Santa Claus in Poetry

He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake. The words from this famous holiday carol perfectly describe the all-pervasiveness of the figure of Santa Claus during the Christmas season. Though they're not meant to be ominous (unless you've been naughty this year), and certainly don't sound so when sung cheerily at your doorstep or over the radio, they help give us an idea about how strongly the legend of Santa Claus influences Christmas. He's even made his way into hundreds of poems!

The origins of Santa Claus are varied and often disputed. Many believe he is based on historical figures such as the Greek bishop Saint Nicholas of Myra (famed for giving gifts to the poor), the Germanic god Odin (often depicted with a long beard, and riding upon an eight-legged steed), and the Dutch Sinterklaas (who brought presents for children and carried a book of 'nice' and 'naughty' names). However, the modern depiction of Santa Claus can mostly be traced back to a poem: “A Visit From St. Nicholas”, which later became known as:

'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Arguably the most famous Christmas poem, no one knows exactly who wrote it, though many believe it was a man named Clement Clarke Moore. As an example of how powerful poetry can be when it gains popularity and wide-spread recognition, this poem helped cement the image of Santa Claus as a fat, jolly, bearded man driving around in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, distributing gifts to good boys and girls. This is how he is currently depicted in modern Western culture. It even gave all the reindeer their names. The poem is great for children, as it contains an easy, sing-song, natural rhythm, and satisfactory, comfortable rhymes.

Clement Clarke Moore is also sometimes credited with a similar, shorter poem called “Old Santeclaus”, which describes Santa Claus coming to deliver gifts to children, though this one ends on a slightly sterner note, stating that to naughty children, instead of presents,

I left a long, black, birchen rod,
Such as the dread command of God
Directs a Parent's hand to use
When virtue's path his sons refuse.

This seems more a product of its time, when there was mainly one commonly accepted method of parenting. Children will undoubtedly enjoy “'Twas the Night Before Christmas” with its visions of sugar plumbs much more.

For another great Santa Claus poem, consider:

“The Boy Who Laughed at Santa Claus” by Ogden Nash
Oden Nash, known for his fun, silly poetry, cannot fail to delight with his tale of the nefarious, unbelieving Jabez Dawes. Throughout this rhyme-heavy poem, Jabez Dawes shows himself to be a naughty child whose “mouth was open when he chewed / And elbows to the table glued”, and all kinds of bad manners. The main flaw of Jabez Dawes, however, is his lack of belief in Santa Claus, with which he bullies all the other children, even to the point of leaving down their stockings "for fear of his mocking". However, on Christmas Eve, “What was beheld by Jabez Dawes? / The fireplace full of Santa Claus!” Jabez then receives his comeuppance by being turned into a Jack-in-the-box, much to the joy of the neighbors. This poem is a fun, silly read, much in the vein of Shel Silverstein.

Links to all poems below:
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
'The Boy Who Laughed at Santa Claus'
To hear Seattle librarian David Wright read Nash's poem, go to the NPR website, or follow the link found in the Poetry Forum.