The Night Before Christmas

S7 E10: The Night Before ChristmasWelcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in to a Christmas Eve reflection on the poem that changed how we see Christmas.Christmas Eve brings us once more to words that have shaped the wonder of generations. Tonight, we return to Clement Clarke Moore’s beloved poem, a story that reminds us that imagination, generosity, and joy are timeless companions.Clement Clarke Moore, born July 15, 1799, was a writer and American Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, Divinity and Biblical Learning at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New York City. Clement Moore had strong ties to the seminary, for it was his generosity that led him to donate land — his private apple orchard — upon which the seminary was built. The Seminary remains on that same parcel of land, located at Ninth Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets, in an area known as Chelsea Square.Clement Moore accomplished a great deal in his lifetime. He was a writer and a poet, a professor and scholar. He served twice as President of Columbia College (now Columbia University) and as a board member of the New York Institution for the Blind.Clement Moore published several academic works, including A Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language (Collins & Perkins, 1809). But it was his poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, more commonly known as The Night Before Christmas, that captured the hearts of children young and old. With these poetic words he changed the way we see Christmas.A Visit from St. Nicholas was published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel in 1823. Clement Moore had second thoughts in 1837, when he eventually told everyone that he had penned the poem. Many believe that it is the most well-known and beloved poem written by an American poet. We read it every Christmas, most often on Christmas Eve, and reflect on Christmases past when we were young and heard the familiar words read by our parents and grandparents. Santa and the tradition of Christmas gift-giving were transformed by this poem.There is a particular stillness that arrives with Christmas Eve, the hush before the dawn, the anticipation of joy renewed. As we listen to these familiar lines once more, we honour the enduring spirit of generosity and imagination that binds us together across generations.Until the next cup is poured, dear friends,Merry Christmas from Tea, Toast & Trivia.RebeccaMusic by Epidemic SoundChristmas Snow by Mike Franklynhttps://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/f2e78ede-e8e3-3c38-a3d1-67254d5a4a28/