Many of us can recite the poem 'Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore almost line by line. And if not every line, there is sure to be bits and pieces of it etched in our brains from years of songs, books, television shows and even spoofs that have been created throughout the years.
But did you know the original title was "A Visit from St. Nicholas"? And did you know the author wrote the poem in 1822 just to read to his children on Christmas Eve? It wasn't until the following year that it was published in a local newspaper after being submitted by an anonymous patron. Clement, being known for his more serious literary work, did not wish to claim it, as it seemed childish and too whimsical for his scholarly reputation. The poem became popular and began to spread across the nation, others tried to claim it as their own. Clement came out after the insistence of his children and decided to take ownership.
After all these years, it remains a tradition in many households to read the poem on Christmas Eve night.
Has this been a tradition in your home? If not, you can start this year! We have included a copy of the poem for you here. Just click the picture below to bring you to a printable PDF. You can print and read to your family this Christmas Eve!
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
