Why Do We Stuff Christmas Stockings?

Host Bee on Sunday, November 30th, 2008

Tip of the Week! – Why Do We Stuff Christmas Stockings? A Brief History!!

Have you ever wondered why we hang stockings each Christmas Eve and why shoppers labor to fill those stockings with tiny wrapped gifts?

The tradition dates back to the third century, when Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra. As Bishop, he was deeply generous and this gave rise to the idea of St. Nick as a gift giver! In one story, Nicholas learned of a poor family with three daughters who could not afford dowries. Nicholas tossed three bags of gold coins down the family’s chimney, with some coins landing in the girls’ stockings which were drying by the fire.

This popular Christmas tradition took hold in America after the poem, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” was published in 1822. The well known lines, “The Stockings were hung by the chimney with care/In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there,” were all that our country needed to embrace this custom! The poem was also significantly responsible for our current conception of Santa’s appearance, his methods of travel, the name and number of reindeer, and that all important fact – he brings toys to children!