A week to Christmas

[saxy_jag]

Back in my 1970s schooldays, assemblies at this time of year would always feature, at some point, a poem entitled "A week to Christmas", and I think the first line was the same.

I've never heard it since leaving school and I'd like to hear/read it again. I've tried googling, to no avail. Does anyone know it, or can anyone point me to a website that has it?

[Hammond Egg]

Is this the one you mean?

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, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

[Hammond Egg]

cont . . .


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!"


If not, have a look at

www.christmas-poems.com

which is where I got the above from.

[saxy_jag]

That's very kind of you to take the time over this, Hammond Egg, but unfortunately it's not the one I'm looking for. It's very definitely 'A week to Christmas', because we always had it read out a week before Christmas Day.

I tried your link, but I can't find it there either.

Thanks a lot for trying to help, though.

[jeanyb]

Hi saxy_jag
Could it be this one?

http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:TrwMW7N76 QUJ:www.brf.org.uk/pdf/fu_advent_1.pdf+%22a+we ek+to+christmas%22+john+cotton+poem&hl=en&ct=c lnk&cd=5&gl=uk

jeanyb

[jeanyb]

Or maybe this one??

http://www.rumpf.hu/dec1.html

[saxy_jag]

It's the Louis McNiece one! Thank you very much, Hammond Egg. Where on earth did you find it?

[saxy_jag]

Sorry, I meant JeanyB, but you've both been extremely helpful. Actually, I haven't read 'The Night Before Christmas' in a few years, so it was lovely to read it again.

[jeanyb]

Hi saxy_jag
It wasn't easy to find, but I just kept googling away, trying different keywords, etc. (I don't give in easily!) Glad to have been of help.

Best wishes
jeanyb