
When I was young, my favourite Christmas story was ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, originally published as the poem A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore. It was such a favourite that I managed to memorize it when I was four years old. To this day it’s a story with very positive associations, so I thought I would share it this Christmas Eve day.
‘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 the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like 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, DONNER 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 that 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 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 hand, 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 of 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 bowlful 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, ere he drove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!

Thank you so much for sharing this! This is a longer version than most of us are used to seeing. I’m sure over time it was shortened. This was delightful!! 🙂 <3 <3
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Festive wishes to you Ashley x
Same to you!
Merry Christmas Ashley!
I love your posts regarding mental health , I try to read as much as i can !
Maybe we can do a collaboration next year !
Sounds great!
I loved this book too when I was young! The one I had with this poem also had beautiful illustrations.
Yeah, so did mine.
Ho.
Ho.
Ho.
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Merry Holidays, Ash! 😀 Much love to you and the Guineas!
Same to all of you!
Ohh, that is beautiful!! BEST BLOG POST EVER!!!! Merry Christmas!! Ohh, love it!! Great photos, great poem!! YAY!!
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This book wasn’t a big part of my childhood, but over the years I’ve still grown fond of it ♥
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Every single line rhymes. Well that’s humbling!
Yeah pretty impressive!
Someone commented that they were not familiar with this version, that they had only seen shorter versions – I can’t imagine a shorter version, this is the only one I know. My favorite Christmas “story “was “The Unwise Christmas” by Ralph Bergengren. I just posted it on my blog…
Haven’t heard of that before – I’ll have a look!
Thank you. This was beautiful. And so well illustrated with lovely photo. Merry Christmas to you. Much divine favor to you in 2020, Ashley.
Merry Christmas! ❤️
Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas!
Such a nice story, lovely! <3 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Same to you! 💕
Merry Christmas, my dear <3
Enjoy the merriment and calming peace!
Merry Christmas lovely!