Posted on Dec 14, 2015
LTC Stephen F.
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I do not know where the Christmas stocking tradition originated; but, as a child I was very thankful to find lots of small toys and edible candy in my stocking Christmas morning.
I think the tradition may have come from saint Nicholas who gave gifts to the poor of his time.
Gift-giving is clearly associated with Christ who blessed us by becoming Immanuel and through the Holy Spirit we are given gifts and bless others and are in turn blessed by others.
I am glad as I expect most children are that the "stockings" are so much bigger than most people's feet. :-)
Do you have a Christmas stocking tradition in your family?
Posted in these groups: D61fed8 ChristmasGift card GiftsHebrews 11.1 FaithChildren logo Children
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 17
Col Joseph Lenertz
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Yes, and since my dad grew up in the Depression, fresh fruit (an orange was a rare treat for him) was always one of the items. We continued the tradition, putting a piece of their favorite fruit in my kids stockings, expecting them to be mad or hate it. They didn't! They plan to do it with their own kids. Weird.
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MSgt James Mullis
MSgt James Mullis
>1 y
It was the same for my parents and my family. On Christmas morning, each of us kids received a both an orange and apple along well our many presents. I remember at some point (around the third grade) asking my parents why and my Mom explained that when she was growing up, Christmas was the only time they could even get apples and oranges in the Minnesota countryside. It's a great tradition and ties us to our roots.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
Col Joseph Lenertz
>1 y
MSgt James Mullis , I grew up in Roseville, suburb of St. Paul. Maybe it's partly a Northerner thing.
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Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth
Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth
>1 y
Same for me with the fruit. My grandparents and parents continued that tradition if for no other reason to remind us how fortunate we really are an hope that we never go into a depression again. Small tradition but big on values.
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SPC Robin Price-Dirks
SPC Robin Price-Dirks
>1 y
My Mom used pantyhose and put the oranges , nuts and, peppermint candy in it, my brother got one leg and I got the other. We didn't get "stockings" till I was the only one left in the house.
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LTC Stephen F.
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From as far back as I can remember, I spent Christmas with my mother's sister's family in Bethesda Maryland. Sometimes when I was young we would sneak to see how the stockings which were hung at an actual fireplace were filled. When I was young I never discovered who actually filled the stockings and believed that it was santa claus. Our family rule was that we could eat and play with whatever was in our stocking as soon as we got up [after daybreak] on Christmas morning.
I have done my best to pass on that tradition to my own sons.
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CAPT Kevin B.
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Stockings were never on the radar until I got the Shock Treatment of marrying into it. The in-laws were aghast. So it was started for me and it didn't matter what I thought about it so go with the flow. So this year I get shocked again. Instead of "Kevin & Cheryl" or "Mom & Dad", she hung totally new ones saying "Grandma & Grandpa". I'm to the point where I figure a sock will be etched into my gravestone.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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