‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (Almost)

Merry Christmas from CCC!

A Visit from St. Nicholas

‘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 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 the 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 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 Donner 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 hurricanes fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
so up to the house top, the coursers, they flew

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.

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,

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

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

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.

and away they all flew like the down of a thistle. 
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight — 


-Clement Clarke Moore**

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all of our loyal readers and supporters! Thank you for all of your likes, comments and shares in 2014. We appreciate every one of you and look forward to a tremendous 2015.

How are you spending the Holidays?

*What’s a courser? A swift horse, a charger.
**Some scholars now believe that Major Henry Livingston, Jr. wrote this popular poem.

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