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By
Diane Forrest,
Well
it’s finally here.....Christmas Eve!
People have been hustling and bustling to prepare for tomorrow's main
event, the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Many families have their own traditions.
At my house, my family gather's together at my parent's home, have lunch
or dinner depending on the time people show up, and then we have to clean the
house, before we can open gifts. That's
one of my mother's special rules. She
gets her house cleaned by children eager to open gifts. When everyone settles down to their own
special spot, I pull out the Bible and read the Christmas story from Luke 2,
reminding everyone what we are there to celebrate. After reading that story, I will read Twas the night before Christmas. These stories are my favorite family traditions. I hope you include them in your celebration,
and We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas.
Twas the Night before Christmas Poem
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 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 miniature sleigh, and eight
tinny reindeer.
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
called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now,
Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, 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 dry leaves that 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 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 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 laughed, like a
bowlful 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!"
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