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 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 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 roof
The 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."

Oversættelse til dansk

Det var natten før jul og alting var tyst
kun månen var oppe og skinnede lyst.
Og strømperne hang ved den slukkede pejs
og håbede at Nicholaus var undervejs.
Med et hørtes støjen og råben i staden
jeg løb hen til ruden og så ud på gaden.
Hvor månen den kastede sin sølvglans på sneen
der dalede livsageligt som sukker fra skeen.
Og tænk hvad jeg så lige der midt på himlen
en kane med rensdyr i snehvirvel vrim'len.
Og kusken var lille og munter og kæk
jeg tænkte at det må vist være St. Nich.
Han fløjtede og råbte så hæst som en ravn
og kaldte hver enkelt af dyrene ved navn.
Kom Danser kom Springer kom Rudolf og Smarte
kom Amor og Lynild og Torden og Sarte.
Til taget til taget...ja der skal vi op
afsted nu afsted nu og rolig og stop.
Og opad det gik som med magiske kræfter
et rensdyr ad gangen og Nicholaus efter.
Med kanen helt proppede af bamser og dukker
med bolde og toppe og hjerter af sukker.
Nu hørte jeg hovslag der ramte vort tag
og skrabene lyd fra skorstenens beslag.
Jeg vendte mig om for at kigge en gang
og så da St. Nicholaus fra ildstedet sprang.
Så snavset og stribet af aske og sod
og klædt helt i pelstøj fra hue til fod.
Med legetøj gemt i sin fyldte sæk
han løb over gulvet så væver og kæk.
Med øjne der strålede og håret der flød
med struttene kinder og næsen så rød.
Det varmeste smil om hans mund man kunne se
og skægget var hvidt som den hvideste sne.
Hans mave var rund og den gyngede lidt
hver gang at han lo og det gjorde han tit.
Så rar og gemytlig og morsom han var
at jeg måtte le og han smilede til svar.
Han blinkede med øjet i samme sekund
da vidste jeg at han ikke ville mig ondt.
Han sagde dog intet men skyndte sig hen
og fyldte vores strømper igen og igen.
Så lagde han en finger på næsen og BONG
så var han forsvundet den vej som han kom.
Han sprang op i kanen og rykkede i tømmen
og fløj så afsted gennem snehvirvel strømmen.
Han råbte dog til mig i det de tog fat
EN GLÆDELIG JUL TIL JER ALLE GODNAT.