Here is a bit of Christmas cheer from Hilaire Belloc. I've heard that he once put it on his Christmas cards. But the full poem is from his wonderful novel The Four Men (1902).
Audit ale is the fine ale that the master and fellows drank at Cambridge University (and other places) at the feast commemorating the yearly auditing of each college's accounts.
Happy Christmas from Mahound's Paradise!
Pray for the haters. But may your ale always be better than their thin brew!
Noël! Noël! Noël! Noël
A Catholic tale have I to tell!
And a Christian song have I to sing
While all the bells in Arundel ring.
I pray good beef and I pray good beer
I pray good beef and I pray good beer
This holy night of all the year,
But I pray detestable drink for them
That give no honour to Bethlehem.
May all good fellows that here agree
May all good fellows that here agree
Drink Audit Ale in heaven with me
And may all my enemies go to hell!
Noël! Noël! Noël! Noël!
May all my enemies go to hell!
Noël! Noël!
