The Night before Christmas CBeebies Bedtime Stories

CBeebies Bedtime Story.

There. That's nearly done.

Hello. I'm Simon.

I've nearly finished

decorating this tree,

and just in time, as it's Christmas Eve.

Soon it'll be time for you to settle down to sleep

so that a very special visitor can arrive,

a special visitor who has quite a lot of different names.

Pere Noel,

Babbo Natale,

Kris Kringle,

but you probably know him as Father Christmas.

Or Santa Claus.

Tonight's story was written long ago,

when Father Christmas was known as St Nicholas.

Let me tell you 'Twas The Night Before Christmas

by Clement C Moore

and John Joven.

It was 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 sugarplums danced in their heads

And Mama 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 the lustre of midday 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 St Nick

More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came

He whistled, shouted, 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 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

THUMP

MIAOW!

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 pedlar 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

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

I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself

A wink of his eye, 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

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

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!"

That story was called

'Twas The Night Before Christmas.

Tonight is the night before Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve.

So, it's time for you to go to bed,

close your eyes and fall asleep,

so that Father Christmas can visit you

tonight.

Have a lovely day tomorrow.

Happy Christmas.

And, to you, good night.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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