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About Christmas Stockings

 

 


Christmas is celebrated worldwide, throughout the Christian population of approximately 2275 million people, but is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival. A Christmas custom or tradition is symbolized by a familiar symbol or icon, such as Christmas Stockings,  have come to represent the spirit and meaning of this special time of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The History of Christmas Stockings

 

Some origins date back to the pagan traditions and customs of the ancients. Other symbols, customs and traditions have specific religious significance to the Christian religion and the Nativity of Jesus Christ. And finally there are many new, non-religious customs which have emerged due to increased prosperity and the commercialism of the festival in the modern world. Christmas Stockings are a relatively new Christmas tradition.

 

The Custom of Hanging Christmas Stockings
 

The custom of hanging Christmas stockings on the mantelpiece is a modern tradition. Christmas stockings are brightly colored, usually in red, and act as containers for small gifts left by Santa Claus. Some family traditions specify that the gifts in the Christmas stockings are from Santa Claus, whilst other gifts left under the Xmas tree are from the family. Other families tell children that all of the gifts are left by Santa, but they were paid for by the family. The small gifts included in Christmas stocking include Christmas fruit, such as mandarin oranges, gold chocolate coins and inexpensive trinkets. 

 

The History Christmas Stockings
 

The history of Christmas Stockings is closely associated with Santa Claus and the legends surrounding Saint Nicholas, on whom the Santa character is based. The most repeated story about Saint Nicholas illustrates his reputation for secretly giving gifts. He is reputed to give three bags of gold to be used as dowries for three girls in his district. The poem Santa Claus and his Works by George P. Webster and illustrated by Thomas Nast helped to create the legends and myths surrounding Santa Claus. The following is taken from the poem:

"When Christmas Eve comes, into bed you must creep,
And late in the night, when you all are asleep
He is certain to come, so your stockings prepare,
And hang them all close to the chimney with care."

The famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" commonly known today by its opening line T'was the night before Christmas was written in 1822 by Clement Clarke Moore. The Christmas Stockings also feature in this poem the opening verse is as follows:

T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The poem continues telling the story of Santa Claus and his flying reindeers and how he goes down the chimney to deliver gifts to the children The Christmas Stockings are again mentioned in the following lines:

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

 

 

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