`Twas the night before Christmas… Created in 1862 by American political cartoonist Thomas Nast, the white-bearded, red-suited Santa Claus has become synonymous with Christmas itself. This collection of American imagery from the first decades of the 20th century pays homage to Old St. Nick and his familiar cast of characters via vintage graphic and print media such as greeting cards, postcards, ads, decorations, and more. A brief introduction describes the evolution of Santa Claus and the tradition of Christmas.