When we think about Christmas and the holidays, at some point we imagine a set of bright red stockings stuffed with goodies hanging above a fireplace. The fireplace has long been the center of the home. It’s where everyone cozies up together to enjoy the heat and each other’s company. No wonder the fireplace has become a holiday hallmark. But where and how did those red fluffy stockings enter the mix? Like most holiday and Christmas traditions, we’ve become familiar with, hanging stockings has no single and simple origin, but instead has a mysterious background full of popular stories, fun myths, and some interesting facts.
Hanging stockings by the fire
Like most traditions, things usually start in a mundane way. Stockings used to refer to longer socks worn by men, women, and children. Since sheer stockings did not come into fashion until 1920 and nylon was not invented until 1940, they also were primarily made of wool and later cotton. As a result, they were thicker, and absorbed more water when they got wet in the rain or snow. Those colder conditions also meant stockings could not be hung outside to dry, so stockings hanging above the fire were a nightly occasion so they could be used the next day. Today, we know it is a fire-hazard to hang stockings near a burning fire, but back then there were no clothing dryers or central heating. The fireplace was not just the main heat source, it was the only heat source.
Stockings fell out of fashion, but the holiday tradition stuck. Rather than hanging their own socks by the fire, children began having dedicated Christmas stockings in the 1800s. These became bigger and became the grand decorative stockings that many hang today.
St. Nicholas’ Gold
Along with traditions of Father Christmas and various folklore, the modern English and North American Santa Claus is based on the Christian St. Nicholas of Myra. Clearly, Santa’s name comes from this saint, especially evident in his nickname “Saint Nick.” In the Netherlands and Belgium, Santa is still named Sint-Nikolaas or Sinterklaas and appears in his traditional iconography. In fact, different versions and traditions of Saint Nicholas are found throughout Europe.
Nicholas, just like Santa, is famous for his generosity, and one of his most legendary generous acts has been associated with the stockings. One day Nicholas heard of a man who had lost his money and could not afford to pay his daughter’s dowry. Nicholas secretly threw a sack of gold coins into the man’s house so his daughter could marry. Upon hearing the man had two more daughters, Nicholas snuck back another night, left more gold for the second, and another night for the last daughter. On the last occasion, the father caught Nicholas, who swore the father to secrecy.
One version of the story has Saint Nicholas throwing the bags or golden balls into stockings that were hung by the fire to dry. This version of the story has served as one of the origins for the stocking tradition, where children began to hang their own stockings by the fire on the evening before the saint’s feast day on December 6 to similarly receive their own gifts from Nicholas. That tradition then moved to Christmas eve with traditions around Father Christmas and Christkind (also known as Kris Kringle).
Shoes Work Too
In the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, rather than stockings, children typically leave an empty boot or shoe by the fire for Saint Nicholas to fill with goodies. Shoes and boots were similarly dried by fires, and so developed as an alternative of the winter tradition. Sometimes, Saint Nick comes in through the old-fashioned, front door and children fill the boot or shoe with carrots or sugar treats for the saint’s horse.
Odin, Father Christmas, and Kris Kringle
Many of the traditions today commonly associated with Santa and Saint Nicholas have traces in other folklore and traditions in Europe. Some Northern European traditions also have Odin visiting in the winter to fill children’s shoes and boots. While Father Christmas did not originally leave gifts, he was fashioned in old attire which included his notable stockings. As Father Christmas also became a gift-giver, stocking stuffers became one his specialties. Another gift giver found throughout central Europe is the Christkind, literally “Christ Child.” While some depictions have this figure as Christ as an infant, it is often depicted as a more general angelic child or teenager. In some traditions, Christkind becomes an attendant of Saint Nicholas, helping him deliver gifts. As a gift giver in the winter, Christkind also stuffs stockings and shoes left by the fire to dry.
Grandmas
Today, grandmas are often characterized for spoiling ‒ er, giving generously ‒ to their grandchildren. It shouldn’t be surprising that in folklore throughout Europe there are also grandmotherly giving figures who leave gifts in children’s stockings hung by the fireplace in Winter. The Austrian Frau Holda or Holle, the German Holda or Berchta, the Italian La Befana, and the Russian Babushka are all grandmotherly figures who leave children gifts in stockings above the fireplace alongside Santa and the rest of the generous winter figures.
Where it all comes together
Like most cultural phenomena and traditions, even a simple tradition like hanging stockings above the fireplace has multiple origins. The many stocking traditions that originate throughout all of Europe reflect how important and central a role the fireplace has played in households throughout the winter season. They are still the central place where families gather for warmth and time together on holidays. Think your stockings could use a fireplace? Contact us today and we can help you find the perfect fireplace or stove. And if you are getting your fireplace festive, just remember, it looks great to hang stockings above the fireplace, but it is a fire risk to keep them there while the fire is burning.
