So, I found that the Christmas stocking is a about the real life version on which Santa is based, Saint Nicholas. Folklore tells the story of a nobleman whose wife had died, leaving him penniless with three daughters. Left with no money for a dowry, the nobleman was worried about the dowry for his daughters to marry. On Christmas, Saint Nicholas came to their home and saw the girls' stockings hanging to dry above the fireplace. He then filled them with gold and the nobleman's daughters were able to marry. Thus the tradition of today hanging stockings at Christmas MAY have been born from that bit of myth.
This stocking thing has caught on worldwide, even in some Muslim areas. In a number of countries, children will fill shoes( France uses shoes instead of stockings...maybe they not only don't bathe their bodies, but also don't wash their socks. Hehe It's always fun to take a shot at the French.) or stockings with hay and carrots for Santa's reindeer to enjoy. When I was a child I remember my mom not only putting up a sticking for every family member, but also knitting one for our dog Dumbo (and later a second dog "Tiger").
The dogs got doggie treats to munch on and the humans varies inexpensive items that fit in the larger than life hand made felt stockings. When Jane was small I put in items of all sorts that a little girl would like- a big candy cane, the old hand held electronic games that predated our more elaborate computer games and devices, small Christmas activity books for coloring or reading, clothes for her dolls (Barbie can make a dad a poor man because she always needs more outfits), small toys and a whole lot more I have forgotten.
The stocking contents are the dessert to the Christmas morning main course of the presents under the tree. Most people open presents and only when done with that do they head for the mantle and the Christmas stockings. I can't remember much of what was in my Christmas stocking when I was a child because I was more fixated on the "big stuff' under the tree. however, a Christmas stocking is essential if one has a Christmas tree and presents to give. The stocking "dessert" reminds us that the gift giver went the extra step to accumulate a number of smaller goodies for us. I still have a Christmas stocking for Jane, but the one she gets as a young woman is more practical...items such as gift cards predominate (though I still give here what I consider the essential Christmas Stocking stuffer, any age and any year, the over-sized peppermint candy cane).
The basic model for proper Christmas stocking includes the following;
* A large, colorful, personally monogrammed stocking is best. One per person is enough
* Cheaper items are best one never wants the stocking to take precedence over the gifts under the tree (never open stockings before presents)
* The stocking is the place for silly gifts, those "I am not sure she wants this" gifts, and for traditional favorites (a certain favored candy or hand made treat, for instance)
* The stocking is both a decoration and a vehicle for presents. Pretty hanging stockings make a warming pre Christmas home sight.
* And uh...never, ever actually put coal in a stocking at Christmas for the bad ones, as those crazy stories suggest. Even Lindsay Lohan deserves a nice Christmas stocking filled with nice gifts.
May your Christmas stocking be coal free every year...
No comments:
Post a Comment