Christmas - Twas the Night Before Christmas Poem Author Controversy!

Christmas - Twas the Night Before Christmas Poem Author Controversy!

There has been novel controversy over the authorship of most distinguished Christmas poem ever written "Twas the Night Before Christmas" originally claimed to be by Clement C Moore and published in 1823. Evidence from researchers now says this is not the case. It is also popular amongst the Santa Claus community that Moore did not write this poem.

Research suggests that Moore's family and others made a mistake about the source of the poem that had been found in their house and later wrongly attributed it to Moore after it was published by a house guest who found it.

Many bear that Moore could never have written such a contented poem. His writings picture dusky feelings towards life and Christmas. Also Moore reportedly hated tobacco and the evils of smoking so it makes no sense why he would write of a jolly St crop smoking a pipe as it is written in the poem.

The novel York Sentinel newspaper first published the poem in on 23rd December 1823. It was written that a Miss H. Butler sent a copy of the poem to this newspaper to be published under the condition that the author was to remain anonymous. It was published, became an instant success with rave reviews and was reprinted frequently from thereon.

A newspaper in 1837 declared Clement Clarke Moore as the author, yet Moore did not claim the poem as his until 1844 when it was included in a book of his poetry. Some occupy that he claimed ownership after being persuaded by his children.

Professor Don Foster in novel York in 2000 lead a convincing case of evidence that Moore did not write this poem. He revealed that Moore did write a Christmas allotment called 'Old Santeclaus' which had been almost forgotten. Here are the last two verses which gives the reader a taste of the shadowy tone of his writing:

But where I found the children naughty

In manners indecent, in temper haughty

Thankless to parents, liars, swearers

Boxers, or cheats, or imperfect tale-bearers

I left a long, shadowy, birchen rod,

Such as the fear swear of God

Directs a Parent's hand to use

When virtue's path his sons refuse.

Today the celebrated actual author by many researchers is Major Henry Livingston, Jr. Research uncovered that 15 years before the poem was published, Livingston recited the poem to his family and declared himself as the author. After Livingston died the poem had become eminent and his children proudly read the poem to their children telling them it had been written by their grandfather. This all happened long before Moore claimed it as his bear. Livingston's family did not glimpse Moore's claim to the poem until 15 years after Moore had taken credit for it. Livingston's family went public with the truth in 1899.

While the poem is known mostly today as "The Night Before Christmas" or "Twas the Night Before Christmas" it was in fact originally called "A Visit from St. Nicholas". Prior to this poem, St Nicholas, also known as the patron saint of children and the current Santa Claus, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeer. This poem was the catalyst for a whole unusual scheme of celebrating and rekindling Christmas each year. In particular, the American's embraced the poem's magical and absorbing belief of Christmas and the current vision of Santa Claus.

Today is a poem that has become a common modern-day tradition to be read every Christmas Eve. It has been embraced by families all over the world. While there is calm division on the subject of authorship, even in the light of prominent evidence, no matter who the author is, we all agree it is magical and worth rekindling each Christmas year!