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 our brains 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 tinny 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!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with the 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 head, 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!"
附上：京燕儿译的打油诗《圣诞前夜》
圣诞前夜全屋静 小小老鼠亦无声 细心将袜挂壁炉 圣诞老人快来到
孩子熟睡蜷床上 甜李仙子舞梦中 妈戴花巾我戴帽 欲享绵绵长冬夜
忽闻草坪滴答声 纵身跃起探究竟 飞向窗前如闪电 拉开百叶抬窗框
月光如水映新雪 窗外美景似白昼 映入眼帘奇景现 八只麋鹿拉雪橇
迅敏活跃小司机 一看便识圣尼克 骏鹿飞驰赛雄鹰 口哨呼唤麋鹿名
大师舞者跃进狐 彗星爱神闪电鹿 飞檐走壁他指挥 麋鹿飞跃全上阵
犹如干叶飓风卷 遇阻飘然飞上天 装满玩具雪橇车 圣诞老人当中坐
侧耳倾听檐上音 麋鹿小蹄哒哒响 我欲回身转头望 圣诞老人壁炉降
从头到脚穿皮草 衣衫全被炉灰遮 一包玩具背身后 恰似商贩开箱包
眼睛闪烁酒窝笑 面似玫瑰樱桃鼻 小嘴翘起如弯弓 下巴胡须赛白雪
牙叼一管旱烟斗 青烟缭绕如花环 面部宽阔肚皮圆 嘻笑颤抖似果冻
胖墩墩来乐陶陶 我禁不住也捧腹 挤个眉眼头一扭 让我安心莫惧怕
默不作声去干活 装满长袜就起身 他将手指放鼻侧 点头示意升壁炉
飞身跃上麋鹿车 口哨吹响队伍整 轻似绒毛与天齐 边走边听他大喊 圣诞快乐大家享 好梦晚安全体乐
～京燕儿译～ ～圣诞快乐～
圣诞前夜Twas the night before Christmas 这首诗是大约二百年前Clement Moore先生为自家孩子所作，语言诙谐而充满神秘感，朗朗上口，如今已经成为家喻户晓的圣诞经典。去年我把它译成中文，城里改版丢了链接。在此圣诞将临之际，传统节目再读一遍。此刻，相信你正忙着做圣诞老人好帮手。选什么好？不要急不要慌，送什么礼物不重要，那份心意最珍贵~~it is the thought that counts.
这个周末是圣诞将临期第四主日，点亮将临蜡烛，也点燃一盏心灯，守住一团爱火，Christmas is here，happy Birthday, baby Jesus!
还有一次爷爷奶奶来我家过圣诞夜，奶奶使了个眼色，爷爷一声不响溜出了们，正玩得起兴儿的大宝雪儿突然听到清脆的铃铛声，圣诞老人提前送礼物来啦！他们爬到圣诞老人身上摸摸他的胡子，这两个机灵的小家伙，说“Grandpa, are you Grandpa? ” 然后就开始拉扯他的帽子和胡子：为什么你的鞋像是Grandpa的? 为什么你戴了眼镜像Grandpa? 圣诞老人连忙说我还得赶路给别的孩子们送礼物，夺门而出。。。
后来孩子们发现了爷爷的这套衣服，自己也套上来玩一玩，每个表兄妹们都坐在满脸稚气的圣诞老人身上说说自己的小小心愿。那时他们还非常相信圣诞老人，每年给Santa写信，地址是北极，圣诞糖街（candy cane lane, north pole)，要是赶上寄出去的早，还可能幸运地收到Santa的回信，孩子的心里就吃了一颗定心丸。
这一段文字是梵蒂冈的真诚，也是Don Giorgio 在政治方面的努力，他是圣父的眼睛，我很感激他。明天我们会去梵蒂冈，安娜专门送他一件来自我们祖国独一无二的礼物。
聪明的你，我故意漏掉的小秘密，你全能知道，爱你们！
京燕花园 发表评论于
回复安娜晴天的评论:
亲爱的阿晴妹妹，抱抱！你带小宝梵蒂冈度圣诞，很多场面要参加，辛苦并快乐，每天跟着你的的脚步，深入了解庆典，教堂，圣诞的喜悦。有空就休息，好好玩，不要惦记来博客看我们, 你们的爱全收下。
urbi et orbi，圣父通谕从圣城到世界，都在他老人家的心里，还特意提到中国。Viva Papa! 这些天我买了my brother the Pope正在读，非常喜欢，圣父的哥哥也很很有造诣的神父和音乐家，姐姐为弟弟的事业默默服务了34年。
圣诞快乐，圣母抱抱，主佑平安（＾Ｏ＾☆♪
安娜晴天 发表评论于
亲爱的燕儿，今天我终于睡了6个小时，感觉好多了。
一清早，带着梵蒂冈的阳光，来问候燕儿全家，Urbi et Orbi，昨天中午圣父的祝福，全部通过这些文字专给你们。
回复tern2的评论:
圣诞节拥抱亲爱的桐儿姐姐，认识你是我的福气，还要谢谢姨对大宝雪儿的爱。你的心晶莹如冰雪，white Christmas, 最美的礼物。孩子们一早打开了礼物，昨晚和cousins又自编自演一些节目，快乐地成长。也衷心祝愿你的家，美丽的孩子在心智上的增长，飞远心也近。Merry Christmas and happy new year（＾Ｏ＾☆♪
“the Polar Express”也是我们全家每年圣诞节必看的电影。我也最爱这句话：Miracles are in the hearts of those who believe。
谢谢燕儿传递出美好的圣诞信息和大爱的真意，感动燕儿那善良美好的心。祝福全家圣诞快乐，新年万事如意！
京燕花园 发表评论于
回复安娜晴天的评论:
亲爱的阿晴妹妹，抱抱，刚刚从你家回来，相信妹妹和小宝在主的家里会收获父爱无边。现在我正在烤圣诞面包，明天带到爷爷奶奶家一起过平安夜。一会儿我再出门做最后的购物，圣诞老人帮手。我们这里有EWTN(Eternal Word TV)，我明天下午就可以看到你们那里午夜弥撒，圣父在圣彼得大殿主持的庆典，和你们在一起！
你的好宝贝那么出色，还不是遗传你和大师兄的聪颖吗，为你们骄傲, blessings for the years to come。圣诞快乐，新年快乐，iU（＾Ｏ＾☆♪
京燕花园 发表评论于
今晚收到邻居和好友Kathy发来的e-mail, 美丽的诗篇by Cameo Smith写给康州小朋友，这一天，天国多了一排小天使。愿爱的记忆, 永生的盼望安抚伤痛的思念的心灵，短暂的生命也散发永恒的光芒。诗歌采取了'twas the night before Christmas的风格，保留在这里，共勉。
Twas’ 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
“Where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“This is heaven.” Declared a small boy. “We’re spending Christmas at God’s house.”
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring,
those children all flew into the arms of their King.
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at jesus’ face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had,
He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.”
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below.
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“let my power and presence re-enter this land!”
“May this country be delivered from the hands of fools.”
“I’m taking back my nation, I’m taking back my schools!”
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“Come now my children, let me show you around.”
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
“in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT"
