The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.......
As today is Christmas eve, we just wanted to share one last post with you before we take a break until the new year. It has been so enjoyable starting this project and has really opened our eyes to all sorts of possibilities. I myself feel like I am becoming more creative and as a family we have been lucky enough to be given some great experiences.
As we enter all our Christmas festivities, I wanted to share with you one family tradition that has taken place in my family's home since before I can remember.
Christmas eve is always a celebration, more so now than ever as it is also my youngest sister's birthday. But a tradition that we had even before she was born still carries on now.
We have always been together on Christmas eve as my parents give us all one present to open and we all sit and read '' 'Twas The Night Before Christmas'' by Clement C. Moore. This is a beautiful poem that always marked the start of our Christmas celebrations. It is so lovely now as we grow up as Raphael and Giulietta also get to share in this experience.
I am looking forward to it and as I write this post we are busy with final preparations for Christmas day before we drive out to my Mum's and have a birthday tea.
I wanted to Share the poem with you just in case you haven't come across it before.
A Visit from St. Nicholas
'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 my 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 a lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he 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 leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the housetop 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 on 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 bowl full 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!”
With That, We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Post by Emily
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