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 (1779 - 1863)
This sums up my Childhood Christmas's for me. Christmas Eve is the big celebration in my family. This is the evening when magic comes alive and imagination sparkles in the eyes. My mother is German so we grew up celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve. We don't wait until Christmas Day to celebrate it. My friends in my childhood were always envious that I got to open Christmas gifts before they did. My parents always made a big deal about the magic of Christmas. My dad used to go outside at dusk and he would start ringing bells so that my brother and I believed the reindeer were outside. Then we would all sit down to a table set in the lounge (sitting room) before a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. There would be silver, red, green and gold wrapped parcels under the tree all teasing us to open them. We used to open the gifts one by one, each one having a turn to open one gift at a time. As we were opening gifts we would be eating delicious snacks my mother had prepared all day. There would be Christmas music on the cd player and my brother and I would often sing along to all the songs.
As we got older, the Christmas Eve was extended to midnight and as midnight struck my dad would read the story of the Nativity from the bible. He would remind my brother and I that although Christmas was a time of presents, good food, family time and wonder...the most important gift of all was the birth of Christ. My parents brought us up knowing that Christmas was a chance to celebrate love, cherish family and embrace friends.
I still look forward to Christmas Eve and except for 2 Christmas Eve's, I have spent every Christmas Eve with my family. My mother still makes a huge effort and I treasure her for that. I hope to continue this Christmas Eve tradition with my own family one day.
So for me Christmas is about....
"Twas the night before Christmas..."
********
Thank you for hosting me on your blog Rikki. It has been lovely meeting you and so many other authors for #HolidayHop.
Happy HolidayHop and Merry Christmas to you and your readers/followers.
I am hosting a reader's contest on my blog for the #HolidayHop where lucky readers can be in the run to win an amazing anthology of short stories by 34 incredible authors, including The Neil Gaiman. The anthology also includes my own debut short story: The Ring of Fire. All details of my contest, the rules and the anthology can be found below at this address:
http://dragonflyscrolls.
Who is Kim Koning?
I am a Dark Paranormal Fiction Author, Poetess, Blogger and Traveller.
I see ghosts and tell tales of their visits.
I write by the light of the moon and under the gaze of the stars.
Draw up a chair, light a candle, close the windows and let me weave
you stories of darkness and gateways of light.
Open the gateway of darkness at: http://kimkoning.com/wp
I can be found Wrestling the Muse : http://kimkoning.wordpress.com
I also have a create-inspiration blog: http://dragonflyscrolls.
I can also be found on Twitter @AuthorKimKoning
Like my facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Kim.
My first short story is available in this anthology along with 33 other great authors including The Neil Gaiman:
http://randomstatic.net/index.
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