BAHAMIAN ESCAPES
The clearing away of Thanksgiving dishes signals the time-old tradition of hoisting up an evergreen Christmas tree, picking out the best ornaments, putting up the flickering Christmas lights and last, but not least, decorating and hanging the Christmas stocking.
Ever year a new stocking is birthed; either bought or created. In my home, finding the perfect spot to hang the stocking is always a troublesome task, and sometimes no spot seems worthy of the traditional Christmas treasure.
In countries with colder climates, where there’s a fireplace in the home, the stocking might hang over the mantle. But here in The Bahamas, you would often find them lined along a wall.
Naughty or nice, many anticipate Christmas day, hoping their stockings are filled with some treat or gift they might have been promised all year. And for those who spent most of the year being naughty, the ole time story dictates a lump of coal for their troubles.
There are many stories surrounding the origin of the Christmas stocking, but the most popular one centers on a poor old man and his three daughters. Since his family had lost all of its money, the old man feared for the future of his three daughters because he had no money to give for their dowries.
Return Of The Stockings
An Old Tradition That Brings The Family Closer
by Genea Noel-Ferguson
As the story goes, Saint Nicholas or Santa heard about the old man and decided to help him secretly. When the family was fast asleep, Saint Nicholas went inside their home and placed one bag of gold in each of the washed stockings his three daughters had hung above the fireplace to dry.
The next morning, the family was ecstatic to find the gold and the daughters were finally able to get married.
It is said that this story inspired other children to hang their stocking near the fireplace mantle, hoping that Saint Nicholas would visit them and place gifts in their stockings.
In some cultures, oranges were placed inside the stockings as a symbol of the bags of gold that St. Nicholas gave.
Over the years, however, the stocking began disappearing from the walls and mantles as countries became more developed. The global economic climate changed and advances in technology drove away many Christmas traditions.
Keeping the tradition alive has become a difficult task for Christmas lovers who still honor the practice.
Members of my family and others around the neighborhood make an experience out of hanging the Christmas stocking.
It has been proven to bring family together, get uninterested family members involved, and it boosts the Christmas spirit. In fact, a new stocking each year will help tell the story of your life.
It’s a great tradition that parents can share with their children; grand parents with their grand children; and it can even serve as a keepsake for spouses.
Christmas stockings can also add an element of surprise for really special gifts and gadgets. And if you’re trying to help the environment, it’s an old but interesting spin on gift-
wrapping and presentation.
Christmas stockings are also a great way to add more Christmas cheer to your Christmas home designs.
They say a classy woman is not fully dressed until she is decked in that perfect pair of sheer pantyhose. So as the Christmas decorations go up, make sure your home is complete with your favorite stocking!
