On December 23, 1823, “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” perhaps
the most famous and influential Christmas poem ever was
published in the Troy Sentinel newspaper in New York by
an anonymous author.
Called "arguably the best-known verses ever written,” it
would shape the modern image of Santa Claus as "a right
jolly old elf" who travels through the air in a reindeer-
powered sleigh on Christmas eve, bounding down
chimneys after children are asleep to leave them gifts.
Clement Clarke Moore
(July 15, 1779 – July 10, 1863)
