey grunted with the relief of being divested of yon rotund virgin mother and expected babbie and, let's be honest, childbirth itself isn't exactly a quiet pastime, is it?

Then, there were those shepherds washing their socks by night, or something, while choirs of angels carolled heavenly alleluias.

Meanwhile, down below awd Nick was giving his diabolical minions a right roasting.

"Fancy falling for the oldest trick in the book," his infernal majesty probably screamed. "Weren't you fiends warned in Genesis and the Garden of Eden that a God child would rise up to crush my kingdom?"

That night there'd have been panic and pandemonium as hell cobbled together Plan B - tempting King Herod to kill all new- born babes.

Still, I suppose we can allow Herr Mohr some poetic licence as he scribbled Stille Nacht around the year 1840.

Later that nacht, things probably did grow stille, after the devil had finished his tantrum and the shepherds had turned in.

What's certainly true is that today radiant beams shine from Christ's holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace' on those who come and worship him.

Consequently, today's followers can be still and sleep in heavenly peace - then arise and have a right royal knees-up of a joyful celebration.

Happy Christmas!