The Night Before Christmas

First published anonymously in 1823—and later attributed to Clemente C. Moore—The Night Before Christmas is arguably one of the most famous and cherished Christmas poems of all time. Moore's depiction of St. Nicholas played a significant role in our modern conception of Santa Claus. It is, and always has been, the quintessential holiday tale.

Clement Clarke Moore was a professor of religion and the author of several scholarly works. What he is most remembered for, however, is his poem "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas," later called "The Night Before Christmas," and written as a Christmas gift for his six children.