Twas the Night Before Christmas is a delightful tale known by parents and children alike. As you read those five simple words, did you find yourself continuing, “And all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”? Part of Christmas tradition for over 100 years, there is much to explore about this treasured family read-aloud. If you have a copy of the poem, this is the perfect time to read it aloud and then spend a few minutes as a family learning more about this beloved story.(If you don’t have a copy, it is freely available here.)

Originally published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel on December 23, 1823, it was originally titled “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.” It had been written on Christmas Eve 1822, and it was submitted by a friend of Clement Moore’s who believed the poem should be shared with children throughout the city. According to legend, Moore wrote the story while traveling in a horse-drawn carriage, a common form of travel for the wealthy of the time. Born into a prominent family, the author was a seminary professor and a Greek scholar. It has been said he was embarrassed when his friend submitted the light-hearted verse, and it wasn’t until 1844 that he allowed the poem to be published under his name. Interestingly, in the mid-1860s, descendants of Major Henry Livingston Jr. claimed that he originally wrote the poem for the Livingston family in 1808. As time allows, encourage older students to research this great literary debate. Two websites to start researching are the New York State Library and the Central Rappahannock Regional Library.

Children of all ages can glean literary insights about this classic poem. I encourage families to do as little or as much as it fits your philosophy. I’ve always been an avid reader, but through my college years, this love was nearly destroyed by endless ELA classes! So pick the options that best serve and delight your children. The ideas below are designed to enhance your family’s appreciation of Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Ask an older child to read the poem aloud. As they read, ask the reader (and listeners) to listen for similes and metaphors. If you prefer to do this as a worksheet, check out this online option. The poetic style of Twas the Night Before Christmas is known as an anapestic tetrameter, which provides the lyrical, sing-song style that children and adults love. If this is unfamiliar, introduce children to the anapestic tetrameter. Mammoth Memory and Brooke Talks Books offer easy-to-understand explanations and examples. Another great example of the anapestic tetrameter is found in the rhymes of Dr. Seuss.

In many ways, the poem’s description of Saint Nicholas has shaped our image of Santa Claus. Read the poem’s description of Saint Nicholas aloud. Ask children to draw (or color) a picture of Saint Nicholas from the poem’s description (please note, most versions describe Santa’s pipe and wreath of smoke, which may be omitted from the drawings). For more activity ideas, visit the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.

Before we conclude our Christmas reading, let’s take a few minutes to consider the reindeer, as this was the first time reindeer appeared in a Christmas story. Read this section of the poem together:

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!”

Depending on your children’s ages, the first question they may ask is, “But where was Rudolph?” Interestingly, Rudolph was not introduced until 1939, when Montgomery Ward designed a marketing plan to give children a free book to attract holiday shoppers during the Great Depression. This is a fabulous story and would be a fun rabbit trail; here’s a bit more about Rudolph. Back to the original eight reindeer: While these names are very familiar to us, in the original poem, two of the names are slightly different. Read the original names aloud—Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, and Blixem—and have children identify the ones that are different. While very similar, the original reindeer names Donder and Blixem are from Dutch and mean Thunder and Lightning; when Moore published the poem, their names became Donner and Blitzen, the German words for thunder and lightning. This also offered a more rhythmic flow for English readers.

While there are more fascinating nuggets to find about this classic holiday story, I want to be mindful that this classic Christmas read-aloud is meant to be a joyful family memory during this hectic and exciting season, and not just another assignment. So alas, it is time to join Saint Nicholas in exclaiming “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” May your Christmas be filled with joyous memories! ~ Deanne