The Night Before Christmas is a children’s poem written by American poet and linguist Clement C. Moore. One Christmas night, when all the mouse family was sleeping sweetly, suddenly there was some strange noise near their cozy house. Looking out the window, they saw St. Nicholas’ sleigh pulled by reindeer flying across the sky. It was an amazing encounter, for no one had ever seen the real St. Nicholas before! To this day, “The Visit of Saint Nicholas” is one of the most beloved Christmas tales around the world.

What makes this work unique is that prior to this work, first published in 1823, perceptions of Santa Claus were quite blurred. The Visit of St. Nicholas is the first to describe what Santa Claus looks like, how he moves on Christmas night (flying through the sky on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, the names of eight reindeer are also mentioned) and what actually happens when he visits the house with presents on Christmas Eve.