聖誕前夜丨Twas The Night Before Christmas

中英文字幕的視頻再最後面！

這首著名的英文詩歌原名是A Visit from St. Nicholas，

現在常被叫做：'Twas the Night Before Christmas。

這首詩最初被匿名發表在1823年，在1837年，被美國詩人Clement Clarke Moore聲稱作者是自己。

這首詩在美國家喻戶曉。它詳細描寫了聖誕老人的形象和送禮物的行為，對以後聖誕節的習俗有深遠影響。

圖片來自網絡

生詞：

『Twas=It wasstir: v 活動chiminey: n 煙囪Saint Nicholas：聖·尼古拉斯，生活於公元200-300年之間，是土耳其歷史上真實存在的一位主教，是聖誕老人的原型。現在常用Santa Claus來代表聖誕老人.kerchief: n 方頭巾cap：帽子shutter: n 窗簾，百葉窗sash: n 窗框lustre: n 光澤mid-day: adj 正午的miniature: adj 微型的sleigh: n 雪橇reindeer: n 馴鹿dash away: 匆忙離開hurricane：n 颶風ash: n 灰燼soot: n 菸灰，煤灰dread: v 懼怕in a twinkling：轉瞬之間，一剎那peddler: n 小販下面是詩歌全文：

『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 Saint 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 our brains 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 snowGave lustre of mid-day to objects below.When, what to my wondering eyes did 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 Saint 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 Saint Nicholas, too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roofThe prancing and pawing of each little hoof.As I drew in my head, and was turning around,Down the chimney Saint 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, and went straight to his work,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!"

這首聖誕前夜的朗誦版本很多，至優記錄很喜歡下面這個版本，歡快、抑揚頓挫，聲音很像想像中的聖誕老人的聲音呢，一下子就被帶入了聖誕節的氛圍中！一起來看視頻吧！

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