• Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24, the day before the Christmas remembrance of the birth of Jesus. Popular activities include attending church services, opening gifts and dining with family and friends. This is also the night when Santa Claus delivers presents to children across the globe.

• Fast Facts

  1. Attending Midnight Mass is common
  2. Turkey or ham are staples at many meals
  3. Seafood dinners are popular in some cultures
  4. Christmas trees are frequently decorated
  5. Stockings are hung on the fireplace mantle
  6. Children leave cookies and milk for Santa Claus and track his journey online
  7. Christmas carols are sung in homes, churches and on the streets
  8. Some families exchange gifts
  9. Holiday travel takes place
  10. Reading The Night Before Christmas is popular
  11. Many people visit nursing homes and volunteer at homeless shelters and soup kitchens

• Santa Tracker

  The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) uses Google Earth to simulate the journey of Santa Claus as he travels from the North Pole to deliver gifts to children around the world. In past years, the tracker has been used more than one billion times from 210 different countries.

• The Night Before Christmas Poem

  • 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' 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 danc'd 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 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 minature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
  • 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 call'd them by name:
  • "Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen,
  • "On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem;
  • "To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
  • "Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
  • As dry leaves 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 head, and was turning around,
  • Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound:
  • He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,
  • And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot;
  • A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
  • And he look'd 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 laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly:
  • He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
  • And I laugh'd 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 fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jerk,
  • And laying his finger aside of his nose
  • And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
  • He sprung 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.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Christmas | Santa Tracker | Norad | Christmas Cookies | Christmas Recipes | Christmas Cupcakes | Santa Claus | Yule Log | Christmas Eve Recipes | Christmas History | Personalized Christmas Stockings | Christmas Pajamas | Vintage Christmas Ornaments and Decorations | When is Christmas Day 2008 | Christmas Eve Dinner | Christmas Recipes | Yule Log (TV Show) | Christmas Stew | Christmas Turkey | Christmas Casserole | Eggnog Recipes | Christmas Candles | Santa Suits | Christmas Wreaths | Personalized Christmas Ornaments | Homemade Christmas Cards | Christmas Animals | How to Make Christmas Cards | Nativity Scenes

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