Penned by one of America's most prominent writers, Clement Clarke Moore, The night before Christmas has had a massive impact on the history of Christmas gift giving.
The plot
On the night of Christmas Eve, while his wife and children sleep, a father awakens to noises outside his house. Looking out the window, he sees St. Nicholas in an air-borne sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. After landing his sleigh on the roof, the saint enters the house through the chimney, carrying a sack of toys with him. The father watches Nicholas filling the children's Christmas stockings hanging by the fire, and laughs to himself. They share a conspiratorial moment before the saint bounds up the chimney again. As he flies away, Saint Nicholas wishes everyone a "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."
So go ahead, grab your copy of this evergreen Christmas classic and enjoy this festive season.