by mommyoftwo

Created on: December 10, 2008

Every year it is a tradition in my house to hang the stockings. To see them hanging on the fireplace makes us realize that Christmas is just around the corner. But what us the true meaning of hanging the stockings?

The history of stockings begin with the Saint Nicholas. He was a gentlemen that pledged his life to Jesus. He loved to help the poor and small children. Legend has it that he heard about the needs of a poor man and his 3 daughters. Back then in order to marry your father was to give a valuable gift. The more valuable the gift the better chance there was to marry a good husband. This man was poor and had nothing. So his daughters only life ahead was a slave. Saint Nicholas heard about this.

Now it was normal for families to hang their stockings over the fireplace after washing them. That way they would dry over the fire. And they would put there shoes near the door for the next day. So that night when the family went to bed Saint Nick Came to the house and threw through the window 3 bags of gold. They ended up in the stockings. The family awoke the next morning to find the gold. Which was giving to 3 men and the girls were married and lived happily ever after. The tradition of hanging stockings has kept going since that night. Every year the children hang their stockings with care in hopes that Saint Nick would be there. The stockings are supposed to be filled with gifts from Saint Nick. Other gifts are wrapped and placed under a Christmas trees.

It is known that if a child misbehaves then the child won't get anything in their stocking. It is traditional for the stocking to be hung on the fireplace. A lot of people don't have a fireplace. So anywhere in that case is suitable for hanging the stocking. It is tradition to put something in the stocking that will use one of the child's 5 senses. Weather it be the smell,taste,touch,see or hear. Saint Nick usually puts candy or something else that can be eaten in Stockings. These things are usually called socking stuffer.

Saint Nick would always put some sort of food or candy,something that made a sound and something that smelled nice into the stocking. Any design on the stocking is suitable in today's modern culture. Some families make their own stockings,and some go to the store and buy one already made and decorated. The traditon has been passed down from generation to generation. It is a fun and memorable way to tell children the love that Jesus has for us and the people around us. It teaches kids to care for others and to give to those in need and be thankful for the things we have.

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