Over): Happy Xmas (war Is

The story of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is one of tactical activism—a deliberate attempt by John Lennon and Yoko Ono to "sugarcoat" a political message so it would reach a global audience through the holiday season. The Billboard Campaign (1969)

The song's origins trace back two years before its release. In December 1969, at the height of the Vietnam War, Lennon and Ono launched an international multimedia campaign. They rented billboard space in 12 major world cities—including New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo—displaying a stark black-and-white message: . Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

The message was designed to empower the individual, suggesting that peace was a choice the public could make collectively. Writing Over Coffee (1971) The story of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"