Which 1822 poem by Clement Clarke Moore helped popularize Santa Claus’s Christmas Eve visit by sleigh?

Clement Clarke Moore’s poem is “A Visit from St. Nicholas.”

The poem is better known by its opening words, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” It was first published anonymously in 1823, although Moore later claimed authorship and it is commonly associated with him. The poem describes Saint Nicholas arriving on Christmas Eve in a miniature sleigh pulled by reindeer and entering a house through the chimney.

Its vivid details helped establish features of the American Santa Claus tradition, including the sleigh, reindeer, chimney entrance, and a cheerful, compact gift-bringer. It also popularized names for eight reindeer.

The title “A Visit from St. Nicholas” is often confused with the better-known informal title. The poem’s publication date is also sometimes reported as 1822 because Moore may have written it that year, but the first known publication was in 1823.