Account of a Visit from Saint Nicholas
The Night Before Christmas

"A Visit from St. Nicholas", routinely referred to as "The Night Before Christmas" and "Twas the Night Before Christmas" from its first line, is a poem first published anonymously under the title "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1823. Authorship has been attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who claimed authorship in 1837, but it has also been suggested that Henry Livingston Jr. may have written it. While the authorship may be questioned by some, the poem remains a favorite during the Christmas season and helps conjure up visions of sugarplums and secret gifts for children even to this day.