Here at Tights Tights Tights there’s one festive tradition that resonates with us more than others – hanging Christmas stockings! We started to wonder where this idea came from, and why it has become such an integral part of a family Christmas, with most children (and adults!) continuing with the custom. Some hang theirs along the fireplace, others at the end of the bed. While there are variations on the story which started it all, the basis is still the same.
A very long time ago, a poor man lived with his three daughters. They were very beautiful but he had no money for a dowry, meaning they would remain unmarried. The man worried terribly about what would happen to his daughters after he was gone, as they would be left alone with no one to look after them. One day as Saint Nicholas was passing through, he overheard some of the other villagers discussing the old man and his plight. He wanted to help but had heard the man would not accept any charity as he was far too proud. So Saint Nicholas threw 3 bags of gold into the open window, one of which landed into a stocking which had been drying by the fireplace. In other stories, the stockings were resting at the end of the bed and a bag of gold landed in each one. When the man and his daughters awoke the next morning and found the gold they were overjoyed as they were now able to be married. A slight variation is that Saint Nicholas threw three gold balls into the house and the landed into the stockings. As gold balls are not a realistic symbol to recreate, oranges are used to symbolise them. In certain depictions of Saint Nicholas, he can be seen holding either 3 oranges or 3 golden balls.
This is why items still commonly found in stockings to this date include bags of chocolate coins and chocolate oranges.
So started the tradition of hanging socks and nylon stockings on the fireplace to be filled by Santa Claus. These later developed into the familiar shape we know today, with the addition of festive fabrics and personalisation’s.
