Inside: Christmas brings out the storyteller in some folks. Thankfully it did with these two authors. Here is the story behind these classics from Christmas literature.
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A Poem Lacking Scholarly Merit
Legend has it that Moore composed his poem while traveling by sleigh on a shopping errand one snowy winter day. He wrote the poem-story for his daughters, and it was published anonymously in the Troy, New York Sentinel on December 23, 1823. At first Moore didn’t want to be connected to literature that lacked scholarly merit. But the poem became quite popular, reprinted frequently, and in 1837 Moore’s name appeared as its author, though he didn’t acknowledge the piece until eight years later when, at the insistence of his daughters, he included it in his anthology.
Moore drew his inspiration for St. Nick from a Dutch handyman he knew as well as the historical St. Nicholas and his friend Washington Irving’s writings. Our modern version of Santa Claus can be traced back to his wonderful, magical poem, and the tradition of Christmas gift-giving was greatly affected by it.
Whatever you call it, “The Night Before Christmas” (or “A Visit from St. Nicholas”) is an American treasure of classic and Christmas literature.
A Scary Ghost Story for Christmas?
A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, aka A Christmas Carol, was written by Charles Dickens and published in London on December 19, 1843, to immediate success. A mere six months after the novella’s debut, the seventh edition had sold out, though Dickens’ profits were meager.
The story is familiar to most of us–the redemptive tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge turned kindly gentleman after a visit from his dead business partner in chains and three ghosts showing him his past, present, and future.
At a time when Dickens’ career was declining, he wanted to write a story that would be heartfelt as well as popular (and make money). But also of importance to him was the plight of the poor, and he knew that telling a good story would do more than an essay or pamphlet ever could.
And was he ever right! A Christmas Carol has never been out of print and has been adapted countless times in movies, stage, and television parodies.
Do you have a favorite Christmas story? Tell us about it in the comments.
Related posts:
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 1: Return of the Hillbilly Christmas Wreath
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 2: Silent Night’s Story
The 12 Post of Christmas, Day 3: Rosemary Walnuts
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 4: In Pursuit of Perfect Pines
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 5: Symbols and Traditions
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 6: Simple Wreath Ornaments
The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 8: Maple Walnut Fudge
A Rural Girl’s Favorite Things Christmas Gift Guide
Slowing Down to Enjoy Christmas
Posts from a year ago:
The 12 Posts of Christmas (2017), Day 7: Cutest. Sleigh. Ever.