A Greeting

A Greeting is a poem written by Agatha Christie. It was published as the first item in the collection Star Over Bethlehem and other stories.

The poem is in three stanzas and captures the atmosphere of a household awaiting Christmas morning. The first stanza of four lines talks about the traditional Yuletide items in an English household as Christmas approaches - there is a Yule log blazing away and a Wassail Bowl (a traditional drink of warm mulled cider and spices).

In the next stanza, the scene shifts to the traditional Christmas events at Bethlehem. There is a child in a manger, all kinds of animals in the stable, stars and angels above, wise men and shepherds below.

In the final stanza, also of four lines, it is already Christmas morning and the children in the household are awaken to celebrate the new day.