The Night Before Christmas
Few holiday poems are as familiar as A Visit from St. Nicholas, better known by its opening words, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. For nearly two centuries, its verses have helped shape the way generations imagine Christmas Eve — from a sleigh pulled by reindeer to the quiet anticipation of a visitor arriving by chimney under the cover of night.
What many readers may not realize is that one of America's most enduring Christmas traditions has a lasting connection to New York. On December 23, 1823, the poem first appeared anonymously in the Troy Sentinel, a newspaper published in Troy, introducing a story that would become woven into the fabric of the holiday season.
A Poem Finds Its Audience
The poem was submitted to the Troy Sentinel by a friend of the family of its presumed author and published without a name attached. It quickly captured readers' imaginations with its warm, playful portrayal of Christmas Eve and a gift-bearing St. Nicholas unlike any that had appeared in American literature before.
Although the poem is generally attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, some scholars have argued that Henry Livingston Jr. may have been its true author. The question remains the subject of historical debate, but its first publication in Troy is well documented and remains an important part of the city's literary history.
Image: Troy Sentinel, December 23, 1823. First printing of “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas.” Courtesy of the New York State Historic Newspapers archive.
Shaping an American Christmas
Long before department store displays and holiday films, A Visit from St. Nicholas helped define the images many Americans came to associate with Christmas. The poem described St. Nicholas arriving on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, entering homes through the chimney, and quietly leaving gifts before disappearing into the winter night.
While later artists and writers further developed the familiar image of Santa Claus, the poem provided one of the earliest and most influential descriptions of the character that became part of American tradition.
Its verses spread quickly through newspapers, books, and family recitations, becoming a cherished part of holiday celebrations across the country.
A Legacy in Troy
The story of A Visit from St. Nicholas is also a reminder that ideas often travel in unexpected ways. A single newspaper printing in Troy carried a poem that would reach readers far beyond New York, becoming part of countless family traditions for generations to come.
Today, the city's connection to the poem remains a source of pride, reflecting the enduring influence of local newspapers, printers, and publishers in preserving and sharing the stories that shape our culture.
Words That Endure
Holiday traditions are often built one generation at a time. Some begin with family customs, others with songs, recipes, or shared celebrations. Occasionally, they begin with a story.
The first printing of A Visit from St. Nicholas reminds us that words have the power to travel far beyond the page. A poem published in Troy on a December morning nearly two centuries ago continues to bring wonder to homes across the country, carrying with it the quiet magic of Christmas Eve.
A lasting reminder that some of our most cherished traditions begin with a simple story, shared and remembered.