‘Twas the Night Before Christmas has become a classic but there’s plenty I bet you don’t know about this festive season poem. Like, for a start, did you know the title isn’t ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas? Its actual title is “A Visit From St.Nicolas?” Find out more fun facts, follow along with the story wheel, write your own silly story, and more with our ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas activities pack.
The author, Clement Clarke Moore, created the idea of St.Nicolas riding through the air on a sleigh pulled by a team of eight reindeer. As for the names of the reindeer, well. Two of the four-legged engines for Santa’s sleigh are now referred to as Donner and Blitzen. But, their names in the original poem are “Donder en Blixem.” “Donder en Blixem” is Old Dutch for “Thunder and Lightning.”
The Tradition Of Santa On Christmas Eve
Then there’s Santa’s arrival on Christmas Eve. Not long before “A Visit From St.Nicolas” was written, New Years Day was the “big” holiday. However, the ‘fancy people’ in society had begun celebrating Christmas Day, making it the well-to-do family’s holiday celebration of choice.
However.
Different branches of Christianity viewed Christmas Day in different ways. Some branches thought it was a wonderful holiday to celebrate. Meanwhile, others thought it was all a bit suspicious and misguided. So, Moore wrote his story and had Santa arriving on Christmas Eve in order to appeal to as many people as possible.
And so began the tradition of Santa delivering gifts on Christmas Eve!
‘Twas The Night Before Christmas – Activities and Printables
You don’t need a pair of attractive Prada eyeglasses to read A Visit From St Nicholas, but it helps. And if you prefer, we can still call it ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas! Simply download the printable pack below. Not only does it contain the full poem but there is a printable story wheel for your little one to use, making the poem so much more interactive.
Not only that, there’s a “silly story” template using The Night Before Christmas as a foundation but with strategically placed gaps so your kiddos can make the poem their own.
