The tradition of people leaving out stocking Christmas Eve came from Amsterdam. In the 16th century, Children in Holland would put out a pair of their clogs (wooden shoes people in Holland wore) in hopes that Sinterklass would fill them with treats. Dutch children would stuff their wooden clogs with straw for Santa or... Sinterklaas, to take to feed his reindeer. They also would leave a treat out for him near the fireplace. In return, Sinterklass would leave treats or small gifts in their sodden clogs to show his appreciation and to say thank you. Over time, the clogs became stockings and the name Sinterklaas became Santa Claus. Another theory that isn't so popular is that the tradition of leaving out stockings also has it's ties to the kind act of the Fremch Nuns in the 12th century. It is said that French Nuns, who were inspired by the kind acts demonstrated by St. Nicholas who gave gold to the poor, would fill stockings with fruits and nuts and would deliver them personally to the poor. At the toe of the stocking, there would be an apple to grant good health. The heel of the stocking contained a tangerine as a special treat because tangerines were very expensive back then.
Sources:
http://www.christmaswithlove.com/stocking.html
http://www.plumpstocking.com/stockingstuffers/christmas-stocking.php
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/christmas-traditions-the-history-behind-crackers-187443
http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-stockings/history.html
http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/trivia/stockings.htm
I thought that stockings were hung by the fire to dry and it slowly evolved into a Christmas thing,
ReplyDeleteThis is actually so strange! Hahah I had no idea! Stockings nowadays have become a lot more than what they once were, that's for sure!
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