Download A Visit From St. Nicholas.
The classic Christmas poem by Clement Clarke Moore, is also known as “The Night Before Christmas”. You will hear that Santa hasn’t changed a great deal since the poem was written in 1822, expect that he seemed to be ‘miniature’ back then, and he did not yet have a reindeer called Rudolf, though he did have Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen.
Read by Natasha Duration 5.15
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!”
36 Comments
thank you for the story
thank you ive been looking for the words to this story
What a beautiful reading of a great story. Thank you
A lovely poem. I could almost see St Nicholas.
좋은 이야기네요
I think the story was fantastic and I think kids would enjoy it
Doug- I thought the poem was red quite well, and easy for children to understand.
You are a great writer
I love your christmas story
It was very fun.
Have a nice day bye bye
Hi, i am michelle, the one who wrote the ice doll,
i love storynory, and gues what me and my sister aline, are listening to storynory all the way from Chile!!!!
i like this poem because it reminds me of how excited i am when it is xmas eve.
♥♥♥♥♥♥
i love xmas, dont you??
give Saidie the swan my greetings,
love michelle author in training
太棒了,我喜欢故事.
Hi all!
Looks good! Very useful, good stuff. Good resources here. Thanks much!
Bye
Hello
It is healthy, I shall come on your site more often, thank.
Bye
Hi
great job!!!
Bye
Hi
Nice site man! This will be my first time visiting. Keep up the great work. Thanks much!
G’night
Hi all!
This is a beautiful site. I`ll send the link to my friends.
Hello
Very interesting website. Keep up the outstanding work and thank you…A
HI,
WHY CANT I SEND IN A COMMENT IN SOME STORIES, LIKE THE XMAS COMPETITION WINNERS FOR EXAMPLE?
HELLO BERTIE?
CAN YOU PLEASE ANSWER MY
LAST QUESTION.
Linny,
You can comment on almost all our stories, but I closed comments on some of the stories written by young listeners, as there was some rivalry and criticism that wasn’t quite right.
Thanks for the magic!
IT WAS GOOD
A favorite of mine. Growing up one of our many Christmas traditions was to gather just before bedtime on Christmas Eve. Then dad would read us this story and we would go to bed. My mom has collected many versions of the book and it is part of the decorations around the house. Thank you for reading this authentic version.
She told the story with great entusiasm! Nice voice. Great Job!!
nice
The children loved it.
I like st.Nicholas.
i like your story it is so fun
I have to memorize this poem by tomorrow and when I got home from school today, I only knew half of it. It is really hard to learn.
PIE
hoho
This is my favorite Christmas poem
sonded great
I have the book somewhere
i love the book i mread it like 56 times you made a really good coppy
i love santa claus????????
nice story