Poems about Christmas evoke the holiday season’s joy, wonder, and spiritual significance. They capture the essence of the Nativity story, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and its profound impact on humanity.
These poems weave together elements of faith, love, and the magic of the season, offering a poetic lens through which we can experience the true meaning of Christmas.
‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ or ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’ describes the speaker’s encounter with St. Nicholas on Christmas Eve.
This poem should be regarded as the most famous Christmas poem ever written and certainly the most influential. It's been featured in movies, television shows, and read at family gatherings for decades. It's also credited with creating the modern image of Santa Clause that's regarded as common today.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Published in 1957, this sixty-nine-page book has become one of the most popular Christmas stories, written in response to the commercialization of the holiday season
This is a lengthy poem that formed a book. The book consists of simple and pleasing rhymes and is typical of Dr Seuss’s unique style. It tells the tale of a character called the Grinch who is miserly and detests Christmas. As a protest against the day he steals everybody’s presents. But then when everybody celebrates, even without their presents the Grinch is so touched by their togetherness that he relents and embraces Christmas.
Every Who Down in Whoville Liked Christmas a lot...
But the Grinch,Who lived just north of Whoville, Did NOT!
The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
Betjeman’s ‘Christmas’ juxtaposes cozy, traditional festivities with the profound story of Christ’s birth, questioning the true essence of the holiday.
Betjeman’s classic eight stanza poem makes a statement about how the true meaning of Christmas seems to be lost in the modern world. This is done by slightly disparaging many things that have become Christmas traditions. By the end of the poem, the narrator acknowledges the importance of these traditions but highlights that we never lose sight of the fact that Christmas is supposed to be a time to celebrate Jesus Christ.
‘Silent Night’ by Mohr celebrates Jesus Christ’s birth, highlighting peace, salvation, and divine love in a cherished Christmas carol.
The hymn started life as a collection of lyrics written by the Austrian, Reverend Joseph Mohr. He penned the words and the tune was later added by close friend Franz Gruber. The hymn was well received and has gone on to be translated into many languages. It is now one of the most enduring and well-beloved Christmas carols, sung worldwide by Christians.
‘Christmas Bells’ contrasts war’s despair with Christmas hope, reflecting a longing for peace amid the Civil War’s discord.
The poem begins with a vision of hope. The refrain “Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” is used throughout and with a slightly different slant as the poem talks of how there can’t be true peace until there is no war. It is a poignant reminder that while we are all enjoying our Christmas there are some less fortunate than ourselves who probably aren’t.
Peterson’s ‘The Littlest Christmas Tree’ teaches about purpose and sacrifice, showing a tree’s joy in symbolizing Christ’s love.
This poem is especially lovely for reading to your children. It details the story of a young Christmas tree that is saddened. Personifying the young tree makes for a touching story. The tree is comforted and by the end of the poem the young tree has brightened up. It really is a lilting and beautiful poem, perfect for a goodnight story.
‘Ring Out Wild Bells’ by Alred Tennyson is about the new year and all the ways the world could change for the better.
Tennyson's message is a positive one. The suggestion is that at Christmas time we should use the bells as a tool in order to help rid the world of its considerable ills. It’s a sentiment that still rings true today (excuse the pun) we don’t live in a perfect world, but at Christmas time there always seems to be an increase in people helping the poor etc. It truly is a time for hope.
Auden’s ‘For the Time Being’ navigates the shift from Christmas bliss to daily grind, reflecting on faith, love, and happiness.
This section from Auden’s, 'For the Time Being,' is a wonderful representation of the feelings following the end of the Yuletide. It is an almost sarcastic reflection on the end of the Christmas, seeming to poke fun at the idea of peace and goodwill to all men by suggesting that the period is once again a failure. Auden’s control of subtle sarcasm is lightyears ahead of his time and makes for a compelling read, even to a fan of more contemporary poetry.
Well, so that is that. Now we must dismantle the tree,
Putting the decorations back into their cardboard boxes —
Some have got broken — and carrying them up to the attic.
The holly and the mistletoe must be taken down and burnt,
Rossetti’s ‘Love Came Down at Christmas’ celebrates Jesus’s birth as divine love’s earthly arrival, emphasizing love.
The one of the shorter poems by Rossetti, which may seem a surprise considering Rossetti’s propensity for much longer poems, most famously her classic, Goblin Market. Nearly all the lines of this poem begin with the word love. Her simplistic refrain makes for a striking poem as she aims to cement love as the true meaning of Christmas.
Milton’s early masterpiece, ‘On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity,’ celebrates Jesus’s birth and the poet’s own passage into adulthood.
This poem doesn’t just cover Christ’s birth but how his very presence helped eradicate paganism. It also touches on the crucifixion. Milton produced this poem around Christmas time when he was just eighteen years old. Given his tender years, this poem is absolutely stunning, maintaining consistent and masterful use of rhythm, demonstrating why Milton is renowned of one of the greatest poets of all time.
‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ describes the birth of the Christ child on a “bleak midwinter” day and those who came to see him.
The entire poem is about the celebration of Christmas, marking Jesus' birth. It captures the essence of Christmas as a time of humble beginnings, faith, and devotion. The poem shows how Christmas is celebrated with simple love and heartfelt gratitude. It emphasizes the true meaning of Christmas beyond material things.
‘The Silver Flask’ by John Montague recounts the poet’s family reunion and their journey to Ireland after twenty years to celebrate Christmas.
The ‘Midnight Mass’ leading to Christmas is the crux of the poem. The celebration of this festival calls for Montague’s family reunion after twenty years. The birth of Christ in those adverse situations was like a light of hope for the people. Its celebration acts similarly for Montague. One of the best examples is his father passionately singing the hymns that commemorate this event. Additionally, the mother’s act of hoarding the ‘same tinsel decorations’ and the festive light illuminating the cold, winter night helps to comprehend Montague’s objective behind this conscious choice.
‘Christmas Everywhere’ by Phillips Brooks is an uplifting Christmas and religious poem about the power of the season. The poet implies that if people wanted to, they could carry the same feeling of faithfulness throughout the whole year.
Christmas is the primary topic of interest in this poem. The poet focuses on it from the first lines, and no analysis is needed to interpret the poem's relation to the season.
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night!
Christmas in lands of the fir-tree and pine,
Christmas in lands of the palm-tree and vine,
Christmas where snow-peaks stand solemn and white,
Edgar Guest’s ‘A Friend’s Greeting’ is a heart-touching poem about a speaker’s gratitude for his dearest friend. This poem is written in the form of a greeting in verse.
Set around Christmas, the poem ties the season of giving to the speaker’s feelings of gratitude. Christmas is a time for reflecting on the important relationships in life, and the speaker uses this holiday to express his appreciation for his friend. The festive season adds warmth to the poem, making it a perfect moment to celebrate the joy of friendship and giving.
I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me;
I'd like to be the help that you've been always glad to be;
I'd like to mean as much to you each minute of the day
As you have meant, old friend of mine, to me along the way.
‘The Epic’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson contemplates tradition’s wane, artistic innovation, and the timeless value of creativity in changing times.
This poem presents Christmas as a central backdrop. It portrays Christmas traditions and festivities, including games, kisses beneath the sacred bush, and the wassail-bowl. However, it also reflects a sense of nostalgia and concern about the diminishing significance of Christmas in a changing world. The poem conveys a longing for the genuine, traditional spirit of the holiday.
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