by Kevin Avery*
Hi there, it’s that time of year again!
Christmas!!!!!! Office parties, trees, fairy lights, tinsel and baubles. Songs about Santa, reindeer and presents. Good cheer, happiness, AND kindness to all. Christmas is a firm tradition at the British Council. And this month we have a special poem for you. The following poem is a classic. It is a story about Santa visiting a house with presents! It was published on 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success.
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 tiny 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, 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!"
Here is some vocab to help you understand it fully! Please read it and have a merry holiday time!!
Stirring=moving
Snug=comfortable
‘Kerchief=head scarf
Sugar plums= sweet plums, sweets for children made from fruit
Clatter= loud noises
Sash= a curtain on the window
Lustre= a glowing light from the moon
Coursers= the animals pulling the sleigh, the reindeer
Mount to the sky= fly towards the sky
Dash away= run
Prancing= jumping
With a bound= suddenly, in a hurry
Tarnished= covered, often with dirt
Flung= threw (past tense of throw)
Peddler= a street seller, some one who has a bag and sells shoes, watches, drinks etc…
Dimples= little folds on the face that appear when someone smiles
Droll= funny or entertaining
Encircled= moving around something in a circle
Plump= round and fat
In spite of myself= even though I shouldn’t do something I did it
Jerk= a sudden movement
Down of a thistle= seeds from a plan that float in the sky
Exclaim= say something loudly
*Kevin Avery is myClass teacher.