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November 07, 2009
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Christmas (Xmas) Traditions: Christmas Stockings
Their are several stories associated with the custom of hanging Christmas stockings. One legend tells of Saint Nicholas providing the dowries for three poor sisters. The father was unable to give his three daughters in marriage because he lacked the money to provide the required dowries. Without dowries the daughters faced lives of slavery or prostitution. One night after the daughters had washed their stockings and hung them near the fireplace to dry, Saint Nicholas threw three small bags of gold through the window into the stockings. The daughters now had enough gold to marry and lead happy lives.
Another story is that the Dutch brought to America their custom of leaving their wooden shoes near the fireplace to be filled with treats by Saint Nicholas. The wooden shoes were later replaced by stockings. Some believe that the custom of hanging stockings began after illustrations by Thomas Nast and the poem “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”, by Clement Clarke Moore were published. Whatever the origin, children today continue to hang their Christmas stockings to receive treats and small gifts from Santa Claus.
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