Versions of "The Night Before Christmas"

One of the most familiar poems of childhood may well be this Christmas classic attributed to Clement Moore, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" also known as "The Night Before Christmas." After nearly 200 years, there are heaps and heaps of versions and variants of this rhyme. Here's just a partial list of largely comical parodies of this classic poem drawn from The Poetry Teacher's Book of Lists. Enjoy!

Versions and Variants of “The Night Before Christmas”

Clement Clarke Moore is said to have written the poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," for his own children and recited it to them on Christmas Eve in 1822. It was then published anonymously, became increasingly popular and is still shared today as a Christmas tradition. Many, many children's book illustrators have created picture book versions of this story-poem and it has also been interpreted, re-cast, and even parodied by others as shown in the books listed here.

1. Adams, Jennifer. 2004. The Night Before Christmas in Idaho. Salt Lake City, UT: Gibbs Smith.
2. Beard, Henry. 2005. A Cat’s Night Before Christmas. New York: Broadway Books.
3. Beard, Henry. 2005. A Dog’s Night Before Christmas. New York: Broadway Books.
4. Cutlip, Kimbra. 2002. Firefighter’s Night Before Christmas.  Gretna, LA: Pelican.
5. Davis, David. 2003. Nurse’s Night Before Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
6. Davis, David. 2003. Librarian’s Night Before Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
7. Gribnau, Joe. 2007. Rocky Mountain Night Before Christmas.  Gretna, LA: Pelican.
8. Holland, Trish and Christine Ford. 2006. The Soldiers’ Night Before Christmas. New York: Random House.
9. Layne, Steven L. 2001. The Teacher’s Night Before Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
10. Layne, Steven L. 2006. Preacher’s Night Before Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
11. Layne, Steven L. 2004. The Principal’s Night Before Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
12. Macy, Carolyn. 2008. Hawaiian Night Before Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
13. McWilliams, Amanda. 2004. Ozark Night Before Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
14. Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2003. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and other Seasonal Favorites. New York: Abrams.
15. Moore, Clement C. 2002. The Night Before Christmas. New York: HarperCollins.
16. Moore, Clement C. 2003. The Night Before Christmas: A Goblin Tale. New York: Dial.
17. Moore, Clement Clark. 2002. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas; or, Account of A Visit from St. Nicholas. Ill. by Matt Tavares. Somerville, MA:  Candlewick Press.
18. Moore, Clement Clarke. 2000. The Teddy Bear’s Night Before Christmas. London: Scholastic.
19. Moss, Jenny Jackson. 2000. Cajun Night after Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
20. Robinson, Gary. 2007. Native American Night Before Christmas. Santa Fe, NM: Clear Light Publishing.
21. Simmons, Lynn Sheffield. 2007. Sugar Lump, the Orphan Calf’s Night Before Christmas.  Gretna, LA: Pelican.
22. Smith, Johanna. 2004. The Night Before Christmas in Michigan. Salt Lake City, UT: Gibbs Smith.
23. Sullivan, E.J. 2003. The Redneck Night Before Christmas. Canada: Crane Hill Publishers.
24. Terrill, Beth. 2007. The Barnyard Night Before Christmas. New York: Random House.
25. Townsend, Una Belle. 2008. Racecar Driver’s Night Before Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
26. Turner, Thomas N. 2003. Country Music Night Before Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
27. Williamson, Chet. 2002. Pennsylvania Dutch Night Before Christmas. Gretna, LA: Pelican.
28. Yates, Phillip. 2008. A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas. New York: Sterling.

Now let's gather at My Juicy Little Universe for a Poetry Friday celebration hosted by poet Heidi Mordhorst. See you there!