One of the more fun Christmas Traditions that take place on Christmas Morning is the Christmas Stocking.
The stocking has evolved over the years. At one time, it was nothing more than a sock, and then, over time, they became more decorative. Many times, the stockings have a name on them that helps Santa place the stocking stuffers in the right stocking.
Growing up, I loved getting my stocking! Sometimes, my parents would cave and give us stockings on Christmas Eve in order to appease our appetite for presents.
However, as I got older, I could not help but wonder...
Why do we put socks on the wall or over the fireplace? When did that begin?
History of the Christmas Stocking
The origin of Christmas stocking is thought to originate from the life of Saint Nicholas. While there are no written records of the origin of the Christmas Stocking, there are popular legends that attempt to tell the history of this Christmas tradition.
One such legend has several variations, but the following is a good example: the villagers talking about the girls. St. Nicholas wanted to help but knew that the old man wouldn't accept charity.
He decided to help in secret. After dark, he threw three bags of gold through an open window. One landed in a stocking. When the girls and their father woke up the next morning, they found the bags of gold and were, of course, overjoyed.
The girls were able to get married and live happily ever after. Other versions of the story say that Saint Nicholas threw the three bags of gold directly into the stockings, which were hung by the fireplace to dry.
This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes, the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold.
That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. And so, St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.
A tradition that began in a European country originally, children simply used one of their everyday socks, but eventually, special Christmas stockings were created for this purpose.
These stockings are traditionally used on Saint Nicholas Day, although, in the early 19th century, they also came to be used on Christmas Eve.
Pagan Possibilities
Many Christmas traditions began from a pagan tradition that was then Christianized once Christianity spread throughout Europe, i.e. Christmas Trees, Yule Logs, and Xmas.
There is a claim that says the Christmas stocking had pagan origins in Scandinavia through the Norse god Odin.
Children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw, or sugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat. Odin would reward those children for their kindness by replacing Sleipnir's food with gifts or candy.
This practice supposedly survived in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands after the adoption of Christianity and became associated with Saint Nicholas as a result of the process of Christianization.
While this is a possible origin, it's unlikely as there is no record of this happening, unlike other Christmas traditions with pagan origins.