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Christmas Stockings
 Written records don't really indicate how the tradition of Christmas stockings got started, but there are several legends surrounding this tradition.
The most trustworthy legend maintains that Saint Nicolas learned about a poor man who couldn't afford to pay a dowry for his three daughters, and he was worried about them. Saint Nicolas decided to help the man, and he took three bags of gold with him down the chimney of the man's home.
 Once inside, he found the girls' stockings hanging on the mantelpiece after washing, and he added the gold bags to the stockings and then went about his Christmas Eve rounds. As the story spread, children began hanging their own stockings or putting out shoes, waiting for their own gifts. Usually, they used their own socks, but later, specially decorated stockings were created for the holiday.
Some say the Dutch introduced the Christmas stocking to America. It was told that during the 16th Century, children in Holland would leave their clogs by the hearth filled with straw for the reindeer (or "donkey"). A treat for Santa was left in the house near the fire. In return "Sinterclass" would leave the children treats. Later the clogs would become stockings, and the Saint known to all would become "Santa Claus."
 In some countries, the contents of the Christmas stocking are the only gifts that a child receives at Christmas from Santa Claus. Western Christmas tradition dictates that a child who behaves badly during the year will not get a gift in their Christmas stocking, but will receive a piece of coal instead.
In many places, the Christmas stocking is to be stuffed by a gift that will stimulate the five sensory organs. Traditional celebrations of Christmas demand that the stocking be hung on the fireplace mantel. However, since many contemporary homes do not have fireplaces, stockings are hung in almost any location.
Today, children all over the world continue the tradition of hanging Christmas stockings. Kids of all nations look forward to Christmas and when the stockings are hung, they know the most anticipated time of the year is not far behind.
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