“The O Antiphons (also known as the Great Advent Antiphons or Great Os) are Magnificat antiphons used at Vespers on the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They likely date to sixth-century Italy, when Boethius refers to the text in The Consolation of Philosophy. They subsequently became one of the key musical features of the days leading up to Christmas.

December 23 is the birthday of Italian painter, sculptor and architect GIOVANNI BATTISTA CRESPI (1573-1632).

"True to the Counter-Reformation piety zealously expressed in Milanese art of his time, his paintings focus on mysteries and mystical episodes in saintly life. The crowded canvases and the angles recall Mannerism, but his paintings show an emotion that evokes common sentiments in Baroque art." (Wikipedia)

To see samples of Crespi’s work, CLICK HERE.

December 23 is the birthday of French composer JOSEPH BODIN DE BOISMORTIER (1689-1755).

Boisomortier "was a French baroque composer of instrumental music, cantatas, opéra-ballets, and vocal music. Boismortier was one of the first composers to have no patrons: having obtained a royal licence for engraving music in 1724, he made enormous sums of money by publishing his music for sale to the public." (Wikipedia)

December 23 is the birthday of French Egyptologist, philologist and scholar JEAN-FRANÇOIS CHAMPOLLION (1790-1832).

Among his many accomplishments, Champollion is best known for deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics through his analysis of the Rosetta Stone.

December 23 is the birthday of French Art Deco illustrator, painter, and engraver PIERRE BRISSAUD (1885-1964).

Brissaud "is known for his pochoir (stencil) prints for the fashion magazine Gazette du Bon Ton published by Lucien Vogel in Paris. Many of Brissaud's illustrations are realistic leisure scenes of the well-to-do. They illustrate the designs of Paris fashion houses such as Jeanne Lanvin, Chéruit, Worth, and Doucet. Brissaud's illustrations appeared in Vogue after it bought Bon Ton in 1925, as well as House & Garden and Fortune, and in books like Madame Bovary, Manon Lescaut, Mémoires de Saint-Simon, the autobiographical novels of Anatole France, Two gentlemen of Verona and many others." (Wikipedia)

To see samples of his art, CLICK HERE.

On December 23, 1823, A Visit from St. Nicholas, also known as The Night Before Christmas, was published anonymously. It was later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, who acknowledged his authorship in 1837.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On December 23, 1893, the fairy tale opera HANSEL AND GRETEL by Engelbert Humperdinck was first performed. It has since become a tradition for European opera companies to perform the work during the Christmas season.