Christmas is full of customs, almost all of which were changed from a bunch of different countries and cultures and pieced together until at which they seem like the way in which we do things today. It is often fascinating to take a peek at at the practices we treat disrespectfully and see exactly where they came from, and one that has always been a little baffling is why Christmas stockings are hung over the fire and full of presents.
Like many Christmas traditions, the history of the stocking is shady at the best but all signs point towards the story originating in a place called Myra, which is now considered part of Turkey, where a poor hamlet man with 3 children lacked the finances to put up the dowry that would let his girls to be married. Saint Nicholas, who was serving as bishop in the township, overheard the other villager talking about the individual, and took pity on the proud fellow. Later in the evening, Nicholas, loaded down with three bags of gold, went to the poor man's home with the intention of namelessly leaving the finance that would help with the girls marriages. Meanwhile looking for a place to put the gold, he noticed three sets of stocking hanging to dry over the fireside, and thinking that made the perfect hiding spot, he placed the sacks of gold within, and so a new tradition was born.
Other interesting facts about stockings all center on some specific version of that original story, and maybe the best originate of Europe where children were quick to adopt the idea of the stocking, and in some cases a shoe, to get more presents. Of course, it was not each parent that would afford to put a bag of gold in their child's stocking, so in many cases a gold coloured ball was added instead , which in its turn became an orange which symbolized the color of gold.
Modern stockings come in all different styles and sizes, and while many may accept that a bigger stocking is just a reason to look for a larger present, there's actually reason to accept that the varied sizes came from Europe again, where children would fill their boots with food for Odin's flying horse, Sleipnir. As a thank you, Odin would then fill the boots with candy, and as the boots were all different sizes, it lends credence to the belief that stocking come in several sizes for that purpose. Most youngsters will try and get their mom and pop to buy them a massive stocking, but none of those could ever match the worlds biggest stocking which was created in 2007 by mixing over 6000 squares of red knitting which, when mixed, made a stocking that was 32.56m long, and 14.97m wide (heel to toe). The stocking was made to support The Children's Society and raised over 33,000 for the charity. Today there are stockings in different colors and sizes, some with the names stitched on, and others carrying the brands of favorite sports teams and bands. Like almost everything else attached with the modern version of Christmas, stockings have become large business.
About the Author:
The writer owns of an internet gift store focusing on unusual gifts including personalised christmas stockings.
