Poems For Children About Christmas

1. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas

• By Clement Clarke Moore

Famous Poem

in Famous Holiday Poems

'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;
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 my 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 snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he 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, Donder and Blixen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop 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.
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 pedler 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.
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, 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;
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!"

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2. The Littlest Christmas Tree

• By Amy Peterson
• Published by Family Friend Poems April 2009 with permission of the Author.

in Christmas Poems

The littlest Christmas tree
lived in a meadow of green
among a family
of tall evergreens.
He learned how to whisper
the evergreen song
with the slightest of wind
that came gently along.

He watched as the birds
made a home out of twigs
and couldn't wait till
he, too, was big.
For all of the trees
offered a home,
the maple, the pine, and the oak,
who's so strong.

"I hate being little,"
the little tree said,
"I can't even turn colors
like the maple turns red.
I can't help the animals
like the mighty old oak.
He shelters them all
in his wide mighty cloak."

The older tree said,
"Why, little tree, you don't know?
The story of a mighty king
from the land with no snow?"
Little tree questioned,
"A land with no snow?"
"Yes!" said old tree,
"A very old story,
from so long ago."

"A star appeared,
giving great light
over a manger
on long winter's night.
A baby was born,
a king of all kings,
and with him comes love
over all things."

"He lived in a country
all covered in sand,
and laid down his life
to save all of man."

Little tree thought of the gift
given by him,
then the big tree said with the
happiest grin,
"We're not just trees,
but a reminder of that day.
There's a much bigger part
of a role that we play!"

"For on Christmas Eve,
my life I'll lay down,
in exchange for a happier,
loving ground.
And as I stand dying,
they'll adorn me in trim.
This all will be done
in memory of him."

"Among a warm fire,
with family and friends,
in the sweet songs of Christmas,
I'll find my great end.
Then ever so gently,
He'll come down to see
and take me to heaven,
Jesus and me."

"So you see, little tree,
we are not like the oak
who shelters all things
beneath his great cloak.
Nor are we like the maple
in fall,
whose colors leave many
standing in awe."

"The gift that we give
is ourselves, limb for limb,
the greatest of honor,
in memory of him."

The little tree bowed
his head down and cried
and thought of the king
who willingly died.
For what kind of gift
can anyone give
than to lay down your life
when you wanted to live?

A swelling of pride
came over the tree.
Can all of this happen
Because of just me?
Can I really bring honor?
By adorning a home?
By reminding mankind
that he's never alone?

With this thought, little tree
began singing with glee.
Happy and proud
to be a true Christmas tree.

You can still hear them singing
even the smallest in height,
singing of Christmas
and that one holy night.

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3. My Dad Would Like To Be Santa

• By Graham Craven
• Published by Family Friend Poems November 2020 with permission of the Author.

in Christmas Poems

His belly's getting bigger,
And his hair is turning white.
His eyes shine and sparkle
Like the stars on Christmas night.

He couldn't fit down chimneys
When he can just fit through a door.
One mince pie would never do
He'd only ask for more.

He likes a nip of brandy;
It sets his cheeks aglow.
When he forgets the words to carols,
He just shouts Ho, Ho, Ho.

He hasn't got a reindeer
That runs silently through space,
But his car is Eco Friendly
And could beat Rudolph in a race.

He can't afford a new red suit
With boots and matching belt,
But his smile is warmer than the sun
That can make the snow tops melt.

My dad would like to be Santa
And fill the world with glee,
So until they advertise the job,
He'll give all his love to me.

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4. Santa's Lazy Elf

• By Kathy J. Parenteau
• Published by Family Friend Poems December 2018 with permission of the Author.

in Christmas Poems

Five more days till Christmas.
Santa and his crew
were working overtime making
children's dreams come true.

Singing carols, whistling tunes,
as the hours ticked away,
except for little Edison,
the elf that went astray.

Instead of making toys
in Santa's assembly line,
he was hanging out with Rudolph
beneath the snow capped pines.

As Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus took
a look around,
they noticed lazy Edison
was nowhere to be found.

They decided they'd had enough;
this elf will surely be fired.
Scratched their heads and
realized another must be hired.

Dasher heard them talking
and thought this can't be so.
Never in elf's history has
someone had to go.

He searched the winter wonderland,
and under the Northern Lights
Edison and Rudolph were
frolicking in flight.

He said, "Come down from there;
your behavior's a disgrace.
Christmas Eve is almost here and
you're about to be replaced."

Edison soon realized his days
of slacking were done,
that there'd be consequences
for goofing off and having fun.

He knew he had no place to go
if Santa didn't let him stay.
His heart began to pound
as Rudolph ran away.

He hurried as fast as he could
to tell Santa he was wrong,
beg him for forgiveness
and show him he belonged.

As the other elves were caroling,
he tried to sneak inside,
but Santa saw him coming out of the
corner of his eye.

He placed his hands upon his hips
and firmly shook his head,
"What shall I do with you,
my elf?" Santa firmly said.

"I see you when you're sleeping.
I know when you're awake.
Did you not read your history book?"
he said for goodness sake!

Santa soon forgave him 'cause
his heart is made of gold,
and Edison became the
hardest worker I am told.

The moral of this story is
we all must do our part,
and jolly old St. Nick has always
had a heart.

Merry Christmas to all of you
on this holiest of days.
May all your dreams come true
as you gather and celebrate.

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5. Listening For Santa

• By Annabel Sheila
• Published by Family Friend Poems December 2008 with permission of the Author.

in Christmas Poems

A squeak on the stairs.
Could Santa be here?
Better pull my blankets
Up to my ears.

He comes down the chimney,
That's how he gets in.
Santa uses magic
To make himself thin.

I better keep still,
Can't make a peep.
He doesn't leave toys,
Unless you're asleep.

My door just opened.
Someone's by my bed.
It wasn't Santa after all,
'Cause Mom just kissed my head.

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13. Pets In The North Pole

• By Peyton
• Published by Family Friend Poems December 2012 with permission of the Author.

in Animal Poems for Kids

Hear Ye, Hear Ye there is much to do,
But the reindeer up north have caught the flu!

The presents are wrapped, the sleigh is all set,
So instead of reindeer, we're using your pets.

Just show them this note on Christmas Eve,
So when the time comes, they'll be ready to leave.

We'll take dogs, we'll take snakes, we'll take hamsters and cats.
We'll take frogs, we'll take lizards, we'll even take bats!

We'll pretty much take whatever you've got.
For Santa's sleigh, we'll need a lot.

Your pet should leave when you're asleep,
So don't make a sound or a peep.

When your pet comes to fly the sleigh,
I'll make them fly, I'll show them the way.

We'll soar through the night up high in the sky.
Looking down at the houses as we fly on by.

Oh, and thank you for helping Santa Claus.
From your old pal, Santa Paws.

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