Christmas quotes

I have often thought, says Sir Roger, it happens very well that Christmas should fall out in the Middle of Winter.

-Joseph Addison
  In The Spectator, no.269, 8  Jan.

   Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents.

- Louisa May Alcott
  Little Women, pt.1, ch.1.

What happens when a game of football is proposed at Christmas among a party of young men assembled from different schools? Alas!† The Eton man is enamoured of his own rules, and turns up his nose at Rugbyas not sufficiently aristocratic; while the Rugbeian retorts that 'bullying'and 'sneaking'are not to his taste, and he is not afraid of his shins, or of a 'maul'or 'scrimmage'.On hearing this the Harrovian pricks up his ears, and though he might previously have sided with Rugby, the insinuation against the courage of those who do not allow 'shinning'arouses his ire, and causes him to refuse to lay with one who has offered it. Thus it is found impossible to get up a game.

-Anonymous
Editorial in The Field newspaper, illustrating the confusion before the codification of the rules of football and rugby.

Berlin by Christmas.

-Anonymous
  British press.

Reminds me of a Christmas-tree decorated by a Pre- Raphaelite.

- Sir (Henry) Max(imilian) Beerbohm
Of the actress Ellen Terry.  Attributed.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, Just like the ones I used to know, Where the tree-tops glisten And children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

- Irving originally Israel Baline Berlin
  'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas', in the film Holiday Inn.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

- Clement Moore
  The Night Before Christmas.

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.'

- Clement Moore
  The Night Before Christmas.

We've come full circle but the best remains the heart of the city, the greatest center of the greatest city, our Acropolis, where our Christmas tree is lighted.

- Daniel Patrick Moynihan
  On NewYork's Rockefeller Centre. In the NewYork Times, 15 Mar.

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas, Star and angelsgave the sign.

- Christina Georgina Rossetti
  Verses,'Love Came Down at Christmas'.

Heap on more wood!the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We'll keep our Christmas merry still.

- Sir Walter Scott
  Marmion, canto 6, introduction.

   One Christmas was much like another† I can never remember whether it snowed for six days and six nights when I was twelve or whether it snowed for twelve days and twelve nights when I was six.

- Dylan Marlais Thomas
  A Child's Christmas inWales.