Page 25 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles December 2019
P. 25
The next morning they find a small toy in the box
as thanks for their kindness.
In Hungary, St. Nicholas (called Szent Miklás) The Night
arrives on his feast day, December 6, and then leaves
before Christmas. Tradition has it the children Before Christmas
would place a boot on their windowsill to be filled by
Miklás. The boots must be clean and shiny or they by … Henry Livingston?
will be filled with onions, raw potatoes, and coal.
French children place their shoes by the fireplace Clement C. Moore has been credited with doing so obtained a letter from Norman Tuttle
with a treat in it for Père Noël’s donkey. They wake writing The Night Before Christmas over the past stating Mrs. Sackett gave the poem to her
to find candy, money, or small toys in its place. almost 200 years, but is that attribution correct? husband and Troy Sentinel editor, Oliver
In China, children hang muslin stockings and For the descendants of Henry Livingston, Jr. Holley, after receiving it from Harriet Butler.
wait for Dun Che Lao Ren (“Christmas Old Man”) (1748-1828) the answer is no. Only after receiving the letter did Moore
to fill them. publish the poem in his book of poetry under
Here is the story: his own name.
Stockings Over Time
Henry Livingston, Jr. composes the The great-grandson of Livingston’s,
In the early 1800s, real socks and children’s 1807: 1920:
stockings were used to hold gifts from Santa Claus, poem An Account of a Visit of Saint Nicholas. William Sturgis Thomas, publicly stated his
but over time the introduction of specially-made Livingston had been writing “Carrier great-grandfather was the author of A Visit from
stockings began to take the place of the real ones. Addresses”—poems given to subscribers by St. Nicholas. At this point, Moore’s grandson
Many versions would be made by hand, often by carrier boys hoping for a tip in return—from obtained a deposition from a cousin who had
the children themselves. While some companies 1787 to 1823. Lines from these poems include witnessed Moore talking about what had
started to create “pre-made” and “pre-filled” stock- “Advances our saint, jolly, laughing, NEW-inspired him to write the poem, and also had
ings, others made kits for parents and children to YEAR” (1803) and “But Hark what a clatter! the letter from Tuttle regarding how the piece
create personalized versions to decorate the mantle. The Jolly bells ringing” (1819). Livingston’s was obtained for publication. One problem:
four older children from his first marriage Tuttle’s copy of the poem published in 1830
World War II remember their father reciting it when the ink which he included in the 1844 letter was
Soldiers serving overseas during WWII edited—a lot—by Holley. This showed Moore
was still wet on the paper.
celebrated Christmas as best they could, and did not recognize the differences between the
stockings were a part of it. Many soldiers would According to Livingston’s children, a original and the edited work, as he used this
kneel down right there on the grounds of the version going forward.
1822:
battlefield for services while others would seek out governess who was visiting with the family then
local churches and enjoy a meager Christmas meal stopped by the Moore household on her way
with residents. Decorations being what they were, south to start a new job. The poem was a A commemorative postcard was issued
1977:
Christmas stockings were hung with care onto favorite of the family and it is believed she identifying Henry Livingston, Jr. as the author.
rifles and small brought a copy with her for Moore to share
hand-crafted gifts with his six children. 2000: The Vassar Professor Don Foster,
or items would be known for his intense study of poetry and
exchanged. 1822: Dr. Clement C. Moore composes the literature and their attribution, gets into the
Following the poem A Visit from Santa Claus. He would later mix. He notes that the poem has all the bells
War, homemade tell friends he was inspired by the beauty of the and whistles of a poem constructed by
designs became moonlight on snow on his way home from Livingston. During an ABC NEWS interview
extremely popular picking up a Christmas Goose. He went directly that aired on December 24, 2000, Foster noted
as the “Baby to his study and wrote the poem. His children that the use of “Merry Christmas” was the popular
Boom” took place. were thrilled with his reciting of the poem, but phrase and used by later Moore publication, but
Craft stores sold Moore cautioned them not to let it out of the “Happy Christmas,” used consistently by
large varieties of house. One of his children let Harriet Butler of Livingston, was in the original publication.
knits, stencils, and Troy, NY take a copy with her when she left.
supplies for recre- 2016: Auckland University Emeritus
ating the perfect Hanging stockings on rifles 1823: On December 23, the Troy Sentinel Professor MacDonald Jackson published the
stocking at home printed A Visit from Santa Clause without results of his multi-year research into the poem
reminding everyone of a better time and of a using a series of tests to state once and for all
attribution.
promise for a brighter future. who wrote this classic Christmas poem. Tests
N. Tuttle, owner of the Troy Sentinel analyzed phoneme pairs, and the use of the
Mid-Century and Beyond 1830:
who published an edited version of the poem word “And” when starting a sentence.
As the marketing of Santa Claus kicked into along with an engraving by Myron B. King Throughout his career, Moore used the word
high gear (Miracle on 34th Street told this tale when showing Santa with a sleigh and eight reindeer 307 times out of 2873 lines, using a comma in
it came out in 1947), stockings throughout the on a roof. (Note: Livingston had studied 40 instances. Livingston used the word 212
1950s typically featured Santa, his reindeer, and Lapland, the home of reindeer and regularly times out of his 1892 lines and never used
both in flight over a country home. It was not until wrote of animals in flight in his other works.) a comma. “And” is at the start of 12 lines
the 1960s that the color red became the primary out of the 56 in the poem and is never followed
color for Christmas stockings.
Stockings also became marketing tools for other 1837: The poem was printed in a book, New by a comma.
products. Some were filled with candy or other small York Book of Poetry, with attribution. The book There is an overview of the
gifts from certain manufacturers, and others had was published by Moore’s friend Charles Fenno evidence to date. Will Livingston
graphics highlighting Santa holding a Coke or Hoffman and did attribute it to Moore have his authorship sanctioned by
Elves using Kodak cameras. although Moore had not told anyone with the the powers that be? Some have
No matter what the age, the exception of family and friends that it was his. said yes.
By this point, Livingston had been deceased
child in each of us always
holds close those memories of nine years. The family did not come forth to
opening the stocking to discover contradict the information in the book.
the personal treats from Santa
just for us. Even if we are parents 1838: The Troy Budget acknowledged Moore’s
and grandparents today, authorship on December 25. The poem
having a stocking full of continued to gain in popularity, now with
special treats always makes Moore’s name attached.
the holiday sweet.
Moore was encouraged to publish a
1844:
This Disney-themed stocking is about 9 1/2 x 15 inches and group of his poetry by his children, but before
is in really great shape considering it is likely from the 1960s. From the original publishing in the Troy Sentinel, 1823
December 2019 23
as thanks for their kindness.
In Hungary, St. Nicholas (called Szent Miklás) The Night
arrives on his feast day, December 6, and then leaves
before Christmas. Tradition has it the children Before Christmas
would place a boot on their windowsill to be filled by
Miklás. The boots must be clean and shiny or they by … Henry Livingston?
will be filled with onions, raw potatoes, and coal.
French children place their shoes by the fireplace Clement C. Moore has been credited with doing so obtained a letter from Norman Tuttle
with a treat in it for Père Noël’s donkey. They wake writing The Night Before Christmas over the past stating Mrs. Sackett gave the poem to her
to find candy, money, or small toys in its place. almost 200 years, but is that attribution correct? husband and Troy Sentinel editor, Oliver
In China, children hang muslin stockings and For the descendants of Henry Livingston, Jr. Holley, after receiving it from Harriet Butler.
wait for Dun Che Lao Ren (“Christmas Old Man”) (1748-1828) the answer is no. Only after receiving the letter did Moore
to fill them. publish the poem in his book of poetry under
Here is the story: his own name.
Stockings Over Time
Henry Livingston, Jr. composes the The great-grandson of Livingston’s,
In the early 1800s, real socks and children’s 1807: 1920:
stockings were used to hold gifts from Santa Claus, poem An Account of a Visit of Saint Nicholas. William Sturgis Thomas, publicly stated his
but over time the introduction of specially-made Livingston had been writing “Carrier great-grandfather was the author of A Visit from
stockings began to take the place of the real ones. Addresses”—poems given to subscribers by St. Nicholas. At this point, Moore’s grandson
Many versions would be made by hand, often by carrier boys hoping for a tip in return—from obtained a deposition from a cousin who had
the children themselves. While some companies 1787 to 1823. Lines from these poems include witnessed Moore talking about what had
started to create “pre-made” and “pre-filled” stock- “Advances our saint, jolly, laughing, NEW-inspired him to write the poem, and also had
ings, others made kits for parents and children to YEAR” (1803) and “But Hark what a clatter! the letter from Tuttle regarding how the piece
create personalized versions to decorate the mantle. The Jolly bells ringing” (1819). Livingston’s was obtained for publication. One problem:
four older children from his first marriage Tuttle’s copy of the poem published in 1830
World War II remember their father reciting it when the ink which he included in the 1844 letter was
Soldiers serving overseas during WWII edited—a lot—by Holley. This showed Moore
was still wet on the paper.
celebrated Christmas as best they could, and did not recognize the differences between the
stockings were a part of it. Many soldiers would According to Livingston’s children, a original and the edited work, as he used this
kneel down right there on the grounds of the version going forward.
1822:
battlefield for services while others would seek out governess who was visiting with the family then
local churches and enjoy a meager Christmas meal stopped by the Moore household on her way
with residents. Decorations being what they were, south to start a new job. The poem was a A commemorative postcard was issued
1977:
Christmas stockings were hung with care onto favorite of the family and it is believed she identifying Henry Livingston, Jr. as the author.
rifles and small brought a copy with her for Moore to share
hand-crafted gifts with his six children. 2000: The Vassar Professor Don Foster,
or items would be known for his intense study of poetry and
exchanged. 1822: Dr. Clement C. Moore composes the literature and their attribution, gets into the
Following the poem A Visit from Santa Claus. He would later mix. He notes that the poem has all the bells
War, homemade tell friends he was inspired by the beauty of the and whistles of a poem constructed by
designs became moonlight on snow on his way home from Livingston. During an ABC NEWS interview
extremely popular picking up a Christmas Goose. He went directly that aired on December 24, 2000, Foster noted
as the “Baby to his study and wrote the poem. His children that the use of “Merry Christmas” was the popular
Boom” took place. were thrilled with his reciting of the poem, but phrase and used by later Moore publication, but
Craft stores sold Moore cautioned them not to let it out of the “Happy Christmas,” used consistently by
large varieties of house. One of his children let Harriet Butler of Livingston, was in the original publication.
knits, stencils, and Troy, NY take a copy with her when she left.
supplies for recre- 2016: Auckland University Emeritus
ating the perfect Hanging stockings on rifles 1823: On December 23, the Troy Sentinel Professor MacDonald Jackson published the
stocking at home printed A Visit from Santa Clause without results of his multi-year research into the poem
reminding everyone of a better time and of a using a series of tests to state once and for all
attribution.
promise for a brighter future. who wrote this classic Christmas poem. Tests
N. Tuttle, owner of the Troy Sentinel analyzed phoneme pairs, and the use of the
Mid-Century and Beyond 1830:
who published an edited version of the poem word “And” when starting a sentence.
As the marketing of Santa Claus kicked into along with an engraving by Myron B. King Throughout his career, Moore used the word
high gear (Miracle on 34th Street told this tale when showing Santa with a sleigh and eight reindeer 307 times out of 2873 lines, using a comma in
it came out in 1947), stockings throughout the on a roof. (Note: Livingston had studied 40 instances. Livingston used the word 212
1950s typically featured Santa, his reindeer, and Lapland, the home of reindeer and regularly times out of his 1892 lines and never used
both in flight over a country home. It was not until wrote of animals in flight in his other works.) a comma. “And” is at the start of 12 lines
the 1960s that the color red became the primary out of the 56 in the poem and is never followed
color for Christmas stockings.
Stockings also became marketing tools for other 1837: The poem was printed in a book, New by a comma.
products. Some were filled with candy or other small York Book of Poetry, with attribution. The book There is an overview of the
gifts from certain manufacturers, and others had was published by Moore’s friend Charles Fenno evidence to date. Will Livingston
graphics highlighting Santa holding a Coke or Hoffman and did attribute it to Moore have his authorship sanctioned by
Elves using Kodak cameras. although Moore had not told anyone with the the powers that be? Some have
No matter what the age, the exception of family and friends that it was his. said yes.
By this point, Livingston had been deceased
child in each of us always
holds close those memories of nine years. The family did not come forth to
opening the stocking to discover contradict the information in the book.
the personal treats from Santa
just for us. Even if we are parents 1838: The Troy Budget acknowledged Moore’s
and grandparents today, authorship on December 25. The poem
having a stocking full of continued to gain in popularity, now with
special treats always makes Moore’s name attached.
the holiday sweet.
Moore was encouraged to publish a
1844:
This Disney-themed stocking is about 9 1/2 x 15 inches and group of his poetry by his children, but before
is in really great shape considering it is likely from the 1960s. From the original publishing in the Troy Sentinel, 1823
December 2019 23
