Have you ever wondered why people hang stockings up by the fireplace on Christmas Eve for Father Christmas (or Santa Claus) to fill with small gifts and goodies?
Children all over the world have St Nicholas to thank for this custom, although those who celebrate his feast day receive their treats on December 6th (St Nicholas Day) rather than Christmas Eve.
The most famous story about St Nicholas is about a poor man with three daughters who had no money for their dowries. One night St Nicholas dropped a purse of coins down the chimney into the house so that the eldest daughter would have enough money to get married. The purse fell into a stocking, put by the fire to dry.
St Nicholas repeated the act for each of the remaining daughters so they were able to be married. On the last day, St. Nicholas was caught red-handed. He begged the father not to say anything as he did not wish his good deeds to be known. However the story soon got out and from then on, whenever anyone received a mystery gift, it was said to be from Nicholas.