1. "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "The Night Before Christmas" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," was first published in 1823 on this day, Dec. 23. It was first published anonymously but was later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore. Moore wrote the poem for his children in 1822. A friend of the family copied the poem and gave it to an editor at theTroy Sentinel, where it was first published.
2. "The Night Before Christmas" is said to have been responsible for the idea of Santa Claus and his reindeer the world over. Prior to the poem, Christmas traditions and ideas varied greatly from region to region. The poem's verses have been called the best-known ever written by an American. There is controversy, however, as some claim that it was Henry Livingston, Jr. who actually wrote the poem. To read the theories, visit this page on Wikipedia.
3. Despite the dispute over who wrote it, the poem is a holiday classic and can be found in many books illustrated by various artists.
“A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” credit holyjoe.org.
By Clement Clarke Moore
’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
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!"
4. On this day in history, 1620, construction on the Plymouth settlement in present-day Massachusetts began. Construction began just one week after the Mayflower made land at Plymouth.
5. It keeps getting warmer. A high of 55ºF is expected today, along with a low of 36ºF, according to AOL Weather. There is a 70 percent chance of precipitation, so be sure to bring your umbrella.
