“A Visit from St. Nicholas”, more commonly known as “The Night before Christmas” or “‘Twas the Night before Christmas” from its first line, is a poem first published by Clement Clark Moore.”Twas the night before Christmas” is about how Santa brings gifts to the children on Christmas eve. Clement Clark Moore originally wrote the poem to recite it for his kids on Christmas eve, but it got very popular in the following years.

The original title for ”Twas the night before Christmas”  was “A visit from St. Nicholas” and was published in 1823. Clement later claimed authorship of the piece in 1837. Clement Clark Moore first wrote the poem on December 23, 1823 in Troy, New York. The poem is about Santa Claus bringing gifts to children on Christmas eve. Clements inspiration for Saint Nicholas was a local dutch handyman, as well as the historical figure Saint Nicholas.

The plot has since become Christmas canon. On Christmas night, while his wife and children sleep, a father awakens to noises outside his house. Looking out the window, he sees Santa Claus, or “Saint Nicholas”, in an airborne sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. After landing his sleigh on the roof, the saint enters the house through the chimney, carrying a sack of toys. The father watches Santa fill the children’s Christmas stockings hanging by the fire, and laughs to himself. They share a conspiratorial moment before Santa bounds up the chimney again. As he flies away, Santa wishes everyone a “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”