‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Joyous and Bright

In a world where the music filling the airwaves can go out of style, the Christmas season brings music steeped in tradition.  At least for a month or so, we hear songs written years and even centuries ago.

Among the popular Christmas songs heard today, many date back over a hundred years.  Isaac Watt’s wrote “Joy to the World” in 1719, adapting Psalm 98.  “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is an English Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739.  In 1824, Ernst Anschütz wrote “O Tannenbaum” in Leipzig, Germany.  Of course, many of the Catholic carols sung in Latin are much older.

Many of these traditional carols were originally poems that over time were set to music.  “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” originated as a poem by Phillips Brooks in 1868 just after the United States Civil War.

The lyrics of these traditional works, either recited or sung, are filled with deep meaning.  However, one must pause and listen deliberately to understand what is really being said instead of defaulting to the images created in our modern world.

For instance, Clement Clarke’s Moore’s Christmas Poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” is classic.  The poem’s vivid description helped create the modern image of a jolly and portly Santa Claus and introduced the names of the eight reindeer.  However, with the modern day red-coated Santa ingrained in our psyche by Coca-Cola, many miss the image of St. Nick presented in the original verse.

Saint Nicholas is not a human in the original poem, but rather a small elf pulled in a miniature sleigh with miniature reindeer.  He is dressed all in fur looking like a peddler which makes him akin to a common man as opposed to someone of privilege.

His common stature is further emphasized by the fact that he has a stump of a pipe held tight in his teeth.  At the time that this poem was written, pipes were made of clay.  When a rich man broke the stem of his pipe, he would discard it.  The poor would continue to use such a pipe, or even use a broken pipe found in the ash heaps.  These attributes parallel the status of the Christ child on Christmas.

Although this poem was written in 1820’s, it is secular in nature.  For the last several years, I have worked on and off to pen a poem using the same structure and style.  However, as a subject, I focused on the 12 days of Christmastide in the liturgical calendar.

Twelve Feasts of Christmas

’Twas the night before Christmas, joyous and bright,
When the heavens rejoiced in a marvelous light.
The candles are lit for the season’s great joy,
As twelve holy feasts bring their grace to employ.

The faithful are gathered, their hearts warm and bright,
To honor the Babe born in Bethlehem’s light.
With Mary and Joseph, the manger they saw,
The Nativity’s glory, the first feast of awe.

Day two is St. Stephen’s, the martyr so brave,
Whose faith held him fast through the stones that they gave.
He prayed for his foes as he fell to the ground,
First saint of the Church with a martyr’s crown.

Day three hails St. John, with his quill’s holy art,
His gospel a fire that still warms one’s heart.
No poison could dim his bright love for the Lord,
His words weave the truth of the Savior’s accord.

The fourth day weeps soft for the innocents’ fate,
Young babes lost to Herod’s sword and his hate.
In heaven they shine, little martyrs so dear,
Their souls rest with Christ where no sorrow comes near.

Day five brings St. Becket, his courage renowned,
Who stood for the Church on God’s own holy ground.
His blood stained the altar, a sacrifice grand,
For God’s holy will, he took martyrdom’s stand.

Day six brings the Family, so gentle, so true,
With Jesus, and Mary, and Joseph in view.
Their home in Nazareth, a haven of grace,
Guides families to live in God’s tender embrace.

St. Sylvester, day seven, with wisdom did steer,
The Church through new peace as the darkness would clear.
This pope led with vision, his heart firm and true,
To build up the faithful in all that they do.

The eighth day exalts the Mother of God,
Whose yes brought the Savior to dwell where we trod.
Dear Mary, our guide, with her heart pure and mild,
Leads all to the love of her glorious Child.

Day nine sings of Basil and Gregory’s might,
Their words like a beacon cut heresy’s dark night.
They fought for the Trinity, truth to defend,
Their teachings still echo, their faith without end.

The tenth day, Christ’s Name, like a bell clear and strong,
Its sweetness makes angels burst forth into song.
At Jesus’s blest title, all hearts lift in praise,
His mercy the hope of our Christmas always.

Elizabeth Seton, day eleven, did rise,
Her charity gleamed like the stars in the skies.
She served all the poor with a faith warm and bright,
A star for the Christmas that shines through the night.

At last, the twelfth day, Epiphany’s blaze,
The Magi knelt beneath the star’s guiding rays.
Their gifts hailed the King who for all nations came,
His light now forever shall burn like a flame.

Through saints and sweet feasts, God’s own story unfurls,
His love wraps the faithful, the joy of the world.
From Nativity’s cradle to star-guided sight,
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!