Blog 2833 – 07.31.2023

A Visit From Saint Nicholas

Today concludes the readings from A Christmas Treasury Very Merry Stories And Poems. Christmas in July ends appropriately with Saint Nicholas shouting from his sleigh as he ride out of sight, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

The poem was first published in a small town (Troy, New York) newspaper in 1823 and in 1837 Clement Clark Moore claimed authorship. Most of what people believe about Saint Nicholas like most of what people believe about Lucifer, the fallen angel, comes from a poem, the latter an epic poem by John Milton called Paradise Lost. The phrase “poetic license” comes to mind to explain the flights of fancy and making much of so little we know for sure.

The real Saint Nicholas was reported to be a kind old man who loved everyone especially children. And Lucifer, well there is only one brief reference to him in the Old Testament of the Bible. It seems Saint Nicholas found a better public relations man in the poet Clement Clark Moore than Lucifer did in the poet John Milton.

Moore’s short poem is more widely known and still read each Christmas to multitudes of children who dream of a midnight visitor bearing gifts.

Merry Christmas in July. Less than five months till Christmas, Kids, be on your best behavior.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ftdjatonFsMzAHzgSSMmAUXk5CqINxe0/view?usp=drivesdk

A Visit From Saint Nicholas