A few months ago we published a grammar guide of sorts called Drink, Drank, Drunk: A Lesson In Wine Grammar Using Stock PhotosThe article proved to be quite popular, so we thought it was about time to put together another stock photo-themed story. As it’s late December we couldn’t think of a better story to tell through wine-themed stock photos than “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”*

*If you were wondering the title is not “The Night Before Christmas” either; the actual title of the poem is “A Visit from St. Nicholas.”

‘Twas A Wine-Filled Night Before Christmas – Told Through Stock Photos

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

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Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danc’d in their heads,

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

And Mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap —

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

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 the luster of mid-day to objects below;

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

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 St. Nick.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call’d them by name:
”Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer and Vixen,
”On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donder and Blitzen;
”To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
”Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys — and St. Nicholas too:

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

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:

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

He was dress’d all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnish’d with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
And he look’d like a peddler just opening his pack:

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

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 of his chin was as white as the snow;

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

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 laugh’d, like a bowl full of jelly:

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laugh’d when I saw him in spite of myself;

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And fill’d all the stockings; then turn’d with a jerk,

Santa Claus Selfie

 

And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprung 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.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

 

All images via our wonderful friends at Shutterstock.