DAILY DIRT: All of these years later, grandma is still getting run over by a reindeer

I really, really hate that song … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 485 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Some interesting numbers to remember on Christmas Day:

Gold medal: The infamous “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” song was first released in 1979. Thankfully, there was never a follow-up from Elmo and Patsy.

Silver medal: Arguably the two most famous Christmas movies for Americans, “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street,” were released in back-to-back years more than 70 years ago. “It’s A Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed was released in 1946. “Miracle on 34th Street,” with Edmund Gwenn, Natalie Wood and Maureen O’Hara, hit the theaters in 1947.

Bronze medal:  The average American was expected to spend $870 this year on Christmas presents.

2. Some other Christmas-related facts to consider on this special day:

• The year Rudolph first appeared on a U.S. postage stamp? 2014.
• 79 percent of Americans put up a Christmas tree this year.
• The term “Santa Claus” was first used in the American press in 1773.
• The name “Kris Kringle” was initially popularized in 1845.
• What it would cost to purchase all items mentioned in the song “The 12 Days of Christmas”: $34,558.65.

3. A final thought on this Sunday morning. Who has had a worse offseason, the Boston Red Sox or the San Francisco Giants? 

The Red Sox front office has spent the fall and early winter stepping all over itself in losing all-star shortstop Xander Bogaerts while wasting team funds on questionable inkings like Justin Turner, Kenley Jansen and Masataka Yoshida.

The Giants, saying they have “plenty of money” to dip into the free-agent market, have teased their fans twice, ultimately losing out to the Yankees to sign Aaron Judge and then after agreeing with Carlos Correia, let him escape to the Mets.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — After you read this column, please get off your phone or close your laptop and spend the day with those you love. And please come back tomorrow.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Even on Christmas (okay, so he wrote it ahead of time).