Pages of History: A Visit from Saint Nicholas

('Twas the Night Before Christmas)

The legendary poem that gave us our modern image of Santa, aka St. Nick, first appeared in the in the Troy, New York Sentinel on December 23, 1823 as "An Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas". Even today, it remains uncertain who the author really was.

Prior to 1823, Americans had many differing views concerning Christmas visitors; while 'Sinterklaas', 'Father Christmas, and 'Kris Kringle' are all arguably variants of the historical St. Nicholas of Myra, the Russian 'Babouschka' and Italian

'La Befana' are witches who ride broomsticks down chimenys to leave presents for lucky children.

Like so many other historic works, this poem has undergone many changes over the years. The version presented here is the original:

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains 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 rein-deer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
"Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen,
"On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem;
"To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves 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 St. Nicholas too: