El poema Una visita de San Nicolás, más conocido por su primer verso “Era la noche antes de Navidad”, fue publicado anónimamente por primera vez el 23 de diciembre de 1823.
Este poema es en gran parte el responsable de la imagen que se tiene de Papá Noel desde mediados del siglo XIX hasta la actualidad.
En él se describe su aspecto físico, la noche de su visita, el trineo que utiliza, el número y nombre de los renos y el tradicional reparto de juguetes a los niños.
La autoría de este poema es discutida, por un lado se atribuye al profesor americano Clement Clarke Moore y, por otro lado, a un primo de su mujer, el Major Henry Livingston Jr.
El ilustrador Thomas Nast, contemporáneo de ambos, dibujó a Santa Claus con el aspecto inconfundible con el que lo conocemos hoy.
EN ESTE VÍDEO PUEDES ESCUCHAR A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
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 the 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 the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it 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, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
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.
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 peddler, 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 of 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 bowlful 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!"
ERA LA NOCHE ANTES DE NAVIDAD
UNA VISITA DE SAN NICOLÁS
Era la noche antes de Navidad, cuando en toda la casa
no se movía ni una criatura, ni siquiera un ratón.
Las medias colgadas en la chimenea con cuidado,
esperando que San Nicolás pronto estuviera allí.
Los niños se acurrucan cómodamente en sus camas,
Mientras visiones de ciruelas escarchadas danzan en sus cabezas;
Y mamá con su toquilla, y yo con mi gorro,
nos preparábamos para una larga siesta invernal,
Cuando en el prado se levantó tal alboroto
que salté de la cama para ver qué ocurría.
Lejos a la ventana volé como un relámpago,
abrí las persianas y levanté la hoja.
La luna en el medio de la nieve recién caída
daba el brillo del mediodía a los objetos de abajo.
¿Y qué es lo que mis ojos maravillados vieron aparecer?
Un trineo en miniatura, y ocho pequeños renos,
Con un conductor pequeño y viejo, tan vivo y rápido,
que supe al momento que debía de ser San Nicolás.
Más rápido que las águilas sus corceles vinieron,
Y él silbó, y gritó, y los llamó por su nombre;
"¡Ahora, Dasher! ¡Ahora, Bailarín! ¡Ahora, Prancer y Vixen!
¡Venga, Cometa! ¡Venga, Cupido! ¡Adelante, Donder y Blitzen!
¡Por arriba del porche! ¡Arriba por la pared!
¡Ahora, corred! ¡Salid corriendo! ¡Salid corriendo todos!"
Como hojas secas que vuelan antes del salvaje huracán,
que cuando se encuentran con un obstáculo, suben al cielo;
así hasta el tejado de la casa, los corceles volaban,
con el trineo lleno de juguetes, y San Nicolás también.
Y luego, en un instante, oí en el techo
cabriolas y pisadas de cada pequeña pezuña.
Como señalé mientras mi cabeza giraba,
por la chimenea abajo San Nicolás llegó de un salto.
Estaba vestido todo de pieles, de la cabeza a los pies,
y toda su ropa manchada con ceniza y hollín.
Llevaba un saco de juguetes arrojado sobre su espalda,
y se parecía a un buhonero al abrir su bolsa.
¡Sus ojos, cómo brillaban! ¡Sus hoyuelos, qué alegres!
¡Sus mejillas eran como rosas, su nariz como una cereza!
En su alegre y pequeña boca se dibujaba un saludo
y la barba de su mentón era tan blanca como la nieve.
Una boquilla de pipa sujetaba entre los dientes,
y el humo rodeaba su cabeza como una guirnalda.
Tenía una cara ancha y una pequeña barriga redonda,
que sacudía cuando se reía, como un cuenco de gelatina.
¡Era gordito y rollizo, talmente un duende viejo y alegre,
y me reí cuando lo vi, a pesar de mí mismo!
Un guiño de su ojo y una señal de su cabeza,
pronto me hizo saber que no tenía nada que temer.
¡No dijo una palabra, pero fue directo a su trabajo
y llenó todas las medias y luego se volvió de repente
y poniendo su dedo a un lado de la nariz,
y, a una señal con la cabeza, por la chimenea, ascendió!
Saltó a su trineo, a su equipo le dio un silbido,
y todos volaron lejos como los vilanos de un cardo.
Pero le oí exclamar, mientras conducía y se perdía de vista:
"Feliz Navidad a todos, y para todos una buena noche".
'TWAS LA NOCHE BEFORE CHRISTMAS OR ACCOUNT OF UNA VISITA FROM ST. NICHOLAS
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through la casa
not a creature was stirring, ¡Caramba! ¿Qué pasa?
Los niños were all tucked away in their camas,
not a creature was stirring, ¡Caramba! ¿Qué pasa?
Los niños were all tucked away in their camas,
some in vestidos and some in pajamas.
While Mama worked late in her little cocina,
While Mama worked late in her little cocina,
el viejo was down at the corner cantina.
The stockings were hanging con mucho cuidado,
The stockings were hanging con mucho cuidado,
in hopes that St. Nicholas would feel obligado
to bring all the children, both buenos y malos,
a nice batch of dulces and other regalos.
Outside in the yard there arose such a grito,
to bring all the children, both buenos y malos,
a nice batch of dulces and other regalos.
Outside in the yard there arose such a grito,
that I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito.
I went to the window and looked out afuera,
I went to the window and looked out afuera,
and who in the world, do you think que era?
Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero
Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero
came dashing along like a crazy bombero!
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados,
were eight little burros approaching volados.
I watched as they came, and this little hombre
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados,
were eight little burros approaching volados.
I watched as they came, and this little hombre
was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre.
Ay, Pancho! Ay, Pepe! Ay, Cuca! Ay, Beto!
Ay, Chato! Ay, Chopo! Maruca and Nieto!
Then standing erect with his hand on his pecho
Ay, Pancho! Ay, Pepe! Ay, Cuca! Ay, Beto!
Ay, Chato! Ay, Chopo! Maruca and Nieto!
Then standing erect with his hand on his pecho
he flew to the top of our very own techo.
With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
he struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea.
Then huffing and puffing, at last in our sala,
With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
he struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea.
Then huffing and puffing, at last in our sala,
with soot smeared all over his red suit de gala.
He filled the stockings with lovely regalos,
for none of the children had been very malos.
Then chuckling aloud and seeming contento,
he turned like a flash and was gone like the viento.
He sprang to his trineo, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all volaron like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim, and this is verdad,
Merry Christmas to all, y Feliz Navidad!
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He filled the stockings with lovely regalos,
for none of the children had been very malos.
Then chuckling aloud and seeming contento,
he turned like a flash and was gone like the viento.
He sprang to his trineo, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all volaron like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim, and this is verdad,
Merry Christmas to all, y Feliz Navidad!
