Happy Holidays – I wanted to share my favorite Christmas poem. My family always reads this on Christmas Eve. But have you thought about your family Christmas letter – does it give clues for future genealogist? Give this some thought.
“’Twas The Night Before Christmas”
‘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.
Genealogy Clues: It’s Christmas eve, there were no rodents, this home was well built and insulated, they believed in Santa and the stockings were hung!
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
And Mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
Clues: Children had their own beds (would be nice to know their names), parents slept with caps to keep their head warm.
When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.
Clues: There will likely be a story in the paper the next day about the “clatter,” the home had shutters – for storms or coastal weather.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the lustre of midday to objects below,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
Clues: Full moon, it’s winter time of year, recent snow, wife must be a heavy sleeper because she didn’t wake up.
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, Donner 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.
Clues: they had a good roof and a chimney!
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 on 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 bowl full of jelly.
DNA will verify he had twinkly eyes, dimples and his cheek like roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth, and beard.
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.
Clues: Santa had a good disposition. A man of few words.
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.
Clues: Santa likes to work alone.
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,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
What clues are you sharing in your Holiday Letter? What other clues do you read into this story?
What we wish for: Dates, places, names, details, stories, events, thoughts and feelings.
What’s next after the Christmas letter:
Check the city directory or phone book.
Check for Birth records for children.
Census records for a husband, wife and children.
Check land records for the purchase of their home.
Encourage Santa to join a gym and stop smoking.
Happy Holidays!
Geneographer 