3 Facts, 3 Numbers, 3 Thoughts 

THE FACTS 

* The song typically sung on New Year’s Eve/Day, Auld Lang Syne, was written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns and published in 1796. The literal translation of the Scottish Gaelic title is “old long since,” meaning “times gone by” or “for old times’ sake.”

* Five months into WWI, soldiers from opposing sides on the Western Front took a break from fighting to celebrate the holiday together. The British and German soldiers mingled, exchanged gifts, swapped prisoners, held joint burials, and even played football. Hostilities resumed a few hours later, but the remarkable event, known as the Christmas Truce of 1914, has become a symbol of the potential for peace on earth.

* According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, more vehicles were stolen on New Year’s Day than on any other holiday in 2018 and 2019.

THE NUMBERS 

* 21 million ‒ the number of guns purchased in 2020, according to FBI background check data. This was a 73% increase from 2019.

* 338 ‒ the number of days between the date the Chinese media reported the first death from COVID-19 and the date an effective vaccine was first administered to the public in the US (December 14).

* 864 ‒ the number of civilians fatally shot by police in 2020, according to the most recent data from Statista. Of the 864, 370 were White, 192 were Black, 128 were Hispanic, and the rest were classified as “Other” or “Unknown.”

THE THOUGHTS 

* “What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven’t even happened yet.” ‒ Anne Frank

* “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” ‒ Charles Dickens

* “There is no habit more conducive to happiness than an engaging smile.” ‒ Michael Masterson