Words of Christmas Past

Besides the biblical story of Christmas, we are also familiar with wonderful fictional Christmas story books and poems. Two favorites immediately come to mind. Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" penned in 1843, and Clement Clarke Moore's "Twas the Night Before Christmas" ("A Visit From St. Nicholas") written in 1822.

Dicken's wrote.........."I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it."
Their faithful Friend and Servant,
C.D.
December 1843

Meanwhile, prior to Clement Clark's poem, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeer! Now the poem has become a worldwide favorite and is traditionally read on Christmas Eve.

My favorite has to be Dylan Thomas reading his 1955 Welsh classic, "A Child's Christmas in Wales". I've been listening to this tape in my car for the past couple of weeks - I play it over and over, enjoying it more each time. His colorful, hilarious description of the chilly Welsh holidays with children's games and feasting adults, brings back similar memories of many a childhood Christmas in England.

The story ends with these wonderful words.........

Looking through my bedroom window, out into the moonlight and the unending smoke-colored snow, I could see the lights in the windows of all the other houses on our hill and hear the music rising from them up the long, steady falling night. I turned the gas down, I got into bed. I said some words to the close and holy darkness, and then I slept.

A few days ago I found these and was delighted! Tiny blank notebooks waiting for words to be written..................

.................."in the bleak midwinter"

................................"it came upon the midnight clear"

.............................................."hark, the herald angels sing"

............................................................."the first Noel"

Perhaps a new Christmas story can be penned, a lilting poem or carol written. We need more of these old fashioned reminders of what Christmas is all about.