Christmas stockings
Christmas stockings are hung near the chimney on Christmas
Eve for Santa Claus to fill it with goodies for the children.
It is an empty sock or a bag that is given the shape of a
sock. The children in United States and some other countries
have been following this tradition of hanging a Christmas
stocking, believing that Father Christmas will fill it with
sweets and gifts for them. The items that are believed to
be stuffed in the Christmas stocking by Santa Claus are known
as stocking stuffers.
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The tradition of the Christmas stockings began by
a story told since ancient time about a kind noble man
who had three daughters. The wife of the nobleman expired
and the daughters and their father were left in a state
of sorrow. The daughters had to do all the work in the
house. When the daughters became young and eligible
for marriage, the poor father could not afford to give
the huge dowries to their husbands.
One evening the daughters, after washing their stockings
hung them near the fire place to be dried. Santa Claus
being moved by the plight of the daughters came in and
put in three bags of gold one in each of the stocking
hanging by the chimney. The next morning the family
noticed the gold bags and the nobleman had enough for
his daughter’s marriage. The daughters got married
and they lived happily ever after. Since then children
have been hanging Christmas stockings.
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Christmas stockings are supposed to have the gifts given
by Santa Claus. The other gifts are wrapped in present papers
and placed near the Christmas tree. It is believed that
a child who misbehaves during the year will not get a gift
in their Christmas stocking. The Christmas stockings are
traditionally hung on the fireplace. But as most of the
modern homes do not have a fireplace, any location is suitable
for hanging the Christmas stockings. In many traditions
the Christmas stocking is to be stuffed by a gift that will
stimulate the five sensory organs.
The gift given by Santa Claus would be something to eat,
a thing that makes a sound and gives a pleasant view to
the eyes or gift which has a lovely fragrance.
In the present modern culture there are special Christmas
stockings available in the market. Some families design
unique stockings for each family member.
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