That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly. He had a broad face and a little round belly, The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,Īnd the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,Īnd the beard of his chin was as white as the snow His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His eyes–how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,Īnd his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot Ī bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,Īnd he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.Īs I drew in my head, and was turning around,ĭown the chimney St. Nicholas too.Īnd then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”Īs dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen! “Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,Īnd he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: With a little old driver, so lively and quick, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,īut a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads Īnd mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, The children were nestled all snug in their beds, The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house In my family it is a tradition for the father to read it to the children forwards and then backwards! You can see from the photo that our copy of the book is well loved. Some of the language is outdated but it is still a charming poem and can be useful for learning some Christmas vocabulary.

It was first published in 1823 and has been translated in many languages. This classic poem is read to thousands of children on Christmas Eve (24 December, the day before Christmas Day).

The night before christmas poem book