The modern image of Santa Claus that we are familiar with today was popularized in the 19th century. The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "The Night Before Christmas," written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823, played a significant role in shaping the Santa Claus we know and love. The poem describes Santa Claus as a jolly, rotund man who travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer and enters homes through the chimney to deliver gifts.