Speaker 1: This is it's okay that you're not okay, and I'm
Speaker 1: your host, Megan Divine. This week a very special bonus episode,
Speaker 1: one that I hope will make your Christmas Eve a
Speaker 1: little sweeter. Stay tuned, everybody, Your new Tradition coming up
Speaker 1: right after this first break. The holiday classic Twas the
Speaker 1: Night Before Christmas was written by Clement Clark Moore for
Speaker 1: his own kids. It was first published in eighteen twenty
Speaker 1: three and has been part of Christmas traditions for over
Speaker 1: a century. It was definitely part of my own family traditions.
Speaker 1: My dad used to read Twas the Night Before Christmas
Speaker 1: every single Christmas Eve, after dinner and before we were
Speaker 1: allowed to open our Christmas pjs. Now, my mom, my brother,
Speaker 1: and I would also do sound effects as he read it,
Speaker 1: which may or may not been awesome for him, but
Speaker 1: it was really fun. It's been a long time since
Speaker 1: those Christmases. The memory of that is so clear and
Speaker 1: so bright in my mind. So this year I asked
Speaker 1: my dad to record Twas the Night Before Christmas so
Speaker 1: that I could share that story and my dad with you.
Speaker 1: I know so many of you are missing your dads,
Speaker 1: or your grandparents, or the father of your own kids.
Speaker 1: Maybe you just really wish you had a father figure
Speaker 1: in your life. So I thought I could volunteer my
Speaker 1: dad to be your stand in Dad or your stand
Speaker 1: in Grandpa, narrating this Christmas story for you and your family.
Speaker 1: My dad is thrilled to be even a small part
Speaker 1: of your family traditions this year, and I am so
Speaker 1: happy to share him with you. Without further ado, everybody,
Speaker 1: twas the Night before Christmas, written by Clement Clark Moore
Speaker 1: and read to you by my dad William Divine the third,
Speaker 1: from my family to yours. May you have the best
Speaker 1: holiday season available to you.
Speaker 2: It was the night before Christmas. Went all through the house,
Speaker 2: but a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The
Speaker 2: stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes
Speaker 2: that Saint Nicholas soon would be there. The children were
Speaker 2: nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar
Speaker 2: plums danced in their heads. And Mama in her kerchief
Speaker 2: and I in my cap had just settled down for
Speaker 2: a long winter's nap, when out on the lawn there
Speaker 2: were rose such a clatter. I sprang from the bed
Speaker 2: to see what was the matter away to the window.
Speaker 2: I flew like a flash to open the shutters, and
Speaker 2: threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of
Speaker 2: the new fallen snow gave the luster of midday to
Speaker 2: objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear
Speaker 2: but a miniature sleigh and a tiny reindeer, with the
Speaker 2: little old driver so lively and quick I knew in
Speaker 2: a moment it must be Saint nick more rapid than eagles.
Speaker 2: His coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and
Speaker 2: called them by name. Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer,
Speaker 2: and Vixen, on comet, on Cupid, on Donner, and Blitzen,
Speaker 2: to the top of the porch, to the top of
Speaker 2: the wall. Now dash away, dash away, dash away, all
Speaker 2: as dry leaves it before the wild hurricane fly when
Speaker 2: they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So
Speaker 2: up to the housetop the coursers they flew, with a
Speaker 2: sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas too. And then
Speaker 2: in a twinkling I heard on the roof the prancing
Speaker 2: and pawing of each little hoof, as I drew in
Speaker 2: my hand and was turning around down the chimney, Saint
Speaker 2: Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in
Speaker 2: fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes
Speaker 2: were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of
Speaker 2: toys he had flung on his back, and he looked
Speaker 2: like a peddler just opening his back. His eyes, how
Speaker 2: they twinkled, His dimples, how merry. His cheeks were like roses,
Speaker 2: his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth was
Speaker 2: drawn up like a bow, and the beard of his
Speaker 2: chin was as white as the snow. The stump of
Speaker 2: a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the
Speaker 2: smoke encircled his head like a wreath. He had a
Speaker 2: broad face and a little round belly that shook me
Speaker 2: laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump,
Speaker 2: a right jolly old elf. And I laughed when I
Speaker 2: saw him in spite of myself. A wink of his
Speaker 2: eye and a twist of his head soon gave me
Speaker 2: to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not
Speaker 2: a word, but went straight to his work and filled
Speaker 2: all the stockings, then turned with a jerk, and laying
Speaker 2: his finger aside of his no and giving a nod
Speaker 2: up the chimney, he rose. He sprang to his sleigh,
Speaker 2: to his team, gave a whistle, and away they all
Speaker 2: flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard
Speaker 2: him explain. There he drove out of sight. Happy Christmas
Speaker 2: to all, and to all a good night.
Speaker 1: A year after with Megan Divine as written and produced
Speaker 1: by me Megan Divine. Executive producer is Amy Brown, co
Speaker 1: produced by Elizabeth Fozzio. Logistical and social media support from Micah,
Speaker 1: Edited by Houston Tilley, music provided by Wave Crush and
Speaker 1: background noises provided by Luna yelling at anyone walking by
Speaker 2: H