The Night Before Christmas

The Night Before Christmas is a famous holiday poem written by Clement Clarke Moore

Fast Facts

1. Poet: Clement Clarke Moore
2. First published anonymously on December 23, 1823
3. Publisher: Troy Sentinel
4. Also known as A Visit From St. Nicholas
5. Only four hand-written copies in existence
6. Moore did not claim ownership until 1844
7. Some controversy over ownership still exists
8. Adaptations: Animated version

Text

• 1 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house,
• 2 Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
• 3 The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
• 4 In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
• 5 The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
• 6 While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,
• 7 And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
• 8 Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap-
• 9 When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
• 10 I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
• 11 Away to the window I flew like a flash,
• 12 Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.
• 13 The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
• 14 Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;
• 15 When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
• 16 But a minature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
• 17 With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
• 18 I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
• 19 More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
• 20 And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
• 21 "Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen,
• 22 "On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem;
• 23 "To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
• 24 "Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
• 25 As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
• 26 When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
• 27 So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
• 28 With the sleigh full of Toys - and St. Nicholas too:
• 29 And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
• 30 The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
• 31 As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
• 32 Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound:
• 33 He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,
• 34 And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot;
• 35 A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
• 36 And he look'd like a peddler just opening his pack:
• 37 His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry,
• 38 His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
• 39 His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
• 40 And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
• 41 The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
• 42 And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
• 43 He had a broad face, and a little round belly
• 44 That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly:
• 45 He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
• 46 And I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself;
• 47 A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
• 48 Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
• 49 He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
• 50 And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jerk,
• 51 And laying his finger aside of his nose
• 52 And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
• 53 He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
• 54 And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle:
• 55 But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight-
• 56 Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

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