'Twas the Night Before Christmas

A clear, concise early history of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus, in color, complete with footnotes and bibliography! PLUS the extremely rare 1821 Old Santeclaus with Much Delight poem that first introduced a Santa Claus and a flying reindeer—considered to be the first colored lithographed Christmas book in America (only two known copies of this classic!). Discover the inspiration behind the all-time favorite Christmas poem ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Inside this remarkable keepsake, you will find:

√ History of Saint Nicholas and how his legend came to America

√ Transformation of St. Nicholas into our beloved Santa Claus

√ Historical images of Santa and his reindeer

√ First colored lithograph Christmas book in America

√ First illustration of Santa and reindeer

√ First Santa illustration in Harper’s magazine

√ Thomas Nast Santa illustration many say made Santa who he is today

√ Clement Clarke Moore’s handwritten change to reindeer name

√ Two additional rare poems: A Paraphrase of the Dutch Hymn to Saint Nicholas and St. Nicholas, Good Holy Man

√ Key players who invented today’s Santa including Washington Irving, John Pintard, James K. Paulding, and Clement Clarke Moore, and famous Illustrators

Table of Contents:

Part I: Early History of Santa and His Reindeer

• Early History of Santa Claus and Reindeer Introduction


• Saint Nicholas to America


• First Mention of Santa Claus


• Santaclaus, Presents, Stockings (Washington Irving)


• Santa in Art Form (John Pintard)


• Sancte Claus Poem


• Santa in Flying Wagon (Washington Irving)


• Earliest Visual of Santa in Sleigh with One Flying Reindeer


• NEW Santa and Eight Reindeer


• First Time Santa and Eight Reindeer in Newsprint


• Expanded Version of Santa (James K. Paulding)


• Dunder and Blixem Reindeer Names Changed


• First Time Santa and Reindeer Featured in Harper's

Part II: Rare, 1821 Children's Friend

• Introduction to Part II


• 1821 Old Santeclaus with Much Delight


• The Steady Friend of Virtuous Youth


• Through Many Houses He Has Been


• Where E'er I Found Good Girls or Boys


• To Some I Gave a Pretty Doll


• No Drums to Stun Their Mother's Ear


• But Where I Found the Children Naughty


• I Left a Long, Black, Birchen Rod

• ’Twas the Night Series


• Bibliography