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
holiday gifts.
Clement Clarke Moore (July 15, 1779 – July 10, 1863)
It wasn’t until nearly 20 years later, in 1844, that American
writer Clement Clarke Moore claimed authorship after
seeing the poem misattributed in the Washington
National Intelligencer.
Moore took credit for the poem, claiming to have authored
“some lines, describing a visit from St. Nicholas, which I
wrote many years ago, not for publication, but to amuse
my children.”
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