Christmas Eve is my favorite night of the year. In this episode, I share some of my favorite traditions and read a Christmas classic!
Art by Pete Whitehead
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Story performed by: Aaron Calafato
Audio Production: Ken Wendt
Original Art: Pete Whitehead
Podcast Coordinator: Cori Birce
Creative Consultant: Anthony Vorndran
TRANSCRIPT
[00:00:04.610] - Aaron Story
It's December 24th, which means it is Christmas Eve, and my favorite night of the year. Always has been, always has been since I've been a kid. Man, the magic of tonight. The magic of it. I remember when I was a little kid, I went to the public library. My mom took me there and they did a slideshow of the Polar Express. And I remember sitting watching this and I was in my PJs and I remember, you know, I'm watching the thing.
[00:00:37.960]
And then I hear above us on the roof, I hear like, reindeer. And I hear bells. I was like, "Oh my God I got to get home!" And it is. It's one of those nights, right? And there's a lot of people who celebrate Christmas who say, oh, it's December 25th. I got to respectfully disagree. Like, that day is great. And, you know, the morning you're opening up presents and that's awesome. But like after December 25th, it's December 26. It's a little depressing December 25th to me because it's like it marks the end of the Christmas celebration. Whereas December 24th. December 24th is the culmination of anticipation, what you've been celebrating for two months. At least, I've been celebrating for like two months, leading up to this very night. This incredible night when anything can happen, where miracles happen, where redemption is possible, where a new birth right? In so many ways is possible in our lives. It's such a beautiful night. And when you're a kid and you're waiting for Santa Claus and just that that feeling of hope and possibility. Nothing can replace that. And that all happens tonight. And everyone's got their traditions. And mine are very particular, as you could tell, very intense about this.
[00:01:56.030]
And so in no particular order, one thing I always do on Christmas Eve is I watch "It's A Wonderful Life", my favorite film of all time. I cry a lot watching it, but I watch it. And then later that evening, Cori and I will on Christmas Eve, will fall asleep to the Pope. That's what we do, very calming. We fall asleep to the Pope. But before any of that with the kids. And this is what makes it awesome. We get the kids together and we let them all open 1 gift on Christmas Eve. Just a little appetizer. And then after they open that gift, they can play for a few minutes. But then it's time to get the cookies and the ice cold milk and you set it up for Santa Claus. And they do that right by the fireplace. And then we turn off all the lights except for the Christmas tree lights. And I read The ight before Christmas to them. And I can just see the light from the Christmas tree sort of flicker off their face and the anticipation in their eyes. And it's like it's the best thing in the world. And then right after I'm done with the story, we tell them, hey, "got to get to sleep right now because you don't want Santa Claus to miss you. You got to be asleep." And so they all run upstairs. We, you know, kiss them on the head, tell them good night. And then that's when we hear, you know, stuff on the roof. But I figured tonight, if you don't mind, since it's Christmas Eve, I'd like to read The Night Before Christmas to you... Enjoy!
[00:03:20.910]
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 sugarplums danced in their heads. And mama in her kerchief and I and my cap had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.
[00:03:53.300]
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. The moon and the breast of the new fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should 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.
[00:04:32.840]
More rapid than eagles. His coursers they came and he whistled and he shouted and he 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!"
[00:04:55.200]
As dry 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.
[00:05:26.560]
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.
[00:05:54.250]
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as 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.
[00:06:25.960]
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.
[00:06:56.270]
But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight. Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!
[00:07:09.110]
Merry Christmas.
