THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS short story kids by C. C. MOORE
Christmas story
Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas
(A visit from Saint Nicholas)
Short Christmas story for kids
Full English Text
“A Visit from St. Nicholas“, more commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas“ and “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas“ from its first line, is a short story for Children first published anonymously in 1823 and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who claimed authorship in 1837. Some commentators now believe the short story for Children “The Night Before Christmas” was written by Henry Livingston Jr.
The short story for children “The Night Before Christmas” (A Visit from St. Nicholas) has been called “arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American” and is largely responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today. In the short story of Christmas “The Night Before Christmas” (A Visit from St. Nicholas) The names of the eight reindeer by Santa Claus, are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder e Blitzen.
On Christmas Eve night, while his wife and children sleep, a father awakens to noises outside his house. Looking out the window, he sees Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas) in an air-borne sleigh pulled by eight reindeer and…
Following short story of Christmas “The Night Before Christmas” (A Visit from St. Nicholas) by Clement Clarke Moore in original English text.
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Enjoy the reading and good listening and… happy Christmas!
All Christmas songs Lyrics > here
All Christmas Stories and Tales > here
Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas
(A visit from Saint Nicholas)
Short Christmas story for kids
Full English Text
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!”
…
..
.
Clement Clarke Moore
The Night before Christmas
(A Visit From Saint Nicholas)
Short Christmas story for kids
Short Christmas story for kids
Full English Text
All Christmas songs Lyrics > here
All Christmas Stories and Tales > here
Video story for kid
A Visit From Saint Nicholas
by Clement Clarke Moore
Clement Clarke Moore
Clement Clarke Moore (July 15, 1779 – July 10, 1863) was a writer and American Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, as well as Divinity and Biblical Learning, at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in New York City.
Clement Clarke Moore is credited and is most widely known as the author of the Christmas story “A Visit from St. Nicholas”, first published anonymously in 1823. It later became widely known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and has been published in numerous illustrated versions in various languages.
Scholars debate the identity of the author, calling on textual and handwriting analysis as well as other historical sources (from Wikipedia).
Bob Dylan recites
“Twas the night before Christmas”
the short story for kids by Clement Clarke Moore
