Added: 12/16/2005 |
The Theories Behind The Christmas StockingThe Christmas stocking has become as regular a part of Christmas decorating as the tree itself, especially in American culture. It just doesn't seem to be the same holiday without a Christmas stocking. It's an interesting tradition with no distinct roots in any culture. However, there are plenty of stories about how the Christmas stocking came to be part of the celebration.
Christmas Stocking Theory Number One:
There ware two men noted in North America for creating the idea of "Santa Claus," the writer, George Webster and the illustrator, Thomas Nash. Both lived in the nineteenth century and are credited with starting all sorts of ideas where Santa Claus is concerned. It is believed that the idea of the Christmas stocking originated through Nash's illustrations ans Webster's writing. This theory has not been proven or disproved, but it is one of the places where the Christmas stocking appears in American history.
Christmas Stocking Theory Number Two:
Some say it was the Dutch and those wonderful wooden shoes that started the tradition. They would leave food and treats for Sinterclass and his reindeer. In return, the jolly old elf himself would fill the shoes with treats for the kiddies. Eventually, the Christmas decorating turned the wooden shoes magically into the Christmas stocking. This theory seems a little too much based in myth; however, the entire idea of Santa Claus is based in myth. So who's to say it isn't true?
Christmas Stocking Theory Number Three:
This one actually has to do with old Saint Nicolas himself. The story has changed over time and therefore some of the details are sketchy. It may have been a nobleman who lost his wife and fell on bad times, or it may have just been a common man who lost is wife, but as the story goes, he had some daughters. Or maybe it was just one daughter. By all accounts, it states one to three daughters in the telling of the tale depending on who's telling it.
Anyway - his daughter(s) had come to the age of marriage. But the poor man had no dowry with which to marry of his own flesh and blood. One night, while the socks were drying over the fireplace (from the unknown amount of daughters feet) it is said that Saint Nicolas either saw them from the window or noticed the man was destitute (details still very sketchy) and decided to do something about it. From here the story ends with him either sneaking into the house and placing one bag of gold in each stocking or dropping it down the chimney and just by luck, it landed in the unknown amount of stockings drying by the fire.
This theory is by far the hardest to nail down exact details on; however, in the grand time of Christmas - anything is believable, right?
None of these stories fall under the title of theory per say, for there is no evidence on any of them. But one thing is sure - no matter what theory you choose to believe, it doesn't seem the like the same holiday without the Christmas stocking. The Christmas stocking has become as regular a part of Christmas decorating as the tree itself.
Article comments:
No comments for this article yet. Post your comment now!
