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Christmas Poems
A collection of Christmas Poems celebrate the season of Xmas. A short poem is a great thing to tuck into a Xmas card to send Christmas wishes and greetings. Great to share and inspire friends and family.
Christmas a special time of year when the world stops and the birth of Jesus is celebrated. A special time that has been celebrated for more than 2000 years around the world.
Poetry can express thoughts and wishes in a way that brings out the magic of Christmas. We hope you find poems that inspire you to have a very Merry Christmas!
Short Poems / Special Occasion /
Christmas Poems - related: Christmas Wishes
Collections of Christmas Poems
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Christmas Time
Poet: Arthur Franklin Fuller
Hurrah — it's Christmas-time again!
The time of crispy weather;
Ah, Love and Cheer are captains then,
And dear ones get together;
Let go the real and fancied grudge —
The tomahawk go bury;
We're all in debt to one great Judge,
So let's be good — and merry.
Lay every grievance on the shelf.
And keep the circle growing;
Who hates his neighbor, harms himself-
We'll reap from what we're sowing;
Decide to do somebody, good —
Just let the grouchy pester;
Enjoy this Christmas as you should,
And be a jolly jester.
Let holly from the curtains swing —
Have mistletoe in plenty;
Break up your wrinkles — laugh and sing —
Make old folks act like twenty;
An innocent kiss will work no ill,
Though cheeks blush like a cherry;
Make some sad heart with pleasure thrill —
It's Christmas-time — be merry!
If fortune hasn't smiled on you,
And you can't give one present,
Brush up your seedy clothes and do
Your best at being pleasant;
Though Christmas finds you wandered far
Away from kindred's bevy,
Don't let hard times your spirits mar —
Let mails with Love be heavy.
Now when you get to feeling good,
Be gentle as a rabbit —
Retain your Christmas smile and cheer,
Until you get the habit;
Just let your war-tools rust and rot —
Though worldlings think you flappy —
A grudge gets even when forgot!
It's Christmas-time — be happy!
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Ring The Christmas Festival
Poet: Ellwood Haines Stokes
Coming, coming. Lord of glory.
Coming through the ages hoary.
In accord with ancient story.
Coming, coming. Lord of light;
Coming, so the truth engages.
Coming through prophetic pages.
Coming in the thoughts of sages.
Ring the bells of joy to-night!
Coming, lo! His star ascending,
Coming, heaven and earth are blending,
Coming, glory never-ending,
Ring the bells of joy again!
Coming, not as man expected,
Coming, by the high neglected,
Coming, by the proud rejected,
He who shall forever reign.
Come, though years of God move slowly;
Bom of virgin mother, holy.
Cradled in a manger, lowly,
Human form, and flesh and blood;
Come the child, yet mighty Leader,
Weak, yet all-prevailing Pleader,
Destitute, yet hunger's Feeder,
Infant, Maker, Monarch, God!
Come! the world with thanks is ringing;
Come! the sad with joy are singing;
Come! the weak to Him are clinging;
Come the All, and come for all!
Come ! the nation's long desire;
Come! all hearts to Him aspire
Come! the world is lifted higher;
Ring the Christmas festival!
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Glory Be To God On High
Poet: Eloise A. Skimings
The angels are fluttering their beautiful wings
O'er Jesus the Infant, the mighty King of Kings,
While on the wintry air the joyful welcome rings,
Glory be to God on High.
'Tis Christmas day, fond hearts are fill'd with emotion,
Thanking God for this hallow'd day of devotion,
While Christmas lays rejoice from ocean to ocean,
Glory be to God on high,
Sadden'd hearts rejoice, tho' tears from fond eyes stream.
Golden hair and blue eyes, of his coming dream;
Raven locks and black orbs, with their gladness beam.
Glory be to God on high.
Then let us all rejoice this merry Christmas day;
Those who have gone before would now no longer stay,
They are around the Throne, singing this joyous lay,
Glory be to God on high.
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Christmas Is Forever
Poet: Norman W. Brooks
Christmas is forever,
Not for just one day.
For loving, sharing, giving,
Are not to put away.
Like bells and lights and tinsel,
in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others,
Is good you do yourself.
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Keeping Christmas
Poet: Henry VanDyke
Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people.
And to remember what other people have done for you;
To ignore what the world owes you,
And to think what you owe the world;...
And to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe,
And look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness -
Are you willing to do these things even for a day?
Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world -
Stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death -
And that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago
Is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love?
Then you can keep Christmas.
And if you keep it for a day,
Why not always?
But you can never
Keep it alone.
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Red, Green and Tinsel
Poet: Julie Hebert, © 2011
So much to love about Christmas,
Who could ever say they don't.
Red and green everywhere,
How Christmas is so well known.
We love to see the houses,
Decorated so festively.
Tinsel so very shinny,
Can't wait to see my Christmas tree.
Can't forget the presents,
Under the big colorful tree.
Every year there's more than expected,
I'm so lucky, that is me.
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What Christmas Is All About
Poet: Julie Hebert, © 2011
We have to go back to the basics,
The day our Jesus was born.
As this is the day that we celebrate,
Our Savior was here in the morn.
We teach our children that Christmas,
Is trees, pageants and presents.
But let us not forget,
First, that Christmas is Jesus event!
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Christmas Bells Are Ringing
Poet: Caleb Davis Bradlee
Hark! the Christmas bells are ringing,
And the angel-choirs are singing
That Christ is born!
And wrong is conquered by the right,
A world is lifted into light,
No more forlorn!
All the earth was sad and dreary,
And the human heart was weary,
Till Christ did come!
And then the darkness fled away,
And holy love began its sway
O'er hearth and home!
All glory be to God on high,
Let every mortal gladly cry,
That Christ was given!
May Christ grant all the power to see,
As at his name they bend the knee,
The way to heaven!
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The Christmas Chime
Poet: Grinnell Willis
We hear, like those of olden time,
The music of the Christmas Chime,
Telling its story again and again,
Of "Peace on earth, good will to men"—
That beautiful story told so well
By the sound of the joyous Christmas bell.
It seems of Christmas-time a part.
Finding an echo in every heart,
And everywhere throughout the land
Its tokens pass from hand to hand.
So may we our voices raise
With thankful hearts in songs of praise,
As joyful as the merry chime
That rings so clear at Christmas-time.
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Santa Claus
Poet: Grinnell Willis
We all love Santa Claus,
A merry man is he,
We'll shout our loud applause
And greet him merrily.
He has a heavy pack
With Christmas gifts galore,
He soon will come a-knocking,—
A-knocking at the door.
Many homes to-night
Are waiting for his call.
Their welcome will be warm and bright
But ours is best of all.
Hark! He's coming fast,
Hear the sleigh-bells ring.
Now he's here at last—
Farewell, ring out the song.
Sing with all your heart.
Speed the parting guest along
If he must depart.
Let the echoes ring.
Shout the loud applause.
Sing with all your voices, sing,
Good-bye to Santa Claus.
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Keep The Spirit
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer, © 2020
Christmas is a time of joy
Mainly for all the girls and boys
Fun and laughter fills the day
Merry Christmas as they say.
Christmas is a celebration
Full of love and conversation
Family and friends gather with us
Being all together is a big plus.
Why can't this feeling of love be
With us all year long, we are so happy
Goodness and kindness we all share
Showing others that we care.
So when the New Year does arrive
Keep the spirit of Christmas alive
Show your love and kindness too
To everyone and all you do.
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Christmas Everywhere
Poet: Phillips Brooks
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!
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,
Christmas where cornfields stand sunny and bright.
Christmas where children are hopeful and gay,
Christmas where old men are patient and gray,
Christmas where peace, like a dove in his flight,
Broods o're brave men in the thick of the fight;
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!
For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all;
No palace too great, no cottage too small.
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What It's All About
by Julie Hebert, © 2015
Once Halloween is finished,
And sometimes even before,
Red and green starts to show itself,
In every single store!
This overwhelming need
To buy the perfect gift,
Is put inside our minds,
Even before the holiday shift.
Have we as a society forgotten,
What Christmas time is all about?
Generosity and good will to others,
Yes, most would say without a doubt.
But what about our Lord Jesus,
And the day our Savoir was born.
It's time to remember the meaning,
Christmas time should mean so much more
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How Thrice Welcome, Christmas
Poet Unknown
Now thrice welcome, Christmas,
Which brings us good cheer,
Minced pies and plum porridge,
Good ale and strong beer;
With pig, goose and capon,
The best that may be.
So well doth the weather
And our stomachs agree.
Observe how the chimneys
Do smoke all about,
The cooks are providing
For dinner, no doubt;
But those on whose tables
No victuals appear,
O may they keep Lent
All the rest of the year.
With holly and ivy
So green and so gay,
We deck up our houses
As fresh as the day;
With bay and rosemary
And laurel complete;
And every one now
Is a king in conceit.
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Christmas Morning
Poet: Mary Bissell Waterman
The milk-white sheep looked up one night,
And there stood an angel all in white.
But though he spoke no word to them,
They were there on the hills of Bethlehem,
That very first Christmas morning.
And the lowing cattle meekly stood.
Near to a manager, rough and rude;
Their manger, where upon softest hay,
A wonderful, new born baby lay,
That beautiful Christmas morning.
Oh! Christmas day is the day for all,
For the flocks in the field and the beasts in the stall;
And the time will come, so the wise men say,
When the wolf and the lamb together shall play,
And a little child shall lead the way.
The Child of the Christmas morning.
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Heaven's Nearer
Poet: C. C. Hassler
The sunshine and the shadders 'pear to travel side by side,
An' the clouds they come and vanish from our view;
An' the joys and disappointments of this life we all divide,
Sparin' none, at least I think so, now don't you?
Still to watch the years that fleeting go a whizzin' by it seems
Each time the holidays approachin' us are near.
Heaven's jest a little nearer in our wakin' or our dreams
On Christmas day than any in the year.
All the year through life's a bustle an' a hustle that at best
Keeps the old and young a strivin' to compete;
In the business world, the office, or the school room there's no rest —
It's a battle every day an' no retreat.
But there comes a subtle suthin' callin' forth our joy an' mirth
Sort o' melting down that makes it jest appear
Heaven's jest a little nearer to this dear old wicked earth
On Christmas day than any in the year.
Jest to think of all the millions of the little hearts that day
That are beatin' full of happiness an' joy,
An' the million more who watch 'em even happier than they,
As they grasp the precious dolly or the toy.
Think of all the hearts made happy by the love that Christ has brought
As it shines in hearts an' faces ever dear.
Heaven's jest a leetle nearer in the palace or the cot
On Christmas day than any in the year.
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Christmas Eve
Poet: Lillian E. Curtis
Ah, yes, another year with its rapid flight,
With its promised pleasures that deceive.
Another year with all its changes, great or slight,
Brings us to Christmas eve.
My mind is wandering far away, -
May I not my dear Father grieve.
To my mind there rushes a brighter day.
Revived by Christmas eve.
My mind is flighty, but my heart is true,
Dear Father, I'll look to thee.
For thou wilt kindly lead me through,
And guide me o'er Life's treacherous sea.
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Christmas Outcasts
Poet: Unknown
Christ died for all; and on the hearts of all
Who gladly decorate their cheerful homes
At Christmas Tide, this blessed truth should fall,
That they may mix some honey with the gall
Of those to whom a Christmas never comes.
The poor are everywhere in Nature's course,
Yet they may still control some sweetened crumbs,
No matter what they lack in hearts or purse;
But there are those whose better fate is worse,
To whom no day of Christmas ever comes.
The man who wildly throws away his chance,
An outcast from all cheerful hearts and homes,
Who may not mingle where the happy dance,
Nor gain from loving eyes one kindly glance,
Is he to whom no Christmas ever comes.
The man condemned in hidden ways to grope,
At sight of whom each kindly voice is dumb,
Or he whose life is shortened in its scope,
Who waits for nothing but the hangman's rope,
Is he to whom a Christmas cannot come.
Christ died for all; he came to find the lost,
Whether they bide in palaces or slums,
No matter how their lines of life are crossed.
And they who love him best will serve him most
By helping those to whom no Christmas comes.
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Christmas
Poet: Unknown
The Christmas morn dawned softly,
Upon a sleeping world.
As mid the lowing cattle.
They laid a baby Lord.
The sweet and fragrant grasses
Softened His bed that night.
When in a lowly manger,
There lay the Lord of Light.
His mother Mary, happy
In this, her newborh child,
Sat in that lowly stable
And sang, so soft and mild.
How Joseph - watching o'er them -
Did thrill to see the boy
That slept within that manger,
The world's long promised Joy.
The day was filled with gladness,
The air with music rang.
As heaven's glad host assembled.
Their praises to Him they sang.
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Frankincense
Poet: Florentine Budwig
They brought Him gifts,
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Those Wise Men were
The first who came to worship from afar.
They loved the Child, and when they saw His star
They followed it to Bethlehem. What are
We bringing Him?
They brought Him gifts,
Have we no gifts to bring
Our Lord and King?
He came from heavenly- mansions to a stall;
The Holy Babe of Bethlehem gave all.
The best gifts we can proffer are but small
Compared with His.
He loves our gifts,
Our hearts He longs to own.
Let us enthrone
The Lord within our hearts forevermore.
And bring our love as frankincense before
The Holy One whom all the saints adore
This Christmas Day.
-
Fear Not
Poet: F. R. Havergal
That was the first angelic word
That the startled shepherds heard;
Fear not! Beloved, it comes to you
As a Christmas message most sweet and true.
As true for you as it was for them
In the lonely fields of Bethlehem;
And as sweet today as it was that night
When the glory dazzled their mortal sight.
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Counting The Days
Poet: Unknown
Counting the days till Christmas!
Sweet days of tender care
That loved ones may on the blessed morn
Find longed for treasures fair.
Thus dreaming, hoping and waiting,
That holiest day draws near
When "Peace on earth, good will to men",
Ring out the joy-bells clear.
''Tis not the weight of jewel or plate
Or the fondle of silk or fur;
'Tis the spirit in which the gift is rich.
As the gifts of the wise ones were:
And we are not told whose gift was gold,
Or whose was the gift of myrrh.
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Merry Christmas
Poet: Unknown
In the rush of the merry morning,
When the red burns through the gray,
And the wintry world lies waiting
For the glory of the day;
Then we hear a fitful rushing
Just without upon the stair,
See two white phantoms coming,
Catch the gleam of sunny hair.
Are they Christmas fairies stealing
Rows of little socks to fill
Are they angels floating hither
With their message of good-will?
What sweet spell are these elves weaving,
As like larks they chirp and sing?
Are these palms of peace from heaven
That these lovely spirits bring?
Rosy feet upon the threshold,
Eager faces peeping through,
With the first red ray of sunshine,
Chanting cherubs come in view;
Mistletoe and gleaming holly,
Symbols of a blessed day,
In their chubby hands they carry,
Streaming all along the way.
Well we know them, never weary
Of this innocent surprise;
Waiting, watching, listening always
With full hearts and tender eyes,
While our little household angels,
White and golden in the sun,
Greet us with the sweet old welcome,
"Merry Christmas, every one!"
-
Christmas, Merry Christmas
Poet: Nina Moore Tiffany
Christmas! Merry Christmas!
We greet it,we greet it with glee.
With laughter and singing,
So joyful are we.
It brings us full stockings
Cramm’d down to the toe,
And fine Christmas trees
On whose boughs presents grow.
But we know a reason
Far better than these,
For welcoming Christmas day;
Listen now, please. Dear
God sent a Christmas gift
Long, long ago,
To make people happy
And better, we know.
And so we, too, try
As the day comes each year,
To make our friends happy
And sad hearts to cheer.
-
Christmas A Happy Time
Poet: J. S. Ogilvie
Sure, Christmas is a happy time
In spite of wintry weather.
For laugh, and song, and jest go round
When dear friends meet together:
And hearts are warm, and eyes beam bright.
In the ruddy glow of Christmas night!
-
A Christmas Carol
Poet: Helen Ekin Starrett
The snowflakes are falling,
The frost's in the air,
But Christmas is coming,
And what do we care!
Old Santa Claus knocking
Perhaps we may hear;
Hang up every stocking,
Each child he holds dear.
The joybells are ringing,
For Christmas is near,
To every one bringing,
Its joy and its cheer,
Kind Father in heaven,
Oh! hear while we pray,
And give to all people
A glad Christmas day.
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Long Ago
Poet: Kate Whiting Patch
Long years ago in Bethlehem,
The gentle mother mild
Held close against her happy breast
The little Christmas child;
From heav'n the angels leaning sang
Goodwill and peace on earth!
And king and shepherd, side by side,
Hail'd the dear Christ-child's birth.
Ah, let the love which made that day
So wondrous sweet and pure,
Gladden and bless this Christmas tide,
Alike for rich and poor.
Then may we hear the angel song,
Which He, the undefiled,
Hear for His first sweet cradle song,
The little Christmas child.
-
Christmas Ballad
Poet: Alexander R. Thompson
The night our Saviour Christ was born,
So ancient legends say,
The bird that crows to call the morn,
Crows every hour till day,
As if he sought, with quivering throat,
The world to waken wide,
With thankful heart and hymn to note
The holy Christmas-tide.
How grew the legend, who can tell?
But, one thing we may know,
That nothing e’er before befell
This weary world below,
Like that same Christmas-gift of love,
Of rarest, fairest worth,
That came of old from heaven above
To sinful men on earth.
The night the King was born, the stars
Shone down on Bethlehem,
As jewels flash through golden bars
From out a diadem,
But suddenly their radiant fire
Grew pale and dull and dim,
When came from heaven an angel-choir,
To sing a Christmas hymn.
Such music never yet had rung
On mortal ears till then,
As rung when holy angels sung
"Goodwill and peace to men."
Such winsome glory never came
Before on mortal eyes,
As eame when they, with feet of flame,
Came trooping down the skies.
And if on that first Christmas-time,
This lost world back to call
To hope and God, in sweetest chime
The bells of heaven rang all.
Would it be strange, if echo sweet
Of that transcendent strain
Should run o’er earth with footsteps fleet,
And answer back again?
Sing, angels, never cease to sing,
Ye first-born of the sky!
Cry, every herald of the King,
His glorious advent ery!
But angel from the heaven above,
Or herald of the morn,
Could never sing the song of love
As’ men: - that Christ is born.
-
Christmas Day
Poet: John Kendrick Bangs
A day of respite, this;
A day of purest bliss
Wherein in love to plan
Good-will to Man.
A festival of Joys
Wherein no thing annoys;
A time of cheer and mirth.
And Peace on Earth.
A time for smiles and play,
And yet withal a day
For thoughtful deeds, and good,
Of Brotherhood.
A day for sunny rifts,
A day for loving gifts;
For Kindness bounteous
God gave it us.
-
Sacrifices
Poet: Edgar A. Guest
Behind full many a gift there lies
A splendid tale of sacrifice.
On Christmas mom a mother's hand
About a young girl's neck will place
A trinket small, and she will stand
With radiant smiles upon her face
To see her daughter decked in gold,
Nor will she think, nor will she care
That she may suffer from the cold
Because that bauble glistens there.
A child will wake on Christmas Day
And find his stocking filled with toys;
The home will ring with laughter gay,
That boy be glad as richer boys.
And there a mother fond will sing
A song of joy to hear his shout.
Forgetting every needed thing
That she will have to do without.
A heart that's brimming o'er with love
Will suffer gladly for a friend,
And take no time in thinking of
How much it can afford to spend.
And suddenly on Christmas mom
Will gladness beam from shining eyes,
A gladness that alone was born
Of someone's willing sacrifice.
Let cynics scoff howe'er they will
And say but fools such presents give,
There'll be such sacrifices till
All human love shall cease to live.
'Twould be a dreary world of thrift.
Of barren ways, and sunless skies,
If no one ever gave a gift
That was not born of sacrifice.
The brightest gifts that us reward
Are those the givers can't afford.
-
Life Is But A River
Poet: J. S. Ogilvie
O Life is but a river
And in our childhood we,
But a fair and running streamlet
Adorned with flowers, see.
But as we grow more earnest,
The river grows more deep,
And where we laughed in childhood.
We, older, pause to weep.
Each Christmas as it passes,
Some change to us doth bring,
Yet to our friends the closer,
As time creeps on, we cling.
-
Memories Of Christmas
Poet: Catherine Pulsifer
Memories of Christmas past
Memories that always last
Surround yourself with family and friends
Share the love that Christmas sends.
Memories of Christmas trees
Children smiling full of glee
Memories of houses full of lights
That seem to shine ever so bright.
But the most important memory of all
Is the story shared that the apostles recalled
The birth of a baby the angels also told
That story never grows old.
So all your memories keep in mind
But if you look for Jesus you will find
A peace that will be with you all year
You can share with others so dear.
More poems and quotes for a
Special Occasion
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Christian Poems
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