The legend of Christmas stockings

But what’s the story behind the odd ritual?

Origin stories

Like many traditions, the origin is a little hazy with various versions and a lot of ‘he said, she said’. The most popular story centres on good old St Nick.

If you’re all sitting comfortably, we'll begin…

Once upon time in a town called Myra, there was a noble yet poor man. While his wife had passed, he still had his three daughters who he loved very much. But he was poor and struggling to make ends meet.

Despite his daughters’ renowned beauty, he knew they would never marry as he couldn’t afford to pay a dowry.

One day, in the middle of December, he was telling friends about his awful plight when the kindly St Nicholas happened by and overheard his tale of woe. As a good man he wanted to help, but also could tell that the widower was a proud man who would never accept charity.

So that night, old St Nick took matter into his own hands. Although he was a big man, he was nimble and lithe, and managed to climb onto the man’s roof and down his chimney. Here he found the daughter’s stockings drying on the fireside. Perfect, he thought.