It’s a December tradition for me … about thirty years old.  Reciting the poem ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.  Thousands of kids have sat before me as the words tumble out.

And then there’s today:

I decided to recite ‘Twas to folks I know on the Langemunt.  So …

Staff members at:

1.  Panos

2.  The Press Shop

3.  Izy Coffee

4.  Eyes and More

5.  The Cobbler

6.  Soup Lounge

Such fun!  Such remembering.  Such beginning anew.

The highlights for me were a young girl and her mom listening in the Soup Lounge.  And reciting for five hotel guests and three employees in The Cobbler

For most of these stops, I did both my normal speed version and a super fast one (about 1:10 in length).  I really sputter on that second one!

Here are the words penned by Clement-Clarke Moore.  There is much to enjoy herein:

‘Twas the night before Christmas
And 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 Saint 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 down
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 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 Saint 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 housetop
The coursers they flew
With a sleigh full of toys
And Saint 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
Saint 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 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 a 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 …

Merry Christmas to all
And to all a good night

Yes … Merry Christmas