First published anonymously in 1823, Clement C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas"—later renamed "The Night Before Christmas"—is the source for many of our conceptions about Santa Claus and his very important duties on Christmas Eve; images of sleeping children, magical reindeer, and a cheerful St. Nick all find their origin here. The text of Moore's poem appears here in its entirety, accompanied by Tom Browning's warmly lit, nostalgic paintings, which effectively capture the mood and essence of the holiday as it was celebrated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.