Christmas Stockings and Their Origin
Nothing is more symbolic of than stockings hanging by the fire waiting for Santa. The history of stockings and how the tradition has evolved is an interesting tale. Commercialized versions of the traditional stocking include the ones we have all seen made from red fabric and trimmed with white. The size of a stocking will often vary, but the shape is generally always the same with a curved heel and solid toe to hold all the gifts and goodies brought to us on morning. The history of stockings and their origin provide interesting incite in to the stocking tradition we commonly use today.
A Brief History of Stockings
Several stories of the exact origin of the stocking are spoken about in today’s storytelling. One of the most repeated legends of the history of stockings is about a poor nobleman who was devastated and worried about ever being able to have his three daughters married because they could bring no dowries to their marriage. On the night before day, each of the nobleman’s daughters washed their stockings and hung them by the fireplace to dry. As Saint Nicholas was passing through the town that very day, he heard of the nobleman’s sad plight. St. Nicholas created a plan to go down through the chimney to secretly give each girl a bag of gold. He decided to place the bags of gold into the girls’ stockings, creating the custom and beginning the history of stockings.
Another origin theory for stockings is from Dutch children who would place their wooden clogs by the fireplace to dry. The children would use these wooden clogs as containers for straw to feed reindeer. The clogs eventually changed into stockings which were hung from the mantle shelf of chimneys.
Modern Day Stocking Theories
The history of stockings also has an American theory. Many historians have suggested that the history of stockings is actually a mixture of cultures from the many different migrant groups who eventually settled in the United States of America. These migrants brought holiday traditions from their homeland and incorporated these to evolve in to what we commonly know as the present day stocking tradition.
Regardless of how the history of stockings came to be, the holiday spirit and genuine good cheer generated by the sight of stockings hanging by the chimney with care is one of the most coveted holiday feelings. Receiving thoughtful or funny stocking stuffers from members of a family is a fun holiday tradition that can be held even when children grow up and decide they no longer believe in Santa. Another modern day twist to stocking gifts is to provide five stocking gifts, one for each of the five senses. Doing so, will generate good luck throughout the coming new year.
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