This ornament is about 3 inches long and 3˝ inches tall. Santa is wearing his traditional suit as he sits behind the wheel of his antique car. The car looks similar to an 1899 Daimler. The body is blue with green running boards, red wheels and tan trim. There are two black lanterns, just in front of the driver’s seat, for head lights and a rather large gold air horn in between. Santa is sitting on a spring so he bounces around as he drives. Select this link to view our Santa Ornaments.
“‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” Poem History
Clement Clarke Moore, a professor of Greek and Oriental Literature at the Episcopal General Theological Seminary in New York City, wrote “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” for his son Robert in 1822. Robert liked to ride his pony, Lightening, in the woods and one day, he and his pony took a spill. Since his pony had broken 2 legs, they shot it. Robert loved his pony so much, so he did not try to get well, and each day he called pitifully for Lightening. His father had been working on a dictionary before the accident and thought if only he could write a Christmas story that would interest his son. He had written many books for college students, but never a children’s book. He finished writing “Twas the Night Before Christmas” on Christmas eve. As he started to read, a few lines at a time, Robert responded with a tiny smile and by the time he was through reading the Christmas poem, he said, “Read it again.” Again his father read the story of a visit from St. Nicholas. This time when Moore finished reading the holiday poem, Robert asked if their tree was up. When his father said it was, Robert asked to see it. Moore’s holiday poem is now a classic American Christmas story. Despite the reason he wrote it, Moore was a private person and was embarrassed by the popularity of his Christmas poem. The Sentinel, the Troy, New York newspaper, published “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas” in 1823, but Moore did not acknowledge writing the Christmas story until 1837 when he published the holiday poem in a book under his name. In 1863, the cartoonist Thomas Nast created images of the Christmas story. We associate these images with the Christmas story even today. Clement C. Moore spoke modestly of his Christmas poem but it is a special present to us all. Select this link to view our Flying Father Christmas.
Santa’s Elves.
Santa has many helpers, called Elves. They live with him and Mrs. Claus at the North Pole and work all year long to help Santa get ready for his big night. Santa’s Elves wear their favorite costume that includes red and green outfits with striped socks. Their shoes curl up at the toes and their hats are similar to Santa’s but the pointed top stands up and they have bells on the toes of their shoes and the end of their hat. These elves help Santa by checking the toys and gift wrapping them. They also pack all of the toys and goodies into his toy bag. Select this link to view our St. Nick on a Motorcycle.
There are elves assigned to sort all the mail and print all the emails that come into the North Pole all year long so that Santa can keep his list up to date. There are elves who take care of Santa’s sleigh and feed and care for Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donner, Blitzen, Cupid, Comet and Rudolph. They polish all the reindeer sleigh bells and make sure that every child will hear them ring on Christmas Eve. While Santa is making his rounds on Christmas Eve some of the elves keep Mrs. Claus company. They make lots of hot chocolate and play games until Santa comes home. Each year Santa assigns certain elves to keep track of who has been naughty and who has been nice. This is the biggest job of all and takes a lot of time and patience. Select this link to view our Old World Santa on an Antique Tricycle.
