A quick glance at any history book will tell you that peace on earth and good will to men is a pretty tall order. This only serves to make the Christmas Truce of 1914, which occurred during the first year of World War I, even more amazing.

On Christmas Eve 1914, British forces stationed on the Western Front found something unusual in their trenches: a chocolate cake from enemy German troops with a note asking for a ceasefire in order to celebrate Christmas.

The ceasefire, it said, would begin at 7:30 p.m., at which time the Germans would light candles on the parapets of their trenches and put on a Christmas concert.

At 7:30 p.m. on the dot, the Germans rose from their trenches and serenaded the British with Christmas carols. Incredulous at first, the British soon joined in.

Similar events occurred all along the Western Front, without authorization from the higher-ups on either side. German and British soldiers met in No Man’s Land, between the trenches, to exchange gifts and autographs, play soccer and attend to the more somber task of burying their dead.

The truce lasted until the end of Christmas Day in some parts of the Western Front; in others, it lasted until New Year’s Day.

And so, when Aunt Ida starts making hostile statements about your sweet potato casserole, we encourage you to remember the Christmas Truce of 1914.

If warring soldiers can put aside their differences and embrace one another in the name of Christmas, there’s hope for even the most argumentative family to make it through the holidays intact.

Please enjoy the season and know where there can be cooperation, there is always hope!