“On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen, On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen!”
No doubt you all recognize these age old verses from the Poem, “The Night Before Christmas.”
The author, Clement Clarke Moore, (1799-1863) came from a prominent family and his father Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington.
The tradition of reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” poem on Christmas Eve is now a worldwide institution and tradition.
Traditions are very important.
We all celebrate Christmas with traditions, don’t we? Certainly, there are American traditions homogenous to us all. But the “evil” elves are continually trying to subvert our ways of celebration. .
For example, “The Night Before Christmas”, Christmas crèches, Christmas trees, the Christmas story in Luke, and Santa Claus live on while the commercial establishment pushes and pulls at us to adopt their theology.
“Alvin and the Chipmunks,” “Elf,” and “Christmas Vacation,” somehow just don’t quite hit the mark. “Prancer” doesn’t either.
“Scrooge,” the movie, is an American tradition.
Originally a silent movie, it was produced in 1910. It made the way for the later versions which touched the American heart. “A Christmas Carol,” made in 1951 with Allistar Sim is still popular. However, the version made in 1984 with George C. Scott is gaining. “Home Alone,” is good, and cute, but it doesn’t have the soul, nor the message of the Spirit of Christmas that “A Christmas Carol,” portrays.
Clever as the artists and composers might be, they cannot outsell or out do “O, Come All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night,” or “Away In a Manger.”
They live on.
Meanwhile, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth,” and “Santa Baby,” (Madonna) are cute, but don’t make the cut.
Let’s read the words to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
Sing along with me; Ah one, ah two, ah three….
God rest you merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior,
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan’s power,
When we have gone astray,
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

I found a humorous parody of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
I am not making fun of a wonderful song, but I couldn’t pass this one up. This version certainly fits with the times as well.
Don’t adopt this version as your new tradition. Oh well, go ahead if you want!
Sing along with me.
Remember the tune? Let’s sing. Don’t laugh!! You won’t make it through the song if you do. Ready?
God Rest You Poor Small Businessmen
Who’ve managed to survive;
Be glad in this e-con-o-my
That you are still alive;
Give shouts of praise at Christmas time
When folks who buy appear;
There’s a chance...you’ll break even for the year—
For the whole year—
There’s a chance that you’ll break even for the year
2. The chain stores and con-glom-er-ates
Have brought you to your knees;
High taxes, rent and labor costs
Have caught you in a squeeze;
The cost of goods keeps going up--
Inflation’s running on—
So give thanks....you can buy cheap from Taiwan—
Good old Taiwan—
So give thanks that you can buy cheap from Taiwan!
Keep your customs alive! Keep the Spirit. Keep the focus. Remember the Savior. Enjoy Santa Claus.
Have fun. Merry Christmas!

“A Woman’s View” is Judi Tabler’s reflection of her experiences and events. She is a wife, mother, writer, teacher, grandmother, and even a great grandmother.