The Legend of Hanging Stockings and How the Tradition Began

Tweet

Have you ever wondered why we hang up stockings during the holiday season? And how do we wake up on Christmas morning to find them filled with tiny gifts and candy? One of the most popular legends about the tradition's origins is the tale of a poor widower. He worried that he wouldn't be able to marry off his three daughters because of his lack of wealth. It seems that St. Nicholas was doing his usual wandering in the same town where the man lived. He overheard villagers discussing that family's plight. He knew that the man would refuse any kind of charity but he wanted to help. So, one night, he slid down the family's chimney. He then filled the girls' recently laundered stockings, which happened to be drying by the fire, with gold coins. Then he disappeared. In the morning, the family found the gifts and the daughters became eligible to wed. The picture is from my collection.