On Dec. 24, 1822, Prof. Clement C. Moore wrote
“Twas the Night Before Christmas” 
in his poem he described Santa with eight reindeer flying over the rooftops in his sleigh. Today we think of Santa Clause as a large fat man. But Prof. Moore had pictured him as a “chubby, plump jolly, 
tiny elf. 

more santas

In the 1920’s many magazine ads, covers, and on billboards, artist’s such as Haddon Sundblom, one of America's famous commercial artists, working for Coca-Cola began illustrating Santa. As a large fat man with high shiny black boots, bright red, fur-trimmed suit and with rosy cheeks.  With his happy smile and a full white beard we know and love today. Newspaper cartoonist Thomas Nast in his popular drawings first showed Santa and his workshop headquarters at the north pole. First to depict answering children’s letters and keeping records of the good and bad boys and girls. The bringer of presents. We all enjoy Norman Rockwell’s timeless holiday paintings on the cover of “The Post”.  And other artists in St. Nicholas Magazine, Boys Life, National Geographic and other publications.

Santa Claus in the North Pole 
In 1885, Thomas Nast sketched two children looking at a map of the world and tracing Santa's journey from  the North Pole to the United States. The following year, the American writer, George P. Webster, took up this idea, explaining that Santa's toy factory and "his house, during the long summer months, was hidden in the ice and snow of the North Pole."
 
 Encarta Says 

T'was the night before Christmas
or A visit from St. Nicholas
By Clement C. Moore
interactive read and hear the poem
.
also check this verse
read with sound effects

North Pole Weather Conditions Central

NORAD Tracking Santa
http://www.noradsanta.org/english/home/index.html

Charles Dickens

By the early part of the nineteenth century Christmas had almost died out. The Times newspaper, for example, did not once mention Christmas between 1790 and 1835. Charles Dickens with his story “A Christmas Carol” did more than anyone to change all that. His tale of Scrooge, the Cratchits, and Tiny Tim was a smash hit from the start. He wrote the story in just two months, beginning in October 1843 and finishing at the end of November. The book was published on 17 December 1843 and immediately sold out.

Dickens
John Leech provided eight illustrations for
A Christmas Carol

e-text of the story

The story

1999 version starring Patrick Stewart as Scrooge

Reading this book can effect you
note to parents and educators

Thanks Robert Ross
Good night and God Bless every'ne
return to www.rossart.net

Links
http://www.northpole4kids.com/2002/america/east/magic_entry.html

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

By The Associated Press — When eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon
was unsure about whether Santa Claus was for real, her father told her to write a letter to the newspaper. 

In 1897, Virginia O'Hanlon's friends began to have their doubts about Santa Claus. 

She then turned to her father for advice. 

He suggested she write a letter to the "New York Sun," telling her that if  she saw it in the "Sun," it would be proof enough of Santa's existence. 

So, she wrote to the newspaper pleading, "Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?" 

Her letter was handed over to editor Francis Church who, it seems, was rather reluctant to do anything about it all. 

       He didn't exactly have the reputation of being the most gentle man on the staff of the newspaper. 

But his response has become a part of Christmas lore. 

 He told Virginia her friends were wrong, that they had been affected by "skepticism." He went on to write, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." 

And he told Virginia that Santa exists "as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist." 

And in his response to little Virginia's letter, Church concluded, "A
thousand years from now, maybe ten times ten-thousand years from now," (Santa) "will continue to make glad the hearts of children." 

2001 by The Associated Press

Does Santa really exist?
http://www.dearestsanta.com/does_santa_really_exist.htm
 
Virginia O'Hanlon went on to graduate from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts degree at age 21. The following year she received her Master's from Columbia, and in 1912 she began teaching in the New York City school system, later becoming a principal. After 47 years, she retired as an educator. Throughout her life she received a steady stream of mail about her Santa Claus letter, and to each reply she attached an attractive printed copy of the Francis Church editorial. Virginia O'Hanlon Douglas died on May 13, 1971, at the age of 81, in Valatie, N.Y. 
 

Read Christmas Stories
http://members.tripod.com/~wackyanne/library/xlauthor.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~wackyanne/library/xlibrary.htm
 Music
http://members.tripod.com/~wackyanne/musicrm/xmusicrm.htm