The most underrated tradition of Christmas… the stocking. So much emphasis is placed on the gifts under the tree that we tend to overthink the stocking. Maybe we just cram the “smallerish” items into the stocking when we are exhausted and don’t feel like wrapping any more, or, maybe we just use the stocking for a candy jar and pile in the chocolate and sweets.
I personally find the stocking to be such a fun, little extra tradition, and do you know the origins date back to a widowed man who feared his impoverished status would prevent his three daughter’s from marrying? Yes, for real! The story goes that on Christmas Eve, their stockings hung by the fire to dry and Saint Nicholas knowing the father’s humbleness, placed gold coins in the stockings, setting the family into a better financial place. Huh? All of this excitement today over a tradition that began with drying socks. Here are more stories and traditions from the Christmas Stocking.