Afterward, some of Artemis’ traits began showing up in legends as characteristics of St. Nicholas, an early Christian bishop in what is now Turkey, was said to have destroyed a temple to Artemis, which he believed was idolatrous. Some scholars argue that the idea of a magical being bringing gifts and good cheer can be traced all the way back to the Greek goddess Artemis. No matter who wrote it, the poem is a fascinating object that has shaped Christmases past, present - and maybe yet to come.Ī changing Santa Claus - Santa Claus had undergone many makeovers in the Western imagination by the time readers were introduced to “‘Twas the Night before Christmas.” Every December, library staff shares our multiple copies of the poem in an exhibit to celebrate the holiday season. Moore - a 19th-century scholar at the General Theological Seminary in New York, where I work as a reference librarian - has been credited with writing the poem in 1822 for his children. It has also inspired the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly old man sporting red and a round belly.īut this poem has been steeped in controversy, and debate still looms over who the true author is. Nicholas,” better known by its opening line “‘Twas the Night before Christmas,” has a special place among Christmas traditions, right alongside hot chocolate, caroling, and bright lights.
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