A Visit from St. Nicholas

CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE

Now here is a poem that I love, love, love. Often referred to as, 'Twas the Night Before Xmas' - it's a really popular poem that's become part of the Christmas tradition, at least in the UK. It fully captures the magical anticipation of Christmas, with the coming of St. Nicholas - a joyful, gift-giving character riding a sleigh full of presents lead by reindeer. Awesome!!

I love it. The poem has such a rhythmic quality and such warm, vivid descriptions. St. Nicholas is jolly and rotund, generous and kind, with 'a little round belly' and 'a twinkle in his eye.' The reindeer have such wonderful, playful names: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen. You can just imagine them all speeding towards your house on Xmas Eve.

There's a sense of comfort and security in the setting - a quiet household, filled with the stillness and sleepy anticipation. The stockings hanging by the chimney conjuring such romantic nostalgia.

According to Wikipedia, the poem has been described as one of the 'best-known verses ever written by an American' and is largely responsible for some of the images of Father Christmas from the mid-19th century to present today. It also had a huge influence on the history of gift-giving.

Personally, I was lucky enough to experience some lovely childhood Christmases, with open log fires, nice food, treats, a tree, decorations and stockings full of gifts; a sense of charity, gratitude, sharing, family, visitors, songs, love and close bonds - so this poem really hits the spot for me.

Enjoy!

'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 our brains 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 and 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 did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he 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 leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop 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 pedler 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, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”