Twas the Night Before New Year’s 2020

An exerpt from George Stephenson's 2020 New Year Poem “Sani Claus” Illustration by Matt Kehler Twas the Night Before New Year’s 2020 ‘Twas the weeks before New Year when all through our land Parties of three had been summarily banned Our PPE hung by the chimney with care In hopes that a New Year would soon be there. Memories of the past all danced in our heads A repeat, a promise of hope torn to shreds Mamma in her face mask tied to her cap Had just settled in .... Read the rest of the poem here "Now, VIRUS! now, LOCKDOWN! now PLEXIGLASS and ZOOM On COVID! on CASES! on CORONA! and DOOM! To the top of your ‘search’ through summer and fall Slash away, slash away, slash away all." - George Stephenson — Originally published in the December 2020 issue of The Manitoba Teacher (PDF pages 20 and 21) Thanks For Visiting

Storytime Day 31: The 12 Days Of Corona

In the Year of 2020 Covid gave to me ... 12 Cancelled Plans 11 Face Masks 10 Sanitizers 9 Netflix Binges 8 Zoom Calls 7 Curbside Pick-ups 6 Feet Apart 5 Conspiracies 4 Quarantines 3 Cancelled *Holidays 2 Homeschoolin' Parents and a Toilet Paper crisis *Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Thanks For Visiting

'Twas Covid 2020

"A Visit from St. Nicholas," reimagined for the pandemic era. "Not a creature was stirring, because they were in lockdown," Fulwiler quips at the start of her hilarious retelling. This version sets the scene with hand sanitizer at each chimney for Santa Claus, along with a Christmas celebration on Zoom (mentioning technical difficulties, of course). "It's Christmas, my friends, so try to have fun," she concludes. "For in a few more days, 2020 is done!" Jen Fulwiler's "'Twas The Night Before Christmas 2020" Tampa Bay Times - 'Twas the night before Christmas, with a coronavirus spin “A very COVID-free Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” Ashley Ondrick is a (mostly) healthy chef, cooking for private parties and weekly ... MyWalkInManhattan - Day One Hundred and Eighty-Four: A COVID Christmas Poem " Twas a few weeks before Christmas / And all through the town, / People wore masks, / That covered their frowns ..." Providence Journal - 'Twas the Night Before COVID-Christmas 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house. We all had our masks on, including our mouse. The stockings were hung, ... Detroit Free Press A Santa visit down a COVID-19 chimney Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring — mostly because no one was allowed over. NPR's Night Before Christmas in 2020 Parody And giving a nod, he told me, "Lord knows 2020's been filled with sorrow and stresses With Covid, job loss, and protesting injustice. We miss those we loved, who are no longer here Handshakes, hugs, friendships, and moments of cheer. Family and friends can't gather this season We miss their warm smiles, but we all know the reason. The year has been tough, but still at each turn People have become heroes, and helped us to learn That even across social distanced divides we are all essential workers in each other's lives. So thanks to doctors! To nurses! Delivery crews! Farmers and pharmacists, bus drivers too! Thanks to med techs, and scientists in laboratories Those in clinical trials, and the great Dr. Fauci!": The Chicago Tribune's Night Before Christmas Parody The Chicago Tribune mirrored a version read by Trump, with an emphasis on his denial of the 2020 presidential election results. The poem keeps up the rhyme scheme of Twas The Night Before Christmas, but is filled with Trump's statements and "open mouth - insert foot" interruptions. "'Twas the night before Christmas, and I won the election," the parody begins. "That's the truth, kids, I won the presidential election SO big. It was a landslide like nobody has ever seen. I won, not Sleepy Joe. He totally lost, everyone knows it." The "president" then loses interest, and skips ahead... As Santa said best: "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" DC Press Corps' Night Before Christmas 2020 Parody White House correspondent Greg Clugston wrote yet another parody of the poem. This year's poem mentions the Black Lives Matter movement, Trump's October COVID-19 diagnosis, Dr. Fauci and much more. Previous Years 2016 as told through a Christmas poem 2017 - From inauguration crowd sizes to a "political witch hunt," you'll find it all in Clugston's 19th poem. 2018 - From Mueller to Kanye West, here's this year's White House Christmas poem 2019 - Greg Clugston recites his version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (White House edition) BONUS : Updated Years: Greg Clugston reads his epic and hilarious version of, A Visit from St. Nicholas, for the 24th year! (December 12th, 2022) Jimmy Fallon's 2020 Night Before Christmas Parody Jimmy Fallon's 2020-themed retelling of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, complete with sound bytes, President Trump downplaying COVID ("it's like a miracle, it will disappear") and more events that made the news this year.   Thanks For Visiting

Storytime Day 25: From A Soldier At Christmas Time

I’ll be with you for Christmas, In each twinkling light you see. I’ll be the angel of love this year, That tops your Christmas tree. As the snow flakes start to fall, Floating gently to the ground. There I’ll be for you to touch, In each flake I can be found. The voice you hear in your heart, As you sing your carols of cheer, Will be mine joining in with yours, So there’s no reason for tears. The many long miles between us, Will cease to exist Christmas day. I’ll be right there inside your heart, Until I can come home to stay. Stars you see, well I see them too, We’ll share the soft moonlit sky. Soon I’ll hold you once again, You’ll see how time will fly. © Norma Marek ~ 6th December 2003 Thanks For Visiting

Storytime Day 24: Twas the Nightcap before Christmas

In this parody of the much-loved Christmas poem, things get a little anarchic when mom and dad drink a little more than one festive tipple and it is up to Santa Claus to save the day. - Story Exerpts - "T'was the nightcap before Christmas That caused mischief and mayhem and Mom wearing stockings when she should have been filling them..." Dad suggests a sherry 'To keep us both going',  in the cozy front room with the firelight glowing ... Then out comes the Baileys. And mum hits the rum. Hours of merriment and a stocking-clad tango later, they drift off to sleep - the living room in disarray, the presents unwrapped and their careful Christmas preparations in ruins. But come morning it seems a mysterious visitor has saved the day . "Twas the Nightcap Before Christmas" by Katie Blackburn, Sholto Walker (Illustrator) Amazon  Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets.   or check this book out at  BarnesAndNoble Books Thanks For Visiting

Storytime 23: The Snow Queen

Once upon a time a magician made a magic mirror. In this mirror, a kind face became wicked, a look of hate was reflected as a look of love. One day, however, the mirror broke, and if a sliver of glass from the mirror entered someone's eye, that person's soul became evil, if another pierced a heart, that heart grew hard and cold as ice. In a big town two children, called Karl and Gerda were very close friends, and even the sweet pea that grew on Karl's window sill spread across the street to entwine with Gerda's little rose bush. One evening Karl was watching the snow drift down, when he noticed a white flake slowly turn into a beautiful ice maiden. Karl was startled to hear the ice maiden speak his name, and he was not to know he had set eyes on the Snow Queen. Winter passed, and one spring afternoon, as Karl and Gerda pored over a book, the little boy told her: "I feel a pain in my heart! And something's pricking my eye!" " Don't worry, said Gerda comfortingly. "I can't see anything!" But, alas, splinters from the shattered mirror had pierced the little boy. Now in the grip of the evil spell, he snapped: "You're so ugly!" And ripping two roses from her bush, he ran off. From that day on, Karl turned into a very nasty boy, and nobody could understand what had happened to him to cause such a change. Only Gerda still loved him, though all she got in return were insults and spite. Winter came round again, though earlier than usual, and bringing far more snow than anyone could remember. One day, just after going outdoors to play in the snow, Karl saw the beautiful maiden he had seen that night, coming towards him wrapped in a white fur coat. She stood in front of him and told him to tie his sledge to her own, drawn by a white horse. Then they sped away. Suddenly, the great sledge soared into the sky and through the clouds. Stretched out on his own little sledge, Karl didn't dare move a muscle for fear of falling into space. At last, they came to a halt on an immense white plain, dotted with lots of sparkling frozen lakes. "Come into my arms," said the Snow Queen, opening her soft fur coat. "Come and keep warm!" Karl allowed himself to be hugged by the unknown maiden and a chill ran up his spine as two icy lips touched his forehead. The Snow Queen kissed him again, and in an instant, the little boy forgot all about Gerda and his past life, as he fell into a deep sleep. In the meantime, Gerda was anxiously searching for Karl, but no one had seen him. Finally, she went down to the river. "Great river," she said, "please tell me if you've seen Karl or if you've carried him away! I'll give you these, if you do!" And she threw her shoes into the river. But the current paid no heed and just swept them back to the bank. Not far away stood an old boat, and Gerda climbed into it. As she drifted with the current, she pleaded: "Great river, silently flowing and knowing all things about men's lives, take me to Karl." At dusk, she stopped by a river bank carpeted with all kinds of flowers. After resting she went into the forest, and though she did not know how she would ever find her friend, a mysterious voice inside her told her to be brave. After wandering far and wide, she stopped, tired and hungry. A crow flapped out from a hollow tree. "If you're looking for Karl," it said, "I know where he is! I saw him with the Snow Queen on her sledge in the sky!" "And where is her kingdom?" Gerda asked the crow. "In Lapland, where all is icy cold. That reindeer over there might take you! " Gerda ran over to the big reindeer, threw her arms around its neck and, laying her cheek against its soft muzzle, said: "Please help me to find my friend!" The reindeer's kindly eyes told her that he would, and she climbed onto its back. They travelled till they came to the frozen tundra, lit by the fiery glow of the Northern Lights. "Karl! Karl! Where are you?" shouted Gerda as loudly as she could. When, at last, she found the little boy, Karl did not recognize her. Gerda threw her arms round him, and teardrops dripped onto his chest and heart. This broke the evil spell. Karl woke from his long sleep, and when he set eyes on Gerda, he too began to cry. The second cold splinter of mirror vanished. They had found each other again at last, thanks to Gerda's love, and the reindeer galloped them home. The two plants on the window sills started to blossom again and to twine, a sign of their everlasting friendship. There are many different versions of "The Snow Queen". Here is another version. The Snow Queen version 2 Thanks For Visiting