Christmas Eve by Eugene Field (1892)
The poem tells the story of a child's Christmas Eve, describing the festive atmosphere and the child's anticipation for Santa Claus' arrival. The narrative focuses on the child's excitement, curiosity, and innocence, creating a sense of wonder and magic around the holiday season.
By Eugene Field · First published 1892 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Children's Literature · 194 words
First lines
OH, hush thee, little Dear-my-Soul, The evening shades are falling, -- Hush thee, my dear, dost thou not hear The voice of the Master calling?
Deep lies the snow upon the earth, But all the sky is ringing With joyous song, and all night long The stars shall dance, with singing.
Oh, hush thee, little Dear-my-Soul, And close thine eyes in dreaming, And angels fair shall lead thee where The singing stars are beaming.
A shepherd calls his little lambs, And he longeth to caress them; He bids them rest upon his breast, That his tender love may bless them.
What this Textopian page supports
Christmas Eve is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Children's Literature, Seasonal, Lyrical
- Length: 194 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Christmas Eve by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Christmas Eve?
- How does this poem by Eugene Field fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythmic and lyrical language typical of poetry.
- Religious — The themes involve spiritual elements, referencing a 'Master' and angels, indicating a religious context.
- Children's Literature — The tone and content are suitable for children, focusing on themes of comfort and dreams.
- Seasonal — The title and themes are centered around Christmas, making it relevant to seasonal literature.
Tags
Christmas · Poetry · Holiday · Family · Tradition · Nostalgia · Childhood · Memories · Winter · Seasonal · Festive · Joyful