A Visit from St. Nicholas history of Christmas gift-giving. Before the poem gained wide popularity, American ideas had varied considerably about Saint Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors. "A Visit from St. Nicholas" eventually was set to music and has been recorded by many artists. On Christmas Eve night, while his wife and children sleep, a father awakens to noises outside his house. Looking out the window, he sees Santa Claus (Saint 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
Clement Lanier record the event): NOTE: Of the above children, Robert, Lionel, William, Hannah, Elizabeth, Susanne, and Frances received small bequests in the will of their father's sister, Catherine Lanier Farrant, written 24 Aug 1659 (TNA/PCC PROB/11/305). This implies that John Lanier had already left home, possibly with emigration to American, while Robert was still in England, if not Greenwich. Clement Lanier Clement Lanier was an English musician and recorder player. He was the son of Nicholas Lanier, the Elder and Lucretia Bassano, and hence uncle of Nicholas Lanier, the artist-musician. Clement Lanier was born circa 1580-85 in England, and was buried