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Growing up we had our Christmas traditions like decorating the tree,putting our stockings out, making cookies and opening one present on Christmas Eve. Have you ever wondered where all those traditions they came from? There are several legends of how the tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace got started, here is my favorite one from https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/12/29/christmas-stockings/
One of the legends regarding Christmas stockings takes us to a small village where the destiny of the once wealthy merchant and his daughters changed overnight when they fell into poverty. The father was worried about the future of his children and afraid that he wouldn’t be able to provide dowries for their marriages in the future. At that time, this meant an almost humiliation due to the impossibility of wedlock. While the now-famous St.Nicholas traveled, he passed through the village and heard the sad story about the merchant and his daughter, learning from the locals that he would not accept any gifts of charity. One night, while he was riding his gorgeous white horse, he stopped at the merchant’s home and threw three bags filled with gold coins down the house’s chimney. The bags fell down right into the girls’ stockings which were hung by the fireplace mantle to dry. The next morning, the daughters and their father discovered the coins and jumped for joy. The young women married happily and prosperously, so, obviously, their story had a happily ever after. The details of their story spread among the villagers, whose children began hanging their stockings by the fireplace, hoping to receive presents from St. Nicholas.
Now this story is pretty awesome, because what are the chances of someone just randomly throwing gold coins down the chimney and them landing in the stockings hanging there? It’s also a good example of how God provides for us how and when you least expect it.
If you’re still looking for some awesome stocking stuffers for Christmas this year click here for a list from Amazon.
Along with the tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace is putting up a Christmas tree. I found this little excerpt on wilstar.com.
The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to
decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter’s night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820’s.
I have always heard the evergreen tree symbolizes Christ and the everlasting life He provided for us.
If you still have some Christmas shopping to do Amazon has some great gift ideas and even some gift ideas for a white elephant gift or gag gift. Click here for a list.