'Twas the Night Before Christmas: Or Account of a Visit from St.Nicholas

by Matt Tavares (Illustrator)

• Used

  Hardcover
  2002

  $3.25

  It may be hard to believe, but there was once a time when Santa Claus only needed three or four elves to run his workshop. His annual Christmas Eve journey was mush shorter back then too, as most children outside of Holland and Germany didn't even know who Santa was. But then, in 1823, everything changed. In December of that year, The Troy Sentinel, a newspaper in upstate New York, printed an anonymous poem entitled An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas. This was the first time many children in America had heard of Santa Claus. Naturally, they wondered what might happen if they hung their stockings by the chimney, just like the children in the poem. On Christmas Eve of that year, many tried it. Sure enough, when those children awoke on Christmas morning, they were greeted by the sweet smells of sugarplums and the thrill of new, handcarved toys. News of this incredible phenomenon spread quickly. Soon the poem was reprinted all over the world, and Santa Claus has been a very busy man ever since.

• Used

  Paperback
  2005

  $3.25

  A carefully recreated, original version of the well-loved Christmas poem. Before 1823, most children outside Holland and Germany didn't even know who Santa was. Then, in 1823, a New York newspaper printed an anonymous poem entitled An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas . This was the first time many children in America had heard of Santa Claus. Wondering what might happen if they hung their stockings by the chimney, many children did, and were greeted by an array of treats. News of this incredible phenomenon spread quickly. Soon the poem was reprinted all over the world, and Santa Claus has been a very busy man ever since.;A beautifully produced 19th century style edition of this popular poem, with atmospheric and gorgeously tactile black and white illustrations.