On the Night Before Christmas is a modern version of the classic poem, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". The original poem first appeared in print in 1823 in the New York "Sentinel". Clement Clarke Moore composed the poem after a shopping trip on a sleigh. This version follows the theme of a father who awakens to the sound of reindeer. He runs to the window and sees Santa slip down the chimney, carrying a sack of toys with him. He watches as Santa fills the stockings hanging by the fireplace. Santa then disappears up the chimney, climbs onto his sleigh and flies away into the snowy, night sky.