Twas: The Night Before Christmas

8 Min Read

If you’ve ever wanted to hear a magical story about Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, then you’re in luck! There’s a famous poem called “Twas The Night Before Christmas” that tells the story of Santa’s visit to a cozy home on Christmas Eve. This poem is also known as “A Visit from St. Nicolas” or “Night before Christmas.”

The Night Before Christmas bedtime rhyme
(Bannykh Alexey Vladimirovich/ Shutterstock)

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 opened the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a luster of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did 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 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 abound.

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, ere he drove out of sight—

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

Poem summary –

The story starts on a silent night before Christmas when a family was getting ready to bed. The younger ones were dreaming of sweets, while the parents were still preparing to sleep. Suddenly, the father heard a noise and went to check it out. To his surprise, he saw a stout, fat man with a silver beard seated on a sleigh pulled by reindeer.

This man was none other than Santa Claus himself! He was quickly going from one rooftop to another, delivering toys to children’s homes. The father then saw St. Nicholas putting toys in their stockings. Santa saw the father and winked, asking him to keep quiet.

Before the father knew it, Santa had vanished! Up the chimney he went, with his bag on his back. Hopping onto his sleigh, he left for the night, wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas and a good night!”

This story has warmed our hearts for many years, and children all over the world love to hear it on Christmas Eve. We can all learn a little bit about kindness, generosity, and the true spirit of Christmas from this lovely story. So, gather around and enjoy this magical tale of Santa Claus and the Night before Christmas!

The poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” also known as “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” was written by Clement Clarke Moore. It was first published anonymously in 1823 but later attributed to Moore. The poem has become a beloved Christmas classic and has had a significant influence on the modern-day image and folklore surrounding Santa Claus. It portrays a jolly and magical depiction of Santa Claus and his visit on Christmas Eve, delighting children around the world with its vivid imagery and memorable verses.

Cozy Bedtime Stories