“’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” These words come from the first two lines of immensely popular poem “A Visit from St.

As far as classic Christmas Eve activities go, nothing beats reading the “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” poem with a crackling fireplace, twinkling tree and jolly carols playing in the background.

Editor’s Note: Clement Clarke Moore (1779 – 1863) wrote the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” also known as “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” in 1822. It is believed that a family friend sent a copy ...

It is one of the most famous poems in the English language—almost as famous as Christmas itself. A single word is enough to get going: “‘Twas”. You know the rest, or probably quite a bit of it.

In 1906, a new carol appeared in “The English Hymnal,” an influential collection of British church music. With words by British poet Christina Rossetti, set to a tune by composer Gustav Holst, it ...