Merry Christmas Eve

I always loved reading this book to the kids.  I read it so much, that I remember Nick would recite it while we were in the grocery store.

Since my kids are older and probably don't want me to read this to them, I thought I would share it here.


 "The Night Before Christmas," 
by, Clement C. Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse:
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there:

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads,
And Mama in her 'kerchief and I in my cap
had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew in a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer!  Now Prancer and Vixen,
On Comet!  On Cupid!  On Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch!  To the top of the wall!
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

As Dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house top the coursers they flew
With a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas, too.

Then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound;
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot
And his clothes were all covered with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled!  His dimples, how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of his pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
And, laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle;

But, I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.




by the way....I typed all of that from memory....

Merry Christmas everyone!