Page 50 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2023 - Online Magazine

Focus
FAMILY

Happy Birthday,

Santa Claus!

by Jeanie Quest

appy 200th Birthday, Santa Clement Moore was
Claus! Two hundred years ago, a highly educated
Hon December 24, 1823, in New bishop, linguist, and
York City, the Troy Sentinel published an professor, but it was
anonymous poem called “A Visit from St his poem, “A Visit
Nicholas.” It was the birth of the beloved from St. Nicholas,”
Santa Claus character in America. The that made him famous. Jeanie with a few of her treasures
poem grew in popularity, and in 1837, On a snowy Christmas bore a striking resemblance to Moore’s
Dr. Clement C. Moore acknowledged Eve in 1822, in upstate New York, the Dutch friend. The poem tells the story
authorship. Over the next 150 years, Dr. professor headed to the market. When he of a sleigh landing on a roof and the
Moore’s image of the iconic figure was entered town, he was overwhelmed by visitor sliding down a chimney and
influenced by three others: Washington crowds of cheerful Old-World merchants filling children's stockings with toys. As
Irving, Thomas Nast, and Haddon and shoppers, excited children, colorful the Christmas visit ends, the character
Sundblom. decorations, evergreen trees, delicious “lays his finger aside of his nose,” and
aromas, and caroling voices. He vanishes up the chimney. The reindeer
In 1809, Washington Irving authored exchanged a few yarns with a jovial old carry him over the treetops (Sinterklaas
History of New York. The chapter, Dutchman named Jay Duychick who folklore) as the driver yells, “Happy
“Knickerbocker Tales,” highlighting was short and chubby, with a long white Christmas to all!” Dr. Moore called his
Dutch traditions and the legend of beard, red cheeks, dimples, and a round jolly character Santa Claus and presented
Sinterklaas, greatly inspired Dr. Moore. belly. the magical poem that night to his wife
Elizabeth and their nine children. The
On his way home, following December (1823), someone
Dr. Moore was anonymously submitted the poem to the
mesmerized by the Troy, NY, newspaper.
falling snow and the
moonlight on the
frozen Hudson. Upon Another major influencer of the
arrival, he hastened American Santa Claus was Thomas
to his study as verses Nast—an illustrator for the periodical,
began to take shape. Harper's Weekly. During the December
The poet quickly weeks from 1863 to 1886, Nast’s
penned the story of a drawings, which were influenced by
Christmas visitor who Moore’s description, embellished the
arrived on December story. He depicted Santa at his frosty
24th (not the 6th as home at the North Pole, where he and
in Dutch tradition) his elves made toys. The illustrator
on a sleigh pulled by told of a “naughty and nice” list and
eight reindeer. The drew Santa reading letters sent to him
chubby character by children from around the world.
Nast’s drawings softened the stern looks

This story generously sponsored in part by Holland Gardens.
www.hollandgardens.com
3739 50th St, Lubbock, TX 79413 ·
(806) 792-6336

50 Lubbock Senior Link