The Customs of Christmas

Stocking Hung by the Fireplace – Beginning in Africa at an unknown date, charcoal sketches found inside a cave near Kilimanjaro show early man taking great efforts to keep his feet dry. Before the age of enlightenment, it was commonly held that the soul of man dwelt inside the foot, and that only the driest of feet could ever pass onto the next world. Thus, putting shoes or socks near the fire at night was essential if one was to enter the afterlife without getting corns. The popular expression “cold feet” stems from the superstition that God abandons the feet of the anxious in times of crises. And the concept of a “soul” also is derived from this prehistoric belief of the foot being a vessel for the spirit. To hang socks (later stockings) over the fireplace in an effort to please God dates far back, but only began as a Christmas custom  in the 1920’s after tourists, while taking their holiday vacation in Venice, noticed how important the ritual had become.

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Lights on the House – This custom stems from an old spurious religious belief. It is no coincidence that houses are illuminated at the time of the darkest day of the year (Winter solstice taking place 12/21). Folklore traces this tradition back to the time of the ancient Mesopotamians who would, at the turn of every New Year, light their houses on fire in an attempt to placate and thank God for not killing them as of yet. As a direct result, the Mesopotamians became nomadic and carried this tradition with them throughout the centuries. Legged tells that this ritual stopped shortly after Christianity was adopted by the Roman Empire and became simply lights placed on the house itself. This amendment was done in reaction to a quote from Christ in the book of Mark, “Why are thou burning your houses down to quiet my Father. Art though masugina? Just keep it lit at night and we’ll be fine. Enough already!”