Jingle bells
Jingle bells
what fun it is to
wish our friends
a very happy merry Christmas. I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy Holiday Season !

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

'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 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."

Беше нощта преди Коледа – тиха и бяла.
Къщата спеше… И мишката беше заспала.
Само чорапките пъстри,грижливо строени,
Чакаха гостенин драг с бързоноги елени.

Сгушени спяха отдавна децата щастливи,
сладко в съня им танцуваха захарни сливи,
спеше и майка им, сбрала в бонето косите,
дрямката вече и мен ми затвори очите.

Точно тогава разнесе се вън олелия.
В миг се събудих уплашен, защо да го крия,
Боже, от толкова хубост замря ми сърцето!
Месецът хвърляше сребърен пламък небесен,
всичко блестеше в снежеца – тъй пухкав и пресен,
и като приказни сенки посред белотата
осем еленчета теглеха бързо шейната.

Сам Дядо Коледа – дребничък стар симпатяга,
весело свиркаше, бързо подканяше впряга:
- Хайде, еленчета! Дашър и Виксен, и Прансър!
Бързайте, Дондър и Комет,и Кюпид, и Дансър!
Блитцен, светкавице моя, Напред към комина!
Знаете всички, че трябва през него да мина!
Както наесен летят с урагана листата,
тъй и елените литнаха, а след тях и шейната.

Пуснах пердето и тръгнах…
Пред мене стоеше ТОЙ,
Дядо Коледа!
С бяла брада до гърдите,
с кожени дрехи червени бе чак до петите.
С пепел и сажди изцапал си беше костюма…
Гледах го мълком – загубил и ума, и дума,
как пред камината ситни със пъргави крачки,
как от гърба си стовари торбата с играчки.

Имаше нос като алена сочна черешка,
весели устни, присвити във лека насмешка,
розови бузи с дълбоки и смешни трапчинки,
сини очи и коси като чисти снежинки.

Точно каквито са елфите – мъдри и стари,
щедро подготвяше гостът за всички ни дари.
Аз се разсмях от сърце, той обърна се живо,
махна с ръка и намигна с око закачливо.

После за своята работа пак се захвана –
сложи във всяко чорапче играчка желана,
сръчно добави отгоре и лакомства вкусни…
Пръст до носа си опря: “Тихо!”. Подсвирна със устни
и след това през комина с торбата изчезна,
В миг полетя със шейната в нощта многозвездна…

Чувах гласа му обаче да буди простора:
- Весела Коледа! Весела Коледа, хора!