0:07:06 > 0:07:11Gosh, what a lot of baubles on the tree. There are one, two, three...
0:07:11 > 0:07:16Hello. I'm Simon. Merry Christmas. Are you having a lovely Christmas?
0:07:16 > 0:07:20I was counting the baubles, making sure that they're all still there,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23after the excitement on Christmas Eve.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28A special visitor arrived, someone with lots of different names,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Pere Noel, Babbo Natale, Kris Kringle,
0:07:31 > 0:07:36but you probably know him as Father Christmas or Santa Claus.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Tonight's bedtime story was written a long time ago,
0:07:39 > 0:07:43when Father Christmas was known as St Nicholas.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Let me tell you Twas The Night Before Christmas
0:07:46 > 0:07:49by Clement C Moore and John Jove.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
0:07:56 > 0:07:59The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
0:07:59 > 0:08:02In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there
0:08:02 > 0:08:05The children were nestled all snug in their beds
0:08:05 > 0:08:08While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads
0:08:08 > 0:08:11And Mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap
0:08:15 > 0:08:18When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
0:08:18 > 0:08:21I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Away to the window I flew like a flash
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash
0:08:26 > 0:08:29The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Gave the lustre of midday to objects below
0:08:32 > 0:08:36When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
0:08:36 > 0:08:40But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer
0:08:40 > 0:08:43With a little old driver, so lively and quick
0:08:43 > 0:08:46I knew in a moment it must be St Nick
0:08:46 > 0:08:49More rapid than eagles his coursers they came
0:08:49 > 0:08:53And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
0:08:56 > 0:09:00On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!
0:09:00 > 0:09:03To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
0:09:03 > 0:09:07Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away, all!
0:09:07 > 0:09:10As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
0:09:10 > 0:09:14When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky
0:09:14 > 0:09:17So up to the house top the coursers they flew
0:09:17 > 0:09:20With the sleigh full of toys and St Nicholas too
0:09:20 > 0:09:23And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
0:09:23 > 0:09:26The prancing and pawing of each little hoof
0:09:26 > 0:09:29As I drew in my head and was turning around
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound
0:09:33 > 0:09:37He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot
0:09:37 > 0:09:40And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot
0:09:40 > 0:09:43A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
0:09:43 > 0:09:47And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack
0:09:47 > 0:09:51His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
0:09:51 > 0:09:55His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
0:09:55 > 0:09:58His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
0:09:58 > 0:10:01And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow
0:10:01 > 0:10:05The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth
0:10:05 > 0:10:08And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath
0:10:08 > 0:10:11He had a broad face and a little round belly
0:10:11 > 0:10:15That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
0:10:15 > 0:10:18He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf
0:10:18 > 0:10:21And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
0:10:21 > 0:10:24A wink of his eye, a twist of his head
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread
0:10:26 > 0:10:30He spoke not a word but went straight to his work
0:10:30 > 0:10:33And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk
0:10:33 > 0:10:36And laying his finger aside of his nose
0:10:36 > 0:10:38And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
0:10:38 > 0:10:42He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle
0:10:42 > 0:10:45And away they all flew like the down of a thistle
0:10:45 > 0:10:49But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight
0:10:49 > 0:10:53"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
0:10:55 > 0:10:59That story was called Twas The Night Before Christmas.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03I think Father Christmas knocked some of the baubles off the tree
0:11:03 > 0:11:05when he arrived on Christmas Eve.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09While I put them back, it's time for you to go to bed
0:11:09 > 0:11:12and dream of St Nicholas and his reindeer.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16I'll see you soon for another story. Goodnight.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Now, where does this one go?
0:11:21 > 0:11:23E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk