The evidence of the Christmas debate is presented for you to decide: was Clement C. Moore the actual author of The Night Before Christmas? You know the poem, but do you know its controversy? Inventing Santa Claus presents all the details of the heated argument surrounding one of the most celebrated Yuletide poems of all time. Learn both sides of the story and all the evidence supporting either Clement C. Moore or Henry Livingston Jr. or other potential authors! Input from the experts, as well as the rulings of Troy, New York’s own mock trial, are presented in full for your own deductions. Who really wrote "The Night Before Christmas"?

Looks at the origins of modern Christmas traditions, which evolved over a twenty-five year period, beginning in 1823 with the publication of Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas," to 1848.

A poem about the visit that Santa Claus pays to the children of the world during the night before every Christmas.

Looks at the origins of modern Christmas traditions, which evolved over a twenty-five year period, beginning in 1823 with the publication of Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas," to 1848.

Explores the roots of the Christmas tree tradition, tracing customs from the Middle Ages to the present day to reveal how it first became part of mainstream American culture and has since become popular worldwide.

A clear, concise early history of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus, in color, complete with footnotes and bibliography! PLUS the extremely rare 1821 Old Santeclaus with Much Delight poem that first introduced a Santa Claus and a flying reindeer—considered to be the first colored lithographed Christmas book in America (only two known copies of this classic!). Discover the inspiration behind the all-time favorite Christmas poem ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. Inside this remarkable keepsake, you will find: √ History of Saint Nicholas and how his legend came to America √ Transformation of St. Nicholas into our beloved Santa Claus √ Historical images of Santa and his reindeer √ First colored lithograph Christmas book in America √ First illustration of Santa and reindeer √ First Santa illustration in Harper’s magazine √ Thomas Nast Santa illustration many say made Santa who he is today √ Clement Clarke Moore’s handwritten change to reindeer name √ Two additional rare poems: A Paraphrase of the Dutch Hymn to Saint Nicholas and St. Nicholas, Good Holy Man √ Key players who invented today’s Santa including Washington Irving, John Pintard, James K. Paulding, and Clement Clarke Moore, and famous Illustrators Table of Contents: Part I: Early History of Santa and His Reindeer Early History of Santa Claus and Reindeer Introduction Saint Nicholas to America First Mention of Santa Claus Santaclaus, Presents, Stockings (Washington Irving) Santa in Art Form (John Pintard) Sancte Claus Poem Santa in Flying Wagon (Washington Irving) Earliest Visual of Santa in Sleigh with One Flying Reindeer NEW Santa and Eight Reindeer First Time Santa and Eight Reindeer in Newsprint Expanded Version of Santa (James K. Paulding) Dunder and Blixem Reindeer Names Changed First Time Santa and Reindeer Featured in Harper's Part II: Rare, 1821 Children's Friend Introduction to Part II 1821 Old Santeclaus with Much Delight The Steady Friend of Virtuous Youth Through Many Houses He Has Been Where E'er I Found Good Girls or Boys To Some I Gave a Pretty Doll No Drums to Stun Their Mother's Ear But Where I Found the Children Naughty I Left a Long, Black, Birchen Rod ’Twas the Night Series Bibliography List of Illustrations Santa and Reindeer Flying Over Treetops, circa 1872 by Thomas Nast A Visit From St. Nicholas, 1879 by Frederick B. Schell Washington Irving, 1848 by James D. Smillie from F. O. C. Darley St. Nicholas Broadside Engraving, 1810 by Alexander Anderson Santa and Reindeer, circa 1830 by Bryon King Clement Clarke Moore’s Handwritten Changes to Poem, 1844 A Visit from Saint Nicholas, 1857 by Felix Octavius Carr Darley Various Santa Poses, 1857 (artist unknown) Santa Claus, Merry Christmas, 1884 by Thomas Nast Merry Old Santa Claus, 1881 by Thomas Nast Cover of The Children’s Friend, 1823 Santa and One Reindeer, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury Santeclaus, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury Santa and Stockings, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury Excited Children, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury Mischievous Children, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury Family, Reading Book, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury Children Being Naughty, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury Stockings With Switches, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury Add this classic keepsake to your library now!

Santa Claus is missing, and a host of arctic animals searches for him in the snow.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is a 1902 children's book, written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by Mary Cowles Clark

A history of Santa and his elves.

The true story of John Duval Gluck, Jr., who in 1913 founded the Santa Claus Association, which had the sole authority to answer Santa's mail in New York City. He ran the organization for 15 years, gaining fame for making the myth of Santa a reality to poor children by arranging for donors to deliver the toys they requested, until a crusading charity commissioner exposed Gluck as a fraud. The story is wide in scope, interweaving a phony Boy Scout group, kidnapping, stolen artwork, and appearances by the era's biggest stars and New York City’s most famous landmarks. The book is both a personal story and a far-reaching historical one, tracing the history of Christmas celebration in America and the invention of Santa Claus.