Twas the runup to Christmas — and Big Joe was in a merry mood.

The rest of the world is fortunate to have Santa. But here at New Jersey 101.5, we're lucky to have our own icon of joy — a man who's jolly year-round. You know who we mean. You hear him on our air every weekend — Big Joe Henry.

Big Joe's got a big heart, and he has always loved Christmas. That's why this year, he was elated to get a chance to recite "Twas the Night Before Christmas" (also known as "A Visit From St. Nicholas) — a great reading that fills the imagination.

You'll hear it again Sunday, during Big Joe's Christmas Eve Spectacular, Dec. 24, from 5 to 10 p.m. He'll also be joined by Bob Williams for our yearly Santa Tracker, which you can follow during the show or right here at NJ1015.com. As a special bonus, this year we've got a great coloring map featuring all the places Santa will go.

Also: At 2 p.m. Tuesday, you can talk to Santa himself on New Jersey 101.5's Facebook page — Facebook.com/NJ1015. Have your questions ready!

But in the meantime, enjoy Joe's reading, alongside the great fireplace from the Salt Creek Grille in Princeton, above.

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,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my 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 a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he 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, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop 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 on 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 bowl full 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!”

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