To everyone who celebrates Christmas, DCist wishes you a Merry Christmas. To those who do not, DCist wishes you a relaxing long weekend. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” (Clement Clarke Moore) was first published in 1823 and its reading continues to be a popular Christmas Eve bedtime tradition today. You can track Santa’s travels all today and tonight with NORAD. They update regularly with streamed media and information about the holiday traditions for each country he visits.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

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.