The Tradition Of Christmas Stockings ( Personalised Christmas Stockings)

Christmas is full of traditions, most of which were adapted from a number of different countries and cultures and pieced together until they resemble the way we do things today. It’s always interesting to look at the traditions we take for granted and see exactly where they came from, and one that has always been a little baffling is why stockings are hung over the fireplace and filled with presents.

Like many Christmas traditions, the history of the stocking is shady at best, but all signs point to the story originating in a city called Myra, which is now considered part of Turkey, where a poor village man with three daughters lacked the finances to put up the dowries that would allow his girls to be wed. Saint Nicholas, who was serving as bishop in the city, overheard the other villager talking about the man, and took pity on the proud fellow. Later that evening, Nicholas, laden down with three bags of gold, went to the poor man’s home with the intention of secretly leaving the money that would help with the daughters weddings. Whilst looking for a place to put the gold, he noticed three sets of stocking hanging to dry over the fireplace, and thinking that made the perfect hiding spot, he placed the sacks of gold inside, and thus a new tradition was born.

Other interesting facts about stockings all centre on some version of that original story, and perhaps the best originate in Europe where children were quick to adopt the idea of the stocking, and in some cases a shoe, to receive more presents. Of course, it was not every parent that could afford to put a bag of gold in their child’s stocking, so in many cases a gold coloured ball was added instead, which in turn became an orange which symbolised the colour of gold.

Modern Christmas stockings come in all different shapes and sizes, and while many may believe that a larger stocking is just an excuse to look for a bigger gift, there is actually reason to believe that the different sizes came from Europe again, where children would fill their boots with food for Odin’s flying horse, Sleipnir. As a thank you, Odin would then fill the boots with candy, and as the boots were all different sizes, it lends credence to the belief that stocking come in different sizes for that purpose.

Most kids will try to get their parents to buy them a large stocking, but none of those could ever match the worlds largest stocking which was created in 2007 by combining over 6000 squares of red knitting which, when combined, made a stocking that was 32.56m long, and 14.97m wide (heel to toe). The stocking was made to support The Children’s Society and raised over £33,000 for the charity.

Nowadays there are stockings in different colours and sizes, some with the names stitched on, and others bearing the logos of favorite sports teams and bands. Like almost everything else attached with the modern version of Christmas, stockings have become big business.

Check out our full range of personalised Christmas stockings .