Traditions and Trivia: Stockings

A popular Christmas tradition is to hang stockings above the fireplace for Santa Claus to put little gifts in, unless you don’t have a fireplace, in that case you have to improvise.

Stashing gifts of gold coins, food or other little trinkets in sock-related garments and hanging them over a fireplace has to have an interesting origin.

According to thehistoryofchristmas.com, the tradition stems from the story of an older gentleman and his three daughters suddenly cast into poverty.

The daughters did not have enough money for a dowry that would get them good husbands, and the father’s despair was great.

Saint Nicholas, who knew of the father’s despair, happened to see the daughter’s stockings hung to dry over the fireplace.

 “Inspiration struck Saint Nicholas and he took three small bags of gold from his pouch and threw them one by one down the chimney and they landed in the stockings,” the site says.

Because of the gift, the daughters were able to be married and live happy lives.

However, this fun story is not as likely for Americans celebrating the holidays as much as “T’was the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Moore.

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there"

Nowadays, candy is still present in stockings, but children are also just as likely to find an ipod.