"Merry Christmas to All and a Good Night to All" We're posting Clement Clarke Moore's poem The Night Before Christmas (first published in 1823 as A Visit from St. Nicholas) to help you enjoy the holidays. The Night Before Christmas is a classic story about Santa Claus. When his wife dies, Santa decides not to celebrate Christmas anymore until he finds someone else to share it with. He travels around the world in just one night to find someone special, but no one can see him because nobody is awake. When Santa arrives at the last house on his journey, an old man is sleeping outside because there are no children alive who might want Christmas presents. But when Santa tells the old man that Jesus is also traveling on this night and wants to say hello, the old man opens his eyes and sees him. Then they both go to sleep again. In the morning, when everyone else is waking up to open their gifts or go to church, the old man sends Santa away so he can have the day alone. But before doing so, he gives Santa a gift that allows him to travel back through time. Then the old man goes out again to send another traveler - this time, Jesus - away, but this time he doesn't wake up.