alliteration in a visit from st nicholas

A Visit from St. Nicholas

by Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through 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 danced in their heads; And mamma 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 my 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 a lustre of midday to objects below, When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: “ Now , Dasher ! now, Dancer ! now Prancer and Vixen ! On, Comet ! on, Cupid ! on, Donner and Blitzen ! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!” As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the housetop the coursers they flew With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too— And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot , And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack. His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight— “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Summary of A Visit from St. Nicholas

• Popularity: A Visit from St. Nicholas was written by Clement Clarke Moore, a famous American poet. It was first published in 1823 in The New York Newspaper, Sentinel with the title “A Visit from St. Nicholas” Later it became popular with its first line, “Twas the night before Christmas.” This poem is one of the most appreciated poems because of its religious significance presented through poetry. The poem illustrates the excitement of a family at the arrival of St. Nicholas. Its popularity lies with the subject of Christmas celebrated every year across the globe.
• “A Visit from St. Nicholas” as a Representative of Joy: This poem is about children, and written from the perspective of a young child who was waiting for St. Nicholas on the Christmas Eve. Every year, St. Nicholas comes with a lot of gifts and candies. As the child hears him, he carefully examines his arrival, manner, and The expression of wonder starts from the beginning and runs throughout the poem. However, what stays in the minds of the readers is the magical appearance of St. Nicholas and the endless joy of the family he visits.
• Major Themes “A Visit from St. Nicholas”: Joy, happiness, and surprise are the significant themes described in the poem. The poet has presented the enthusiasm of a family on Christmas The night is quiet and dark, and the family is happy with their eyes fixed on the stockings, which are soon going to be filled with presents. Meanwhile, they witness the magical appearance of St. Nicholas.  To their surprise, he comes and fills their stockings and then disappears. Thus, the arrival of St. Nicholas not only delights them but also adds color to their Christmas.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “A Visit from St. Nicholas”

literary devices are used to bring richness and clarity to the texts. The writers and poets use them to make their poem or prose texts appealing and meaningful. Moore. Too, has used some literary devices in this poem to show the magical arrival of St. Nicholas. The analysis of some of the literary devices used in this poem has been given below.

• Alliteration : Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /w/ in “When what to my wondering eyes did appear” and /c/ sound in “On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen”.
• Simile : Simile is a figure of speech used to compare an object with something else to make the meanings more vivid to the readers. Clement had used similes in the poem such as, “He had a broad face and a little round belly; That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.” He compares the belly of St. Nicholas with a bowl of jelly. Other examples are, “Away to the window I flew like a flash” “And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath” and “And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.”
• Metaphor : Metaphor means when a word or a phrase used to describe an object or an action which is not entirely true but can help the readers to compare and have a vivid idea of an object, action or a person. At the end of the poem, Nicholas is compared to an old elf “He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf”.
• Assonance : Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /l/ in “With a little old driver so lively and quick” and /o/ sound in “On, Comet ! on, Cupid ! on, Donner and ”
• Personification : Personification is to attribute human characteristics to inanimate things. The poet has used personification in the sixth line “While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads” as if the sugar-plums are humans that can dance.
• Imagery : Imagery is the use of words and descriptions to let the readers feel and see things through five senses. Clement has used images to present the clear and vivid picture of Christmas celebrations such as, “The children were nestled all snug in their beds”; “The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth” and “And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.”
• Consonance : Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /sh/ in “Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!” and /l/ sound in “That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.”

The literary analysis shows that Clement has beautifully employed the above devices to show the excitement of the family on Christmas Eve.

Analysis of Poetic Devices in A Visit from St. Nicholas

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

• Couplet : There are two constructive lines of verse in a couplet , usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme . There are twenty-eight rhyming couplets of anapaestic tetrameter in this poem.
• Rhyme Scheme : The whole poem follows the AABB rhyme scheme throughout the poem.
• Anapaest Tetrameter: It is a meter in which there are four anapaestic metrical feet per line. Each foot has two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The whole poem follows the anapaestic tetrameter such as, “ Twas the night before Christ mas and all through the house .”

Quotes to be used

These lines can be used in a speech when discussing the mesmerizing beauty of the moon. These could also be used when narrating any personal experience of sighting the moonbeams in a snowy winter night.

“The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave a lustre of midday to objects below.”

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A Visit from St. Nicholas

A Visit from St. Nicholas by means of Clement Clarke Moore ‘Twas the night before Christmas, while during the house Not a creature become stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by using the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas quickly would be there; The kids were nestled all snug of their beds; While visions of sugar-plums danced of their heads; And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a protracted winter’s nap, When out on the garden there arose this sort of clatter, I sprang from my mattress to peer what turned into 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 a lustre of midday to gadgets below, When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, With a little old driving force so energetic and quick, I knew in a second he must be St. Nick. More speedy than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by way of name: “Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the pinnacle of the porch! To the pinnacle of the wall! Now dash away! sprint away! sprint away all!” As leaves that earlier than the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So as much as the housetop the coursers they flew With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too— And then, in a twinkling, I heard at the roof The prancing and pawing of every little hoof. As I drew in my head, and become turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He turned into dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes have been all tarnished with ashes and soot; A package deal of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a pedler just commencing his pack. His eyes—how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks had been like roses, his nostril like a cherry! His droll little mouth turned into drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin turned into as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round stomach That shook whilst he laughed, like a bowl complete of jelly. He become chubby and plump, a proper jolly antique elf, And I laughed whilst I noticed him, despite myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon gave me to recognize I had not anything to dread; He spoke now not a word, however went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger apart of his nostril, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away all of them flew just like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight— “Happy Christmas to all, and to all an amazing night time!” Summary of A Visit from St. Nicholas Popularity: A Visit from St. Nicholas was written through Clement Clarke Moore, a famous American poet. It turned into first published in 1823 in The New York Newspaper, Sentinel with the title “A Visit from St. Nicholas” Later it became famous with its first line, “Twas the night before Christmas.” This poem is considered one of the most liked poems due to its religious importance provided through poetry. The poem illustrates the exhilaration of a own family at the appearance of St. Nicholas. Its recognition lies with the concern of Christmas celebrated every year throughout the globe. “A Visit from St. Nicholas” as a Representative of Joy: This poem is about youngsters, and written from the attitude of a young toddler who turned into awaiting St. Nicholas at the Christmas Eve. Every year, St. Nicholas comes with a variety of items and candies. As the child hears him, he cautiously examines his arrival, manner, and The expression of wonder starts offevolved from the beginning and runs during the poem. However, what stays inside the minds of the readers is the paranormal appearance of St. Nicholas and the endless joy of the family he visits. Major Themes “A Visit from St. Nicholas”: Joy, happiness, and surprise are the big themes described in the poem. The poet has supplied the passion of a circle of relatives on Christmas The night is quiet and dark, and the circle of relatives is glad with their eyes constant at the stockings, which might be quickly going to be packed with presents. Meanwhile, they witness the mystical appearance of St. Nicholas. To their surprise, he comes and fills their stockings and then disappears. Thus, the advent of St. Nicholas now not simplest delights them however also adds color to their Christmas. Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “A Visit from St. Nicholas” Literary devices are used to deliver richness and clarity to the texts. The writers and poets use them to make their poem or prose texts appealing and meaningful. Moore. Too, has used a few literary gadgets in this poem to expose the mystical arrival of St. Nicholas. The analysis of a number of the literary gadgets used in this poem has been given below. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds within the same line together with the sound of /w/ in “When what to my wondering eyes did appear” and /c/ sound in “On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen”. Simile: Simile is a determine of speech used to examine an item with something else to make the meanings extra bright to the readers. Clement had used similes within the poem inclusive of, “He had a vast face and a little spherical stomach; That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.” He compares the belly of St. Nicholas with a bowl of jelly. Other examples are, “Away to the window I flew like a flash” “And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath” and “And he appeared like a pedlar simply beginning his pack.” Metaphor: Metaphor way when a word or a phrase used to explain an object or an motion which is not entirely true but can assist the readers to examine and have a vibrant concept of an item, movement or a person. At the cease of the poem, Nicholas is in comparison to an vintage elf “He became chubby and plump, a proper jolly antique elf”. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line including the sound of /l/ in “With a little old driving force so active and quick” and /o/ sound in “On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and ” Personification: Personification is to attribute human traits to inanimate things. The poet has used personification inside the 6th line “While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads” as though the sugar-plums are people that could dance. Imagery: Imagery is the usage of words and outlines to allow the readers experience and notice things via five senses. Clement has used pictures to give the clear and brilliant picture of Christmas celebrations along with, “The children have been nestled all cushty in their beds”; “The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth” and “And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.” Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the identical line consisting of the sound of /sh/ in “Now sprint away! dash away! dash away all!” and /l/ sound in “That shook when he laughed, like a bowl complete of jelly.” The literary evaluation suggests that Clement has superbly hired the above devices to reveal the excitement of the family on Christmas Eve. Analysis of Poetic Devices in A Visit from St. Nicholas Poetic and literary gadgets are the identical, however a few are used best in poetry. Here is the evaluation of some of the poetic devices used on this poem. Couplet: There are constructive lines of verse in a couplet, commonly inside the same meter and joined by using rhyme. There are twenty-8 rhyming couplets of anapaestic tetrameter on this poem. Rhyme Scheme: The whole poem follows the AABB rhyme scheme in the course of the poem. Anapaest Tetrameter: It is a meter wherein there are four anapaestic metrical ft in keeping with line. Each foot has unstressed syllables followed by means of a confused syllable. The whole poem follows the anapaestic tetrameter which includes, “Twas the night time earlier than Christmas and at some stage in the house.” Quotes to be used These traces can be used in a speech whilst discussing the mesmerizing beauty of the moon. These could also be used while narrating any personal enjoy of sighting the moonbeams in a snowy winter night time. “The moon at the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave a lustre of noon to gadgets below.”

• Alliteration
• Anachronism
• Antimetabole
• Aposiopesis
• Characterization
• Colloquialism
• Connotation
• Deus Ex Machina
• Didacticism
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Flash Forward
• Foreshadowing
• Internal Rhyme
• Juxtaposition
• Non Sequitur
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Poetic Justice
• Point of View
• Portmanteau
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Superlative
• Synesthesia
• Tragicomedy
• Tragic Flaw
• Verisimilitude

Twas the Night Before Christmas

By clement c. moore, twas the night before christmas analysis.

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by Timothy Sexton

“A Visit from St. Nicholas” aka “ Twas the Night Before Christmas ” has retained its status as one of the most well-known works of American literature since its first appearance in 1823 as an anonymously published work of verse. Although it has certainly undergone its fair share of minor alterations—most notably being published under at least three different titles—and was met by the 21st century with an unexpected plot twist regarding its true authorship, this relatively short and eminently recitable narrative poem has sustained its position at the vanguard of the Christmas season even as other creative works on the subject have come and gone.

The primary reason for its ageless appeal—beside its sing-song rhythm and irresistible rhymes—is simple enough to explain. With the possible exception of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol it pretty stands alone as the literary work which did the most create the iconic postcard-version vision of what Christmas should look and feel like. While the poem does suffer from the notable lack of what would become central symbol of modern Christmas celebrations—the decorated tree—it otherwise features imagery that has ever since been replicated in stories, movies and songs about secular celebration of the season. Most important, of course, is that is the go-to source for the names of Santa’s reindeer. Long before Rudulph entered the picture with his glowing nose, almost every Christian kid in America could name Santa’s reindeer and probably with more accuracy than they could name the planets or even Walt Disney’s seven dwarfs. Of course, some leniency must be made for the tendency since the middle of the 20th century to misidentify Donder as “Donner” but it is a mistake close enough that it hardly matters much.

And while it is true that the delivery of Christmas gifts is identified as St. Nick rather than Santa Claus and that he is not dressed in Santa’s familiar red and white grab, the description of the main character is also close enough to overlook the details. In fact, it is in the details that “A Visit from St. Nicholas” begins to fall apart as the presumed portrait of an iconic Christmas scene. The fact is that in addition to there being no Santa, no Christmas tree, and no red and white outfit, St. Nick and his reindeer are not regular-sized, but miniature versions of their modern counterparts and, on top of everything else, Nicholas is a heavy smoker which has gradually become an absolute no-no in depictions of Santa deemed suitable for children.

Just as most people get the title wrong by referring to it by its opening words, however, these details ultimately fade into background. After all, “Donner” was not even originally Donder, but Dunder and Blitzen was originally Blixem (and even for a brief period of time Blixen in order to sharpen the rhyme with Vixen). While the poem is not really and truly the iconic portrait of Christmas that is still celebrated today, it is close enough to count. After all, is it really such a big deal that hardly anyone on the planet actually knows what sugar-plums are?

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Twas the Night Before Christmas Questions and Answers

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Study Guide for Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the Night Before Christmas study guide contains a biography of Clement C. Moore, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Twas the Night Before Christmas
• Twas the Night Before Christmas Summary
• Character List

A Visit from St. Nicholas

The poem "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" , also known as "The Night Before Christmas" from its first line, and first published in 1823, is largely responsible for the contemporary American conception of Santa Claus, including his appearance, the night he visits, his method of transportation, the number and names of his reindeer, and that he brings toys to children. Prior to the poem, American ideas about St. Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors varied considerably.

The poem was published anonymously in 1823 by the Troy Sentinel . It was first attributed to Clement Clarke Moore in 1837 by Charles Fenno Hoffman in The New York Book of Poetry . Moore himself first claimed authorship in his 1844 book Poems . Circa 1860, the family of Major Henry Livingston, Jr. (1748–1828) discovered the claims of Moore's authorship, but waited until after Moore's death to publicly argue that Livingston had first composed the poem circa 1807.

The last two reindeer names were Dunder and Blixem when the poem was first published anonymously on December 23, 1823. [1] The editor of the 1825 McClure Almanac was the first to change Blixem to Blixen . [2] When Moore later published the work as his own ( Poems , 1844), the names were spelled Donder and Blitzen . [3] In a number of later reprintings, Dunder/Donder's name is further simplified to Donner. [4]

Warning: template has been deprecated.

• " Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas " in the Troy Sentinel (December 23, 1823)
• " Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas " in the United States National Almanac , ed. by David McClure (1825)
• " Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus ", broadsheet published by the Troy Sentinel (1830)
• " A visit from St. Nicholas " in Poems by Clement Clarke Moore (1844)
• " A Vision of St. Nicholas " in The Strand Magazine , 2 ( 12 ) (1891).
• " A Visit From St. Nicholas " in Poems That Every Child Should Know , edited by Mary E. Burt (1904)
• The Night Before Christmas , illustrated by Arthur Rackham  (1915)
• " A Visit from St. Nicholas ", in Famous Single Poems (1924), edited by Burton Egbert Stevenson
• " A Visit from St. Nicholas " in Our American Holidays - Christmas (1949)

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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Twas The Night Before Christmas

“A Visit from St. Nicholas”

Original Poem By Clement C. Moore

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’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through 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 danced in their heads; And mamma 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 my 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 did appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, 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 called them by name: “Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!” As dry leaves that 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.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack. His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

“‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” was first published in 1823 in the Troy Sentinel newspaper with the name, “Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas.” It was subsequently republished numerous times, often with slight modernizing alterations to the original text. The version presented here is adapted from a 1912 publication of the poem, with some minor changes to make the language accessible for today’s readers.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

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A Visit from St. Nicholas

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'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through 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 danced in their heads; And mamma 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 reindeer, 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 called them by name; "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" As dry leaves that 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. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack. His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle, But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

This poem is in the public domain.

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Discovering the truth about Santa Claus

The poem that invented the modern version of Santa Claus is actually the center of a major a literary mystery

By Melissa Chim and The Conversation

If you picture Santa Claus as plump and jolly and pulled by reindeer, you may have this poem to thank

The poem " A Visit from St. Nicholas ," better known by its opening line "'Twas the Night before Christmas," has a special place among Christmas traditions, right alongside hot chocolate, caroling and bright lights. It has also inspired the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly old man sporting red and a round belly.

But this poem has been steeped in controversy, and debate still looms over who the true author is. Traditionally, Clement C. Moore – a 19th-century scholar at the General Theological Seminary in New York, where I work as a reference librarian – has been credited with writing the poem in 1822 for his children. Every December, library staff shares our multiple copies of the poem in an exhibit to celebrate the holiday season.

No matter who wrote it, the poem is a fascinating object that has shaped Christmases past, present – and maybe yet to come .

A changing Santa Claus

Santa Claus had undergone many makeovers in the Western imagination by the time readers were introduced to "'Twas the Night before Christmas."

His feast day, Dec. 6, became a popular celebration in medieval Europe. By the modern era, images of St. Nick portrayed him as a tall, thin, stern man in a bishop’s hat who brought children both gifts and punishments. In German legend, he was accompanied by Krampus , a half-goat, half-demon creature that meted out a range of punishments to bad children, from mild to violent.

In Victorian Britain, Christmas became a festive holiday, with much feasting and drinking in addition to a religious celebration. In the early 19th century, Santa was sometimes depicted as a reveler from the lower classes – someone in need of charity, rather than a gift-giver himself.

As Christmas began to evolve into a family holiday, the image of Santa changed as well . Now, his jolliness came from the Christmas spirit, not feasting, and his rosy cheeks were the result of joy, not alcohol.

"'Twas the Night before Christmas" was instrumental in crafting the modern American version of Santa Claus. The poem describes St. Nicholas as "dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot," with twinkling eyes, rosy cheeks, a snow white beard and a round belly. Throughout the poem, Santa is depicted as a jolly elf bringing joy with his reindeer-led sleigh to both children and adults.

Thomas Nast , a Civil War-era cartoonist with the magazine Harper’s Weekly, created the enduring image of Santa Claus in a series of 33 drawings published between 1863 and 1886. The first of these drawings is inspired by the poem’s depiction of Santa carrying a sack full of presents with his sled pulled by reindeer.

Our library holds a copy of Nast’s book " Christmas Drawings for the Human Race ," containing his illustrations for "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." The introduction to our copy is written by Nast’s grandson, Thomas Nast St. Hill, who inscribed and donated it to the library in 1971. In some images, Nast used Santa to send a political message – such as one illustration that depicts him with toys related to battle, showing his support for Union soldiers.

Authorship debate

Two hundred years after the poem debuted, one fundamental question remains: Who is its true author?

The poem first appeared anonymously in a New York newspaper, the Troy Sentinel, on Dec, 23, 1823 , and was reprinted many times. The New York Book of Poetry cited Moore, the 19th-century biblical scholar, as the author in 1837, and in 1844 he included it in his book of poems. Several years after the poem’s publication in the Sentinel, editor Orville Holley wrote that the author was "by birth and residence [belonging] to the city of New York, and that he is a gentleman of more merit as a scholar and writer than many of more noisy pretensions." That’s an apt description of Moore, according to Niels Sonne, a librarian at General Theological Seminary in the 20th century who published an article about the authorship controversy. Moore was officially cited as the author in The New York Book of Poetry in 1837.

But the descendants of Henry Livingston Jr., a poet and farmer from an influential New York family, argue that he wrote the famous poem as early as 1808 and was never properly credited. Relatives of Livingston have claimed that his manuscript was brought to Wisconsin, where it was destroyed in a fire in 1847. His defenders point to similarities with other poetry and witty satires he wrote, and argue that his fun personality was much more in keeping with "A Visit from St. Nicholas" than Moore’s. His grandson, William Sturgus Thomas, spent years collecting evidence in his grandfather’s favor, and his papers are housed at the New York Historical Society.

The story continues

Every December, the Seminary library displays all the original copies of the poem we own in addition to more modern retellings and illustrations. Our copy of Moore’s 1844 "Poems" has one significant detail: it’s signed by Moore to the Reverend Samuel Seabury, who was a professor at General Theological Seminary and also the grandson of the first Episcopal American bishop, Samuel Seabury. The inscription says: "To the Reverend Dr. Seabury, with the respect of his friend the author, July 1844."

The library also owns Moore’s rare follow-up work, titled " The Night after Christmas ," which was published after his death in 1863. In this version, the children are visited by their doctor after having too many treats delivered by Santa – and the physician shares some similarities with Santa himself:

"His eyes how they twinkled! Had the doctor got merry? His cheeks looked like Port and his breath smelt of Sherry…

But a wink of his eye when he physicked our Fred Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread…"

• "Who Wrote 'Twas the Night Before Christmas? A Literary Debate" by Jennifer Ciotta, Literary Traveler , December 1,2017
• "Who really wrote 'The Night Before Xmas'" by Frederick M. Winship, UPI , December 5, 2002
• The Trial Before Christmas 2013, 2014 , created by Jack Casey and Duncan Crary.       The first mock trial took place in Troy, New York, where the poem was originally printed in 1823. The trial featured lawyers, plaintiffs, the judge, witnesses back from the dead, and a room full of spectators. After the 90 minute trial the jury returned a deadlocked verdict 3 to 3. So no decision in 2013. The trial engaged folks in local Troy history and created holiday spirit.      The 2014 trial, held in the Rensselaer County Courthouse in Troy, watched by folks in the courtroom, strollers outside on a big screen, and around the world on YouTube. The two-hour trial yielded a unanimous verdict this time: Henry Livingston.       The Trial Before Christmas website includes information about the trial, videos to watch, and more. 
• Hallmark made a 2-hour Christmas movie, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas , loosely based on the trial.
• 'Night Before Christmas' Trial: 'Twas the Verdict Surprising?, by Jenny Tsay, Esq, FindLaw , Last updated March 21, 2019,
• Exhibit: Revisiting "A Visit from St. Nicholas", New York State Library , December 2015
• "The Night After Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore, FreshReads

For further reading

Who Wrote "The Night Before Christmas"? Analyzing the Clement Clarke Moore vs. Henry Livingston Question by MacDonald P. Jackson, McFarland & Company, 2016

The author, emeritus professor of English, University of Auckland, and fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, carried out a thorough study of both Moore and Livingston's work. He endeavored to discover the characteristics that distinguish each author's work and then to determine where this poem fits. He did not have a pre-determined opinion.

His exhaustive study concludes, "These elements of composition are not readily subject to imitation. Their rates of use are largely beyond a writer's conscious control. They distinguish Moore's verse from Livingston's and they classify 'The Night Before Christmas' with the latter. The reasonable conclusion is that 'The Night Before Christmas' was composed by Henry Livingston."

Author Unknown: On the Trail of Anonymous by Don Foster, Henry Holt & Company, 2000

The author, professor of English at Vassar College, has helped with dozens of investigations of anonymous and pseudonymous writings in criminal and civil cases. This question is addressed in the final chapter of the book. 

Foster's account is more narrative about both possible authors, written in an entertaining style, with less textual analysis than the above book. However, he does come to the same conclusion, as he says, "Moore's supporters always point to the form of this anapestic 'Pig and Rooster' fable as evidence that the Professor really was capable of writing a children's poem like 'A visit from St. Nicholas.' Major Livingston's heirs point to the content as evidence that he couldn't have. Major Livingston's heirs are right." Foster's work has served to encourage others to do even deeper textual analysis.

The Fight for "The Night": Resolving the Authorship Dispute over "The Night Before Christmas" by Tom A. Jerman, self-published, 2023

The author, a retired lawyer with some journalistic experience, seems to have set out to defend Moore's authorship, refuting Don Foster in particular. He carried out exhaustive research on the supposed authors and used textual analysis not available to the earlier investigators. His conclusion is that the Livingston claims are without merit.

By Melissa Chim, Adjunct Professor and Reference Librarian, General Theological Seminary. The Conversation , December 16, 2021. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 4.0 International license .

General Theological Seminary is a member of the Association of Theological Schools. The ATS is a funding partner of The Conversation U.S.

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