Page 24 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles December 2019
P. 24
Title image: This scene from a Victorian storybook features
three children, dressed in white pajamas, gathered around a
fireplace to hang up their long black Christmas stockings on
the edge of the mantle. A fire is flickering away in the
fireplace and the room looks warm and cozy.
include candies, ornaments, nuts in shells, small
toys, and other trinkets.
When the Dutch came to America and settled in
New York they brought their traditions with them.
After a while, Sinterklaas became known as Santa
Claus and their clogs were replaced with stockings.
From the Norwegians
In a more fantastical version driven by Norse
mythology comes the story of the chief god Odin
and his flying horse Sleipnir. Here, the tale notes
that the children would leave out boots filled with
hay and treats for Sleipnir to enjoy during the
pagan Yule celebration (generally around
December 21). Odin would reward the children
with thoughtful gifts and candy. There is one
connection between the flying horse and the flying
reindeer of Santa Claus – Sleipnir had eight legs,
and Santa had eight reindeer. Coincidence?
From the Italians
The Italians tell of a witch named La Befana
who decided not to go with the three wise men on
their journey to Bethlehem to find Jesus. Later she
regretted that decision and left to go on her own
journey to bring gifts to the baby, but never found
him, and gave the gifts to other children.
Children still set out their shoes or stockings
T gifts to charity overcomes the disagreements and human entanglements that can sometimes the Epiphany (January 6).
here is a tale that speaks to the heart of the winter holidays. Typically, this is a time when giving
hoping La Befana will fill them on the day of
keep people apart by bringing them together to support those in need. Such is the story—
There was another side to La Befana – she
or stories—of the Christmas Stocking.
also was the originating factor to the tradition
of bad children receiving coal or dark candy
From the Christians in their stocking. If children were naughty or
Perhaps one of the best-known renditions of the unkind, they would not receive good candy,
story is the one surrounding Saint Nicholas. Nicholas but less-sweet chocolate or a piece of coal.
of Bari was born a nobleman in 280 A.D. in the city of
Patara, Lycia – what is now known as Demre, Turkey. From the Press
Nicholas lost his parents at an early age, and it is While the tales spread over the years, the
reported that he used his inheritance to help the poor actual use of stockings to be filled by Santa
and sick. As a young man, he became the Bishop of Claus can be dated to 1823 and the
Myra and was immensely popular for his kind, publishing of the poem A Visit of St. Nicholas
generous heart. Living a life of celibacy, Nicholas attributed to Clement C. Moore … but is that
never married or had children and was named “the attribution correct? Check out the Sidebar to
gift-giver of Myra” for his generosity to them. learn more.
As the story goes, a poor widower living in the Prior to the publishing of the poem, families
4th century A.D. had three unwed daughters and tended to use their own traditional approach to
19th century Gold Metallic Embroidery Vine was on the brink of destitution when his story was the use of stockings in the Yuletide season. Once
Stockings. Various leaf shapes on vines, shared with St. Nicholas. Knowing the man would the poem was published, stockings became a more
embroidered in gold bullion and gold metal not take charity, Nicholas snuck into the house prominent element of Christmas, at one point out-
leaf sequins on purple silk velvet, using the chimney and filled the girls’ stockings
applied to gold silk velvet. Trimmed pacing the Christmas Tree as the primary symbol of
with gold metallic vestment trims. drying by the fire with gold coins (or later referred the season. Different regions had different stockings;
21” long. $549 for the pair, online. to as gold globes). The father now had dowries so most notably the New England stocking was known
his girls could marry well and he would not be to be smaller in size used by “stingy” folk, while the
alone and poor in his old age. He always gave stockings in the Mid-west areas like Chicago—
his presents late at night in order to protect where money was being made hand over fist at the
his identity. This folk tale has slight time—were so large just about anything could fit.
changes here and there depending upon In an article from The New York Times came an
who tells it, but the message is clear: be “Ode to the Christmas Stocking-esque” style column
kind to those less fortunate. espousing the qualities of the “Smith” Stocking,
Extremely which solved the issue of size when it came to putting
From the Dutch rare and highly gifts inside as it was made from elastic. While the
For the Dutch, the tale of “Sinterklaas” collectible cotton writer does take a moment to laud the benefits
alongside his assistant Blac Pete (“Zwarte lithographed of using a stocking for holding gifts vs. placing
Christmas
Piet”) brought out the suggestion of stockings stocking. This them around the Christmas Tree, it was not until
holding gifts. Each year the two would dock in early home-sewn the early 1900s that both were used together more as
Examples of homemade stockings made the harbor of a different city and traveled the decoration for the season than the meaning
from kits and personalized with city riding a white steed and a mule. Children, piece was
names from the 1940s. handmade by behind them.
hearing of their arrival, would place treats for S.H. Howe NY,
the animals such as hay and carrots in their wooden clogs and leave them out in hopes circa 1889. Elsewhere Around the World
that Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet would ride past their house. In Puerto Rico, children celebrate Three Kings’
After enjoying the treats left for them Sinterklaas would reward the children for their thoughtfulness with Day on January 6, putting boxes of cut grass for
small presents and treats they brought with them from foreign lands. They were simple gifts that would the kings’ camels under their bed the night before.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
22
three children, dressed in white pajamas, gathered around a
fireplace to hang up their long black Christmas stockings on
the edge of the mantle. A fire is flickering away in the
fireplace and the room looks warm and cozy.
include candies, ornaments, nuts in shells, small
toys, and other trinkets.
When the Dutch came to America and settled in
New York they brought their traditions with them.
After a while, Sinterklaas became known as Santa
Claus and their clogs were replaced with stockings.
From the Norwegians
In a more fantastical version driven by Norse
mythology comes the story of the chief god Odin
and his flying horse Sleipnir. Here, the tale notes
that the children would leave out boots filled with
hay and treats for Sleipnir to enjoy during the
pagan Yule celebration (generally around
December 21). Odin would reward the children
with thoughtful gifts and candy. There is one
connection between the flying horse and the flying
reindeer of Santa Claus – Sleipnir had eight legs,
and Santa had eight reindeer. Coincidence?
From the Italians
The Italians tell of a witch named La Befana
who decided not to go with the three wise men on
their journey to Bethlehem to find Jesus. Later she
regretted that decision and left to go on her own
journey to bring gifts to the baby, but never found
him, and gave the gifts to other children.
Children still set out their shoes or stockings
T gifts to charity overcomes the disagreements and human entanglements that can sometimes the Epiphany (January 6).
here is a tale that speaks to the heart of the winter holidays. Typically, this is a time when giving
hoping La Befana will fill them on the day of
keep people apart by bringing them together to support those in need. Such is the story—
There was another side to La Befana – she
or stories—of the Christmas Stocking.
also was the originating factor to the tradition
of bad children receiving coal or dark candy
From the Christians in their stocking. If children were naughty or
Perhaps one of the best-known renditions of the unkind, they would not receive good candy,
story is the one surrounding Saint Nicholas. Nicholas but less-sweet chocolate or a piece of coal.
of Bari was born a nobleman in 280 A.D. in the city of
Patara, Lycia – what is now known as Demre, Turkey. From the Press
Nicholas lost his parents at an early age, and it is While the tales spread over the years, the
reported that he used his inheritance to help the poor actual use of stockings to be filled by Santa
and sick. As a young man, he became the Bishop of Claus can be dated to 1823 and the
Myra and was immensely popular for his kind, publishing of the poem A Visit of St. Nicholas
generous heart. Living a life of celibacy, Nicholas attributed to Clement C. Moore … but is that
never married or had children and was named “the attribution correct? Check out the Sidebar to
gift-giver of Myra” for his generosity to them. learn more.
As the story goes, a poor widower living in the Prior to the publishing of the poem, families
4th century A.D. had three unwed daughters and tended to use their own traditional approach to
19th century Gold Metallic Embroidery Vine was on the brink of destitution when his story was the use of stockings in the Yuletide season. Once
Stockings. Various leaf shapes on vines, shared with St. Nicholas. Knowing the man would the poem was published, stockings became a more
embroidered in gold bullion and gold metal not take charity, Nicholas snuck into the house prominent element of Christmas, at one point out-
leaf sequins on purple silk velvet, using the chimney and filled the girls’ stockings
applied to gold silk velvet. Trimmed pacing the Christmas Tree as the primary symbol of
with gold metallic vestment trims. drying by the fire with gold coins (or later referred the season. Different regions had different stockings;
21” long. $549 for the pair, online. to as gold globes). The father now had dowries so most notably the New England stocking was known
his girls could marry well and he would not be to be smaller in size used by “stingy” folk, while the
alone and poor in his old age. He always gave stockings in the Mid-west areas like Chicago—
his presents late at night in order to protect where money was being made hand over fist at the
his identity. This folk tale has slight time—were so large just about anything could fit.
changes here and there depending upon In an article from The New York Times came an
who tells it, but the message is clear: be “Ode to the Christmas Stocking-esque” style column
kind to those less fortunate. espousing the qualities of the “Smith” Stocking,
Extremely which solved the issue of size when it came to putting
From the Dutch rare and highly gifts inside as it was made from elastic. While the
For the Dutch, the tale of “Sinterklaas” collectible cotton writer does take a moment to laud the benefits
alongside his assistant Blac Pete (“Zwarte lithographed of using a stocking for holding gifts vs. placing
Christmas
Piet”) brought out the suggestion of stockings stocking. This them around the Christmas Tree, it was not until
holding gifts. Each year the two would dock in early home-sewn the early 1900s that both were used together more as
Examples of homemade stockings made the harbor of a different city and traveled the decoration for the season than the meaning
from kits and personalized with city riding a white steed and a mule. Children, piece was
names from the 1940s. handmade by behind them.
hearing of their arrival, would place treats for S.H. Howe NY,
the animals such as hay and carrots in their wooden clogs and leave them out in hopes circa 1889. Elsewhere Around the World
that Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet would ride past their house. In Puerto Rico, children celebrate Three Kings’
After enjoying the treats left for them Sinterklaas would reward the children for their thoughtfulness with Day on January 6, putting boxes of cut grass for
small presents and treats they brought with them from foreign lands. They were simple gifts that would the kings’ camels under their bed the night before.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
22
