The night before Christmasis very near

but creatures are stirring,even the mice.All quiver in fear, causeBelsnickel soon will be hereWhat? - What happened to Santa Claus? What happened to sugar-plumb fairies,sweets and spice?And who's this Belsnickelfellow?He's neither jolly nor mellowBelsnickel gets children who are naughty, not niceHis glaring stare is colderthan arctic iceHe comes before Christmasand carries a switchThis Belsnickel fellow sounds more like a Halloween witchDoes this script havesome kind of glitch?No carrot at Christmas, only the stick?Must Christmas come with some kind of hitch?None of this Belsnickel stuff say the kids todayJust give us our giftscause we want to playWinter's no time to beout making hay!In trampy brown knickers,a coat and a capBelsnickel comes to each house following his map.His gray beard flowing over his tattered old scarfHe carries a switchto help with his partTo get your attentionhe'll jingle his bell and scratch at your doorTo lower your guard he'llscatter peanuts, oranges and treats on your floorWhen you pick up your treatHe'll switch at your feetBefore Christmas sunhe'll come just one more time if you're goodTo leave nice gifts under your tree as you hoped he wouldThat's the Belsnickel;he's nasty but niceDu besser bischt gudt,der Belsnickel kumpt!Well kids have no fearBelsnickel hasn't been seen very near for many a year.These days it's usually Santa who comes around hereMichael Vianello C 1991 - Revised 1993, 2003