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ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — On December 23, 1823, the classic “Twas the Night Before Christmas” poem was published anonymously in a local newspaper.

The poem, originally titled “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” was first read in a Troy, New York newspaper. It later became known for its iconic first line, “Twas the night before Christmas.”

Countless iterations of the poem have been written and read aloud since its publication. Tens of millions of copies have been sold.

Many families have made a tradition of reading the poem to their children every year on Christmas Eve. The tradition started in 1823 with the original publication.

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