The Christmas season and the traditions related to the celebration of Christ’s birth have always been one of the most awaited festivals in the lives of both the adults as well as the kids. Various traditions help keep the Christmas spirit alive in modern times and hanging stockings is definitely one such tradition that has always been the most exciting part of everyone’s childhood. The kids sleep with their stockings hung in their rooms or by the fireplaces expecting them to be filled with the gifts or treats they want the next morning. However, has anyone ever wondered how this tradition came into existence? This article brings you a detailed explanation of how the Christmas stocking tradition originated, including the ancient folklore and the modern-day adaptations.
How Did The Christmas Stocking Tradition Originate: The Ancient Folklore
There are many famous legends related to the origin of the stocking tradition of Christmas. The most famous ancient folklore about the tradition traces back to the times of Saint Nicholas who was a Christian saint from the 4th century. Saint Nicholas was famous for his kindness and generosity. According to the legends, Saint Nicholas once decided to help a man in need by dropping a bag of gold coins through his chimney into his stocking that was drying by the fire. Saint Nicholas’ secret act of kindness and generosity became the origin story of the stocking tradition of hanging a stocking by the fireplace and expecting gifts from Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas.
Origins Tracing Back To Norse Mythology
Another famous legend about the origin of the Christmas stocking tradition traces back to Norse Mythology. According to the legends, Odin, the God from Norse Mythology, rode his flying horse named Sleipnir on the night of the winter solstice in order to deliver gifts and treats to the recipients who were worthy of his blessings. Children who awaited God’s blessings would leave their shoes stuffed with carrots and hay as a treat for Sleipnir, and Odin, in return, would leave small treats for them. This tradition from Norse Mythology eventually developed into the modern-day tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace in order to receive gifts.
The Victorian Era Evolution Of The Christmas Stocking Tradition
The tradition of hanging stockings for Christmas as we know it today evolved in the Victorian Era. The tradition, as we reached the 19th century, became a symbol of fashion among the masses. Children would hang their best-looking stockings or their parents would do so on their behalf in hopes of receiving treats and gifts from Santa Claus. Parents would later fill the stockings hung by their children with various treats like nuts, oranges, toys, and candies.
Rise Of The Christmas Stocking Tradition In United States of America
The tradition of hanging Christmas stockings by the fireplace became popular across the United States of America after the poem written by Clement Clarke Moore in the year 1823 named “A Visit from St. Nicholas” gained popularity among Americans. The poem is more known as “The Night Before Christmas” and contributed to the popularity of the tradition with its line mentioning stockings being “hung by the chimney with care.” After the poem became famous, many Americans started hanging stockings by their fireplaces marking the rise of the tradition across America.
Cultural Variations Across The Globe
Like any other tradition, the tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace for Christmas also has many variations depending on the cultures of countries across the globe. For example, children of countries like Germany and the Netherlands leave their shoes or boots in place of the stockings while in other countries like France or Italy, children place sacks or baskets in hopes of receiving goods from La Befana, the popular Christmas witch, or Santa Claus.
Modern-Day Adaptations
In today’s generation, Christmas stockings are still an integral part of the Christmas celebrations. The modern-day adaptations of the tradition have families using designer stockings in decorative festive themes and personalizing the stockings with names and other embellishments. Children nowadays also hang stockings by their beds so that their gifts left by Santa Claus are the first thing they see the next morning right after waking up. Christmas stockings have maintained their place in the hearts of the people as well as the Christmas festivities.
Fun Facts About The Tradition
There are also various interesting and fun facts about the tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace on Christmas Eve, some of which are listed below.
- Created in Italy in the year 2011, the world record-holding stocking was 168 feet tall, 70 feet wide, and weighed around 900 pounds, filled to the top with gifts for needy children.
- Over the years, the tradition of hanging stockings on Christmas has evolved a lot and people now hang them as decorations on the staircase railings or the door handles.
- Stockings, which were earlier filled with toys, oranges, and treats, are now filled with chocolate coins as well as candy oranges.
Conclusion
In the modern-day world, gifts often surpass the sizes available for stockings in the market. Hence, Christmas trees also started gaining popularity as another integral part of the Christmas festivities. People started leaving the gifts that were huge under the Christmas tree for children to find them. However, the tradition of hanging stockings still maintained its place in the hearts of the people and is still used for smaller gifts and other treats.
