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The Night Before Christmas
’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 mamma 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 like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave a lustre of midday 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 roof-top the coursers* they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, - and St. Nicholas too.
And 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 tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had 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 on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a 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 his 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 sprang 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, as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
by Clement Clarke Moore, with text adapted to match the audio recording accompanying poem
*courser: a graceful, spirited, or swift horse.
The poem now commonly known as, “The Night Before Christmas,” was originally titled, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and is also known from its first line as, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” It was first published anonymously in 1823 in the “Sentinel” newspaper of Troy, New York, United States of America, and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who claimed its authorship in 1837. It is a favorite among children and adults alike, summing up the spirit and sentiment of the annual Christmas holiday season.
Clement Clarke Moore was born on 15 July 1779 in New York City, New York, United States of America. He became a college professor. Clement Clarke Moore passed on at 83 years of age on 10 July 1863 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States of America.
Click or tap on these words to return to the Christmas Page.
Click or tap on these words to return to the Website Home Page.
’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 mamma 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 like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave a lustre of midday 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 roof-top the coursers* they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, - and St. Nicholas too.
And 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 tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had 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 on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a 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 his 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 sprang 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, as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
by Clement Clarke Moore, with text adapted to match the audio recording accompanying poem
*courser: a graceful, spirited, or swift horse.
The poem now commonly known as, “The Night Before Christmas,” was originally titled, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and is also known from its first line as, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” It was first published anonymously in 1823 in the “Sentinel” newspaper of Troy, New York, United States of America, and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who claimed its authorship in 1837. It is a favorite among children and adults alike, summing up the spirit and sentiment of the annual Christmas holiday season.
Clement Clarke Moore was born on 15 July 1779 in New York City, New York, United States of America. He became a college professor. Clement Clarke Moore passed on at 83 years of age on 10 July 1863 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States of America.
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Click or tap on these words to return to the Website Home Page.
