If you have not read yesterday’s article From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus, please go back and read it first. This will make much more sense with the foundation that article supplies. If you have read yesterday’s article, then you already know of Saint Nicholas’ connection to Christmas and why he is associated with the act of giving gifts. What you may not know is how this man of faith may have begun the tradition of hanging a stocking “by the chimney with care.”

This tradition stems from one of Nicholas’ most famous acts of charity. There are many versions of the story but this retelling is most likely closest to the truth.

Long ago in the city of Myra (likely early in the fourth century AD) lived an unfortunate man. He was not born to nobility, he was not wealthy and the wife of his youth died leaving him with three young daughters and no sons. Without a son there was no one to assist with the task of earning an income, and daughters brought with them the obligation of a dowry, something this poor soul could not afford. Everything the man could acquire was used to feed his house and none could be spared to save anything for the children he loved so dearly.

The girls, close in age, became of age for marriage and their father was now advanced in years. The old man worried that his daughters would never marry and have to turn to the only livelihood offered in their day, that prostitution. He bemoaned his fears to his friends one night around a campfire, and who was present to overhear? None other than generous and wealthy Nicholas.

Still a priest at the time, Nicholas came from a wealthy family and had a habit of providing for the city's poorest during their most trying times. While not a close friend of the poor man, he knew him well enough to know that an outright gift would be refused. Though poor, the man held on to his pride as if it were life itself. The gift would have to be provided secretly, yet in a way that its purpose could not be denied.

Nicholas watched for an opportunity and found it on one particularly chilly day. The three beautiful girls had washed their clothing on the river late one day and upon returning home hung their garments on the hearth to dry. When every candle in the home was doused and Nicholas was assured all were asleep, he snuck three bags of gold, enough to amount for each girl’s dowry, into one of each of their stockings.

The next morning the gold was discovered by one of the girls, and each in turn checked their own laundry. Their father, hearing his daughters’ rejoicing, came into the room to discover the gift that would keep them from a life of poverty and immorality.

Is the legend true? That is mystery of the ages. Nonetheless the story itself precipitated the tradition of hanging a stocking. It originally was performed on December 6th alongside the celebration of Saint Nicholas but became a part of Christmas tradition as St. Nicholas’ Day fell out of favor for the celebration of the birth of Christ.