'Twas
the eve before Christmas Eve, and all through the blog, a writer was stirring,
his mind beginning to jog.
It
was another new day, Day #23, of THE POP CULTURE
ADDICT'S ADVENT CALENDAR, you see.
The
stockings have nothing to do with today, but we're doing another Timeline post
this Tuesday.
And
the theme of this blog is quite inviting, as we pay tribute to a piece of
holiday writing.
Before
we do that, we must pay our dues , to celebrity birthdays and happenings in the
news.
So
sit right back as we begin to remember, the other events of the 23rd of
December...
679 - While on a hunting excursion, King Dagobert II of
Austrasia is murdered
1783 - George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief
of the Continental State Army
1893 - The opera "Hansel and Gretel" - written
by Engelbert Humperdinck (the playwright, not the 1970's era singer) - first
opens
1913 - The Federal Reserve System is created with the
signing of the Federal Reserve Act by President Woodrow Wilson
1916 - The Battle of Magdhaba takes place at Egypt's
Sinai Peninsula during World War I
1919 - The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919
becomes law in the United Kingdom
1938 - The discovery of the first modern coelacanth in
South Africa
1941 - The Imperial Japanese Army occupies Wake Island
during World War II after fifteen days of combat
1947 - The transistor is first demonstrated at Bell
Laboratories
1954 - The first successful kidney transplant is
performed by Joseph Murray and J. Hartwell Harrison
1958 - Tokyo Tower is dedicated
1968 - After eleven months of internment in North Korea,
82 soldiers from the USS Pueblo are released
1970 - Completion of the North Tower of the former World
Trade Center in New York City - at that time, it was the tallest building in
the world
1971 - Actor Corey Haim (d. 2010) is born in Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
1972 - After 73 days, the sixteen survivors of the Andes
flight disaster are finally rescued
1979 - Kabul, Afghanistan is occupied by Soviet forces
2000 - Comedian and pianist Victor Borge dies at the age
of 91
2010 - Parts of Queensland, Australia are flooded
following a monsoonal trough
And
for celebrity birthdays, we have the following people blowing out candles
today; Robert Bly, Ronnie Schell, Barney
Rosenzweig, John
Peterman, Harry
Shearer, Wesley
Clark, Susan
Lucci, Adrian
Belew, Carol
Ann Duffy, Trisha
Goddard, Joan
Severance, Jim
Harbaugh, Jess
Harnell, Eddie
Vedder, Carla
Bruni, Lucy
Bell, Quincy
Jones III, Manuel
Rivera-Ortiz, Greg
Biffle, Martha
Byrne, Catriona
Le May Doan, Tara
Palmer-Tomkinson,
Christian Potenza, Lady Starlight, Matt
Baker, Jodie
Marsh, Holly
Madison, Harry
Judd, and Anna
Maria Perez de Tagle.
All
right. So, what date will we visit
today?
How
about we go back in time almost 200 years?
No,
that is not a typo. We will be going
back to December 23, 1823 in what is the oldest date
this Tuesday Timeline feature has legitimately visited (I don't count that 8th
century spin from April Fools Day, as that was completely fabricated).
You
probably may have noticed that I began today's blog entry with a bit of a
rhyme. This was absolutely
intentional. For it was on this date -
hold on, let me get my calculator out, I am horrible at math - 191 years ago
today - that a particular poem was first published.
And
let me tell you something about this poem.
It is probably one of the most famous poems ever written about the
holiday season. It was also responsible
for the world seeing Santa Claus in a whole new light because the way that the
poem described him painted a vivid portrait of who Santa was. I suppose you could say that the poem set
the precedent for the amount of Santa Claus images found on television, movies,
gift wrap, and gift tags.
But
here's the kicker. Although the poem
was published in 1823, it was done so anonymously. It wasn't until fourteen years later that the author finally came
forward. A man by the name of Clement
Clarke Moore finally fessed up to writing the poem in 1837, and he has been
given full credit ever since. He had
written the poem during a shopping trip on a typical winter's day, and he
initially did not want to have his name published with the poem because he felt
that it would take away from his reputation as a professor. His children convinced him to take the
credit. After all, he did write the
poem for them!
Now,
when the poem was first published, it was not under the title that most of us
know it as. The original title of the
piece was "A Visit From St. Nicholas". But most of us probably know it better as the title that stemmed
from the very first line of the poem.
Perhaps
you might know it if I say "The Night Before Christmas".
Let's
see...how did Clement Clarke Moore's piece go again? Oh, yes. I remember now.
'Twas
the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house
Not
a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The
stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In
hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there
The
children were nestled, all snug in their beds
While
visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads
And
Mama in her 'kerchief', and I in my cap
Had
just settled our brains for a long winter's nap
When
out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter
I
sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
Away
to the window I flew like a flash
Tore
open the shutters, and threw up the sash
The
moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Gave
the luster of mid-day to objects below
When,
what to my wondering eyes should appear
But
a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer
With
a little old driver, so lively and quick
I
knew in a moment it must be St. Nick
More
rapid than eagles his coursers they came
And
he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name
"Now!
Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen
On!
Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donder and Blitzen!
To
the top of the porch, to the top of the wall
Now
dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As
dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
When
they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
So
up to the house-top, the coursers they flew
With
the sleigh full of toys - and St. Nicholas too
And
then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The
prancing and pawing of each little hoof
As
I drew in my head, and was turning around
Down
the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound
He
was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot
And
his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot
A
bundle of toys was flung on his back
And
he look'd like a peddler just opening his pack
His
eyes - how they twinkled! His dimples; how merry
His
cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry
His
droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And
the beard of his chin was as white as the snow
The
stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth
And
the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath
He
had a broad face, and a little round belly
That
shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly
He
was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf
And
I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself
A
wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon
gave me to know I had nothing to dread
He
spoke not a word but went straight to his work
And
fill'd all the stockings, then turn'd with a jerk
And
laying his finger aside of his nose
And
giving a nod, up the chimney he rose
He
sprung to his sleigh, to his team he gave a whistle
And
away they all flew, like the down of a thistle
But
I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight
"Happy
Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
And
to think that it was published exactly 191 years ago today. Isn't it funny how some Christmas traditions
begin, and isn't it wonderful to know that these traditions remain nearly two
centuries later?
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