Strange Christmas Traditions

Santa Claus History. Video of Santa Claus History

Christmas History. Fun Christmas Historic Facts

Christmas History. Fun Christmas Historic Facts

Christmas was once a moveable feast celebrated many different times during the year. The choice of December 25 was made by the Pope Julius I in the fourth century AD because this coincided with the pagan rituals of Winter Solstice, or Return of the Sun. The intent was to replace the pagan celebration with the Christian one.

In 1752, 11 days were dropped from the year when the switch was from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The December 25 date was effectively moved 11 days backwards. Some Christian church sects, called Eastern Orthodox, still celebrate Christmas on January 7 (previously Dec. 25 of the Julian calendar.)

Many of the traditions associated with Christmas (giving gifts, lighting a Yule log, singing carols, decorating an evergreen) hark back to older religions.

Some traditions described here are reminiscent of modern day customs, and others, like the Festival of the Radishes in Mexico, are bizarre and fascinating. You are invited to explore the rituals of past and present below:

Years ago, Dutch child took their shoes off at night and put them on a window sill until they rose the next morning. On Christmas Eve, they would put hay or straw in their shoes for the Wise Men's Camels. In turn the Wise Men (or the 3 King's) would leave treats or small gifts in the shoes.

A similar explanation comes from Burlington, North Carolina: The wooden shoe or "Sabot" was the traditional footwear in many countries. This footwear was great on the farm where the landscape was far from neat and clean. However, the wood in the shoes had to be dried out nightly so children would place the shoes next to the fire place to dry. On Christmas Eve, Pere Noel would place trinkets in the shoes for the good children and a mischievous elf would leave coal in the shoe for bad children.

In Germany, St. Nicholas used to carve toys out of wood and put them in shoes.

Before Christianity the Swedish people celebrated "midvinterblot" at winter solstice. It simply means "mid-winter-blood", and featured both animal and human sacrifice. This tradition took place at certain cult places, and basically every old Swedish church is built on such a place. The pagan tradition was finally abandoned around 1200 AD, due to the missionaries persistence. (Of course they were sacrificed too, by the Vikings, in the beginning.) Midvinterblot paid tribute to the local gods, appealing to them to let go of the winter's grip. The winters in Scandinavia are dark and grim, and these were the days before central heating. And the Gods were powerful. Until this day Thursday is named after the war god Thor. Friday after Freja (fertility) It is interesting to note that to this day the Swedish name for Christmas is Jul (Yule), and the Jul gnome has a more important role than Christmas father or the Christchild. You don't kill those pagan tradition easily. The old Viking religion with Thor and his friends is still practiced by some people, somewhat less bloodily.

Winter Solstice celebrations are held on the eve of the shortest day of the year. During the first millennium in what is today Scotland, the Druids celebrated Winter Solstice honoring their Sun God and rejoicing his return as the days got longer, signaling the coming of spring. Also called Yule, this tradition still lives today in the Wiccan traditions and in many cultures around the world.

A huge log -- the Yule Log -- is brought into an outdoor clearing and becomes part of a great bonfire. Everyone dances and sings around the fire. All the noise and great excitement is said to awaken the sun from its long winter sleep, hurrying spring on its way as the cycle begins once again and the days grow longer than the nights.

Full Moons of the Millenium
The Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, occurred on December 22, 1999. It was special due to the fact that the solstice will coincide with a Full Moon, and not just any Full Moon.

The Moon was within a few hours of its perigee, its closet point to the Earth. This made the Moon appear to be about 14 percent larger than usual.

The Moon also was only ten days from the Earth's perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, and since it shines with reflected sunlight, the moon appeared 7 percent brighter than usual.

These events occurring together are extremely rare. This was probably be the biggest, brightest Moon of the last Millennium. Rare indeed, since the next time these events coincide is around year 2130.

Here's what a friend from Stillwater, Oklahoma, tells me: I sometimes wonder why people are so fancinated with just a full moon and not all the phases. Each on has a significant meaning. I did some research and found that in the year 2000 on the 25th we will have a New Moon, which can be just as beautiful as the stars are easier to see and the moon has nearly disappeared from the sky. Sometimes if you look hard enough you can see the Halo of the Moon during a new Moon: it is beautiful.

Moving onward, we get a full moon on the Dec. 26th of 2004, and Dec. 24th 2007. In the Year 2009 on New Year's Eve we get a full moon. Again on Christmas Eve of 2011 we get a full moon and finally in the year 2015 we will get a full moon on Christmas Day.

The ancient traditions of Pakistan pre-date the Christian era. During winter solstice, an ancient demigod returns to collect prayers and deliver them to Dezao, the supreme being. During this celebrations women and girls are purified by taking ritual baths. The men pour water over their heads while they hold up bread. Then the men and boys are purified with water and must not sit on chairs until evening when goat's blood is sprinkled on their faces. Following this purification, a great festival begins, with singing, dancing, bonfires, and feasting on goat tripe and other delicacies.

Legend has it that the shepherds rejoiced when they learned of the birth of Christ and they waved their hooked staffs about and played Ganna. This is the origin of the game called Ganna that is traditionally played on Christmas Day (January 7 -- the older date of Christmas) by all the men and boys in Ethiopia.

This humorous tradition was documented in 1851in a London Newspaper. In Devonshire, England, on Twelfth Night (January 7), the farmers get their weapons and go to their apple orchard. Selecting the oldest tree, they form a circle and chant:
Here's to thee, old apple tree
Whence thou mayst bud and whence thou mayst blow
And whence thou mayst bear apples enow:
Hats full, caps full,
Bushels, bushels, sacks full,
And my pockets full too!
Huzza! Huzza!

The men drink cider, make merry, and fire their weapons (charged only with powder) at the tree. They return to the home and are denied entrance no matter what the weather by the women indoors. When one of the men guesses the name of the roast that is being prepared for them, all are let in. The one who guessed the roast is named "King for the Evening" and presides over the party until the wee hours.

The True Story of Santa Claus

The True Story of Santa

When I was old enough to notice that Santa and my mother had exactly the same handwriting, my parents gave me a book called, Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.

The book was a reprint of an actual letter a girl about my age had written to the editor of The New York Sun in 1897, asking if there really was a Santa Claus. The girl reasoned that if the newspaper had printed it, it had to be true.

Shows how much Virginia knew. That same newspaper had printed a long article 60 years earlier about the winged creatures that lived on the Moon.

At any rate, the editor wrote back and said there was indeed a Santa Claus, and that he would continue to make kids happy for 100,000 years.

Leave it to the media to mislead small children. The true story of Santa Claus is something else entirely, as pieced together from his appearances in legend, newspapers, magazines, and advertisements.

Part of the tale is good and scary, which is actually a plus. Through experience with my nieces and nephews, I've learned that there's nothing like a frightening story to really get a kid's attention (and promote good behavior).

Note: This is not wise to do to your own children, unless you want to spend half the night comforting a shivering, bawling 7-year-old.

If any other people's offspring ask you whether Santa Claus exists, however, this is what you can tell them:

"Of course he does!"

"He flies through the sky on a horse with a sidekick elf named Black Peter, who will whip you senseless if you're bad. I swear, I read it in Encarta."

Once you've hooked them with Black Peter, tell them that, "in fact, Santa flies so fast you won't even see Black Peter coming until you have a sore bottom

by Martha Brockenbrough

Letters to Santa Flood Alaskan Town

Letters to Santa Flood Alaskan Town

(AP) It's a name that needs no address. Everyone knows Santa Claus lives at the North Pole. So letters sent to the roly-poly icon find their way to the small town of North Pole deep in Alaska's interior, including those simply addressed to Santa. Last year, 120,000 letters arrived from 26 countries, not counting the thousands with no return address.

Those that do have return addresses usually get a reply and a North Pole postmark in a holiday effort that has delighted children all over the world for decades.

Letters trickle in year-round in the community of 1,600, where light poles are curved and striped like candy canes and streets have names such as Santa Claus Lane and Kris Kringle Drive. Around Thanksgiving, they start pouring in by the thousands each day as Christmas approaches. Even stampless letters get through, a rare exception for the U.S. Postal Service.

"This is special because it has Santa's name on it," said Debra Cornelius, a supervisor at the main post office in nearby Fairbanks, where the letters are processed during the holiday rush.

"It's what makes Christmas magic for children," Cornelius said. "Why not make that available for them?"

Gabby Gaborik is among several dozen volunteers who believe in the Santa cause, opening crates full of letters, as many as 12,000 a day come crunch time. With 6,000 now arriving daily, volunteers are hustling to send off preprinted replies to children who sent return addresses.

"We try to keep the big guy mystical, so we sign off as Santa's elves and helpers," Gaborik said.

In his 10 years as an elf, Gaborik has seen every kind of request. There are the children who want the latest toys and gizmos they see on TV. There are the children who ask for miracles, orphans wanting their mother back for Christmas or a father back from Iraq, even though he died there. Many letter writers point out how good they've been. Some enclose a dollar bill to cover postage.

Gaborik still marvels at a missive that arrived three years with a Michigan postmark and no postage stamp. It was addressed to Santa Claus and had no return address. Inside was a thousand-dollar money order and an anonymous note that said: "If you are who you say you are, you'll put this to good use."

Volunteers bought postage stamps for the effort.

"I believe Santa Claus has qualities that represent the good in everybody, and people reach out to that," Gaborik said. "Santa Claus represents their validation as a good person, when everything today is so quick, so hard, so bang, bang, bang."

He fished a random letter out of a pile. This one ran the gamut. The writer, Ashley, wants only one thing, an iPod Nano, but then asks: "What list am I on, the naughty or nice list? If I'm on the naughty, what could I do to get of (sic)?" Then comes the hook: "And how many cookies do you think you can eat on Christmas night?"

No matter how cookies in the lure, Santa and his helpers never make any promises in writing.

Ideally, parents and other adults write their own Santa replies, put them in a stamped, self-addressed envelope and tuck them into a larger envelope addressed to the Fairbanks post office.

Either way, replies get a North Pole postal cancellation mark, complete with a half-moon drawing of Santa's face. The Fairbanks post office also stamps the postmark on thousands of Christmas cards and packages diverted through Alaska from outside the state each year.

Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks also runs a Santa letter project. Santa's Mailbag was started in 1954 by base weather forecasters.

Last year, more than 4,000 letters were received and followed up with replies from base volunteers. Many of the letters came from children of military families stationed in the lower 48 states and abroad, but civilian children also are welcome to write, said Staff Sgt. Melody Goode.

Even late letters get a reply, Goode said.

"It says something like 'Thanks for writing. Santa's been real busy,' anything the kiddies might want to hear," she said.

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul, with a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal. Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale they say. He was made of snow but the children know how he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found. For when they placed it on his head he began to dance around "Oh"...

Frosty the snowman was alive as he could be and the children say he could laugh and play just the same as you and me.

Thumpetty thump thump thumpety thump thump; Look at Frosty go. Thumpetty thump thump thumpety thump thump; Over the hills of snow

Frosty the snowman knew the sun was hot that day. So he said "Let's run and we'll have some fun now before I melt away".

Down to the village with a broomstick in his hand. Running here and there all around the square saying "Catch me if you can".

He led them down the streets of town right to the traffic cop. And he only paused a moment when he heard him holler "Stop!"

For Frosty the snow man had to hurry on his way. But he waved goodbye saying "Don't you cry, I'll be back again some day".

Thumpetty thump thump thumpety thump thump, Look at Frosty go.

Thumpetty thump thump thumpety thump thump Over the hills of snow.

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'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'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 Saint Nicholas soon would be there,

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums 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 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 luster 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 an instant 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, Donder 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 the 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 sack.

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 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;

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 on a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim 'er he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night."

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Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
Editorial Page, New York Sun, 1897

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
- Virginia O'Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus? Thank God he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

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Tale of 2 Christmases

Tale of 2 Christmases

Ginny and her sister lived with their mom. Their dad didn't live there anymore. He moved to another house across town. Every night, Ginny would ask Santa if he could please bring her dad back to live with them again.

Ginny went to bed on Christmas Eve, wishing with all her heart that her dad would be there in the morning. In the middle of the night, she heard her door open. She looked up, and there was Santa Claus! "Ginny," he said, "Your daddy loves you very much. And your mom does too. But sometimes, grownups can't live together any more.

"My present to you and your sister, Ginny, are two Christmases--one with your father and one with your mother, who both love you very much!"

From that day forward, Ginny learned that the spirit of Christmas is the love that families have for each other, no matter where they are.

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A letter from Santa Claus, Can it be true?

A letter from Santa Claus, Can it be true?

Christmas is a magical time of year for children and adults alike. We want to help spread the magic of Christmas and the belief in Santa Claus to the special children in your family or even to those adults who still enjoy the majic of Santa Claus and Christmas.

They may only believe once, Why not let them truly believe? This is an item that can be cherished for a lifetime. Each Real Santa Letter is written as a personalized letter from the North Pole by Santa Claus to your child, or whomever you wish to send to send. The letter is personalized by including your recipients name, gender and home town.

A letter from Santa Claus, can it be true?
Picture the scene: it's the week before Christmas, and the morning post arrives with a special Santa letter for your child. Imagine their face as they open their very own personalised letter from Santa Claus. But there's more - Santa knows their address, how old they are, even the name of one of their best friends. He must be real!

Imagine the excitement when your child opens their personalized letter from Santa Claus with their name throughout the letter and also their city and state. The letters are also addressed directly to the children and arrive in a beautiful Christmas envelope adorned with this year's most festive Christmas stamp.

Kids write letters to Santa

Dear Santa:

My name is Dequan. I am in the third grade. I have been good this year. For Christmas I would like to have a game boy, some games too.

Thank you very much Santa.
Sincerely,
Dequan McKinney

Dear Santa:

May name is Cora Head. I am in third grade. I have been good this year!

For Christmas I would like to have a bunny, baby doll, skates, barbie clock and a game boy. The games will be barbie, mario, nemo.

Thank you very much Santa.
Sincerely,
Cora Head

Dear Santa:

My name is Elondra Harr. I am in the third grade. I have been good this year.

For Christmas I would like to have a Polly Pocket Mattel, a My Little Pony Butterfly, a Barbie doll, and some CDs.

Thank you very much Santa.
Sincerely,
Elondra Harr

Dear Santa:

My name is Sharrell. I am in the third grade. I have been good this year. For Christmas I would like to have a Game Cube and Super Mario, 7 games and a scooter. Thank you very much Santa.

Sincerely,
Sharrell Armwood

Dear Santa:

My name is Montrell P. I'm in the third grade. I have been a good little boy this year. For Christmas I'd like the game Nicktoons Unite. I also like another game NFL football live 2006. I also like game NBA live '06. I would like a PS2/Playstation 2.

Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Montrell

Dear Santa:

My name is Maryori Nunez. I am in the third grade. I have been good this year. For Christmas I would like to have a collection of Barbies, shows, lots of money and a collection of Bratz.

Thank you very much Santa.

Maryori Nunez

Dear Santa:

My name is Daisy. I am in third grade. I have been good this year. For Christmas I would like to have a game boy, pants, shoes and some shirts.

Thank you very much Santa.
Sincerely,

Daisy Lemus

Dear Santa:

My name is James. I am in the third grade. I have been waiting this year. For Christmas I would like to have a Nicktoon Unite, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 64.

Thank you very much, Santa.

Love, James

Dear Santa:

My name is Kylah. I am in the third grade. I have been very good this year. For Christmas I would like to have a barbie kitchen and a barbie phone. Thank you, Santa.

Sincerely, Kylah Faison

Dear Santa:

My name is Ajaysia McKinney. I am in the third grade. I have been good this year. For Christmas I would like to have a Bratz funky make-over doll, Polly Pocket bead-iu-ful, and a video camera blue digit. Thank you very much.

Sincerely, Ajaysia McKinney

Dear Santa:

My name is Magali. I am in the third grade. I have been good this year. For Christmas I would like to have a game boy, Bratzes, pants, PlayStation 2, shoes size 3, Barbie, and a real puppy, and an umbrella. Thank-you very much Santa.

Sincerely, Magali Velasquez

Dear Santa:

My name is Quanta Winn. I am in third grade. I had been good this year. For Christmas I want a Xbox 360 and a bike and a computer and some games for my Xbox.

Don't forget I want 21 games for my Xbox 360. If you don't give me 21 games for Christmars then give me ten.

Yours sincerely, Quanta
Thank you very much Santa

Dear Santa:

My name is Cedaja. I am in the 3rd grade. I have been a very good girl. This year I would like a Bratz Big Baby.

Thank you very much Santa.
Love, Cedaja

Dear Santa:

My name is Aileen. I am in the third grade. I have been a good girl this year. For Christmas I would like to have Scamp my playful pup, Spongebob the game and the game Neptune Unite and the game Incredible. Thank you Santa.

Sincerely, Aileen

Dear Santa:

I've been a very good girl this year, and I what a dirt bike this year. I want a cooking set with pans and food and vegetables and fruit. I what a barbie computer like last year. I what a baby crib for Christmas for Taylor to sleep in. I what a go cart. Then the last thing I want is a blanket.

Megan Lee

Dear Santa:

I have been a good boy in school. I want a remote control truck.
From: Patrick

Dear Santa:

I am a good girl in my family and my brother's name is Orlando and I want toys for Christmas and (for) my brother. I'm very good.

from Gabriela Garcia

Dear Santa:

I have been a good girl for the last nine weeks. I have got better than a A honor roll. I hope you will not give me sticks and coal. I want some "contrey" music CDs like Toby Keith and other ones. And some candies, Tinker Bell stuff.
Rache Howell

Dear Santa:

I want some clothes and toys. And I want to thank you for my christmas surprises. And a booksack and a coat.
Melissa Ann Young

Dear Santa:

I know you and the elves are working so hard. I've been a good little girl if you do get me anything, I want a Barbie jeep, high "hills" and a "forwheeler." A PlayStation. And by the way you can get me a remote control.

Love, Moesha Wells

Dear Santa:

I want a chapter book and a scarf but I want it purple. I hope you do bring what I want for Christmas Eve. And please Santa, bring me some clothes and shoes.

Love with joy,
Celeste Flores

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THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS - by Clement Clarke Moore

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

by Clement Clarke Moore

'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 down 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 snowGave 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 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, Donder 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 roofThe prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, 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."

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