A big shout-out to the Three Wise Guys of Christmas: Washington Irving, John Pintard, and Clement Clarke Moore. These New York City gentlemen shared a fondness for St. Nicholas, the patron saint of Dutch New Amsterdam.

In their imaginings, a Dutch Sinterklaas (St. Nick) flew over New York. Through writings and images, Sinterklaas kept getting rosier and Clausier.

The artistic Dutch revival "remembered" a Christmas that never actually existed, one that glorified Old Days before the British occupied Manhattan during the Revolutionary War.

Here's how each of these men contributed to the legend of Santa Claus:

✅Merchant John Pintard, founder of the New-York Historical Society, thought robust Christmas celebrations might release workers' pent-up energies. He petitioned for St. Nicholas to be the patron saint of New York City. He also observed Dec. 6 as the Feast of St. Nicholas.

✅Writer Washington Irving wrote A History of New York, a whimsical history of early New York that mentioned a flying figure in the sky. The book was published on St. Nicholas Day, December 6, 1809. Irving also was a co-founder of the St. Nicholas Society.

✅Scholar Clement Clarke Moore wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "T'was the Night Before Christmas." He wrote the poem to entertain his nine children at his Chelsea estate. The poem first appeared in the Troy Sentinel in 1823, making this year its 200th anniversary.

Sources: New-York Historical Society, Wikipedia, Sunnyside in Tarrytown, NY

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