Christmas Stockings Around the World

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The story behind the Christmas Stocking:

A nobleman's wife died leaving him and his three daughters distressed.  A string of bad luck left the nobleman and his daughters less than wealthy and they were forced to move the country where the girls were forced to clean, cook and sew for themselves.  

As the girls grew to marrying age the father begin to worry about them marrying without a dowry. One night the girls washed their stockings and hung them by the fire to dry.  That night, St. Nicholas, knowing the state of this family, peeked through the windows of their cottage.  He was inspired when he saw the stockings hanging by the fire.  He threw three bags of gold into the fire place.  They landed one in each of the girls stockings. 

When the girls woke up they discovered the money and were married properly with a dowry.  Their father lived a long and happy life. 

Christmas Stockings Around the World:

• In France, children place their shoes beside the fireplace, a tradition that started with ancestors that wore wooden peasant shoes.  
• Dutch children fill their shoes with hay and carrots to feed St. Nicholas' reindeer.  
• Children in Hungary shine their shoes and then place them near a door or window.
• In Italy children leave their shoes out the night before Epiphany {January 5}
• In Puerto Rico children leave boxes of greens, hay and flowers for the reindeer of the Three Wise Men who they believe bring the gifts to the children rather than St. Nicholas {or Santa}

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