topic Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS in Among Friends

ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Shanus — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:25:06 GMT

I don’t celebrate Christmas, but always wondered about the meaning of everyone in the family having a stocking. Is there a story or explanation behind this?

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:35:53 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC inappropriate

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

2blonde — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:36:41 GMT

@Shanus That's a good question.......I'm sure someone here will have an answer for us. I just wanted to say, Shanus, that I enjoy your posts and I hope today is a better day for you. Sometimes misunderstandings come from the written word, as it's often difficult to know one's true feelings. I feel that you and many others here are my friends, and I would never knowlingly do anything to hurt your feelings!

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Shanus — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:41:39 GMT

@2blonde wrote:
@Shanus That's a good question.......I'm sure someone here will have an answer for us. I just wanted to say, Shanus, that I enjoy your posts and I hope today is a better day for you. Sometimes misunderstandings come from the written word, as it's often difficult to know one's true feelings. I feel that you and many others here are my friends, and I would never knowlingly do anything to hurt your feelings!

@2blonde I really love to hear you say that. Most of us, myself included, try to be kind and if have an opposing opinion, do so in a kind way. I do post a lot. The law of averages, I’m bound to get a little flack...certainly never intended. 👩‍❤️‍👩 (Think that’s friends, right?)

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Shanus — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:45:30 GMT

Ah, come on Ladies. What’s w/ my getting poofed inappropriate replies? This is not an awkward question re: Christmas stockings.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Sweetbay magnolia — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:48:06 GMT

Ours is a family tradition, much enjoyed. I'm not observant of a particular or recognized faith.

There are some "pioneers" on the rungs of my family tree, and seriously, I think just finding some land in order to farm and survive was the emphasis. My family traditions are mostly secular.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Shanus — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:59:35 GMT

My ds and dd both married Catholic spouses. I wanted them to feel “at home” visiting during the holidays, so incorporated a pre-lit artificial Hanukkah tree into our decor. It has Hanukkah ornaments (Christopher Radko makes gorgeous ones), non-religious ones like china beagles w/ their names on it, an ornament of photo frame w/ each couples’ pic, etc. Now my granddaughters have added snowflakes, Star of David pictures they make/cut out and enjoy putting on the tree each year.

My dil has a tiny tree on a table in their house, but so appreciates this tree because it brings back holiday memories when she was growing up. Of course, Hanukkah and Christmas gifts pile up quickly under the tree.

I know the tree signifies our acceptance of their spouses.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

BaileyBop — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 14:06:21 GMT

GOOGLE would be a great place to start

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Shanus — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 14:06:53 GMT

For anyone interested, according to Google, St. Nicolas placed gold coins down the chimney for 3 poor sisters and they landed in their stockings. Children began hanging their stockings on the mantel hoping St. Nicolas would fill theirs will coins, as well. More info available in Dutch lore.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

beckyb1012 — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 14:27:47 GMT

I never really knew for certain the real reason for stockings other than that was the only place for his gifts. Nothing under a tree for a long long time.

When I was a child it was just for fruit, candy and very smallish inexpensive fun gifts. For my son one item was always an M&M candy cane in his every year. The year he was 19 he asked if I was mad at him? There was no M&M candy cane in his stocking just small gifts and a bit of cash. Well now he is 35 with his own family and I still give him and his family their own stockings with M&M candy canes in all four. Children, regardless of their age you got love them!!!!!!!!! Makes me smile to think he still wants that stocking on Christmas morning.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Shanus — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 14:52:20 GMT

@beckyb1012 wrote:
I never really knew for certain the real reason for stockings other than that was the only place for his gifts. Nothing under a tree for a long long time.
When I was a child it was just for fruit, candy and very smallish inexpensive fun gifts. For my son one item was always an M&M candy cane in his every year. The year he was 19 he asked if I was mad at him? There was no M&M candy cane in his stocking just small gifts and a bit of cash. Well now he is 35 with his own family and I still give him and his family their own stockings with M&M candy canes in all four. Children, regardless of their age you got love them!!!!!!!!! Makes me smile to think he still wants that stocking on Christmas morning.

@beckyb1012Some kids never want to grow up. That’s so sweet, though. I think there’s a little Peter Pan in all of us.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Misplaced Parisian — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:07:42 GMT

Oh this is a fun question. I don't celebrate but I adore hearing the stories, traditions of those that do. Thanks for sharing.

I'm new here, but want to echo another poster, @Shanus I too hope today is a better day for you. You have been kind and helpful to me. Thank you.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

ID2 — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:13:37 GMT

My mom never did the stocking thing for us as kids. I never did it for my kids. I think its a rather silly custom but I know a lot hang stockings and put gifts in them. I only hang stockings on my fireplace for decoration.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Shanus — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:18:49 GMT

@Misplaced Parisian wrote:
Oh this is a fun question. I don't celebrate but I adore hearing the stories, traditions of those that do. Thanks for sharing.

I'm new here, but want to echo another poster, @Shanus I too hope today is a better day for you. You have been kind and helpful to me. Thank you.

Thanks so much @Misplaced Parisian.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Zhills — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:26:47 GMT

Didn't know how they originated but Santa filled stockings at our house until the kids moved out on their own. Thank God for BIG apples and the Life Saver boxes! Strangely, Santa always left a flashlight! The kids loved these when they were little.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Gorgf — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:32:40 GMT

Dutch children then, typically put out their shoes by the fireplace or heater if no fireplace. The stocking was my favorite. We opened gifts Christmas eve so the stocking was in the morning. I loved the small boxes of jewelry I received.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

Oznell — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:33:01 GMT

It's interesting that so many of the customs come from Holland. I think there's also one old tradition of children putting out their wooden shoes for "Father Christmas" or St. Nicholas to fill with chocolate coins....

My mother was mad for Christmas traditons, almost like a child, and we had a lot of them. Sometimes the stockings would be hung up, but sometimes we would wake up to find the bulging, knobby stocking on our beds, almost spilling over their contents! Exciting to feel them and imagine what was inside before opening.

I did excitedly believe in Santa Claus for a long time, although that never has taken the place of the reverence and awe of the real meaning of Christmas.

Oh, some years I do "surprise" Christmas stockings for hubby and son-- candy, electronic things, grooming stuff, etc.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

beckyb1012 — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:44:50 GMT

For those who love the stories, my dear late Grandmother who was born in 1918 was a generation of stocking's only for Christmas no other gifts. With seven children in her family and on a large farm shopping was done early. Oranges were a very very rare treat and some years only at Christmas. She said it would drive them crazy smelling the oranges a few days before Christmas hidden in their parent's bedroom. Her brothers one year could not stand it and got into them but did not eat all. Needless to say the brothers had no oranges on Christmas morning.

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

qualitygal — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 10:32:34 GMT

One of the Christmas animated Santa Claus shows they said they did that for Santa to hide the children's toys in since the Bergermeister didn't allow the town's children to have toys. It's cute to see at Christmas time. It has the voice of Mickey Rooney in it. His character is red haired. I'm a child when those are on. LOL

Re: ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

BirkiLady — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 20:01:45 GMT

@beckyb1012 My MIL was born in 1922 and always added an orange to each of our stockings! You added a little history to those oranges for me. She was from Iowa and her parents probably didn't have access to oranges in December, either. Thanks!