The Night Before Christmas
/ðə ˌnaɪt bɪˌfɔː ˈkrɪsməs/
/ðə ˌnaɪt bɪˌfɔːr ˈkrɪsməs/
- a poem (1823) by Clement Moore (1779-1863) which is well known to many American children. It presents the traditional image of Santa Claus as a cheerful fat man who travels through the sky at Christmas bringing gifts. It begins: “T'was the night before Christmas,When all through the houseNot 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.”
克莱门特·摩尔（Clement Moore，1779-1863）的一首诗（1823），为许多美国孩子所熟知。它呈现了圣诞老人的传统形象：一个快乐的胖子，在圣诞节时带着礼物穿越天空。它的开头是：“那是圣诞节前一天晚上，整个房子里没有一个生物在骚动，甚至没有一只老鼠；长袜小心翼翼地挂在烟囱旁，希望圣尼古拉斯很快就会在那里。孩子们舒服地依偎在床上，糖李子的景象在他们的脑海中翩翩起舞。”