<P> While there are no written records of the origin of the Christmas Stocking, there are popular legends that attempt to tell the history of this Christmas tradition . One such legend has several variations, but the following is a good example: </P> <Dl> <Dd> Very long ago, there lived a poor man and his three very beautiful daughters . He had no money to get his daughters married, and he was worried what would happen to them after his death . Saint Nicholas was passing through when he heard the villagers talking about the girls . St. Nicholas wanted to help, but knew that the old man wouldn't accept charity . He decided to help in secret . After dark he threw three bags of gold through an open window, one landed in a stocking . When the girls and their father woke up the next morning they found the bags of gold and were, of course, overjoyed . The girls were able to get married and live happily ever after . Other versions of the story say that Saint Nicholas threw the three bags of gold directly into the stockings which were hung by the fireplace to dry . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> Very long ago, there lived a poor man and his three very beautiful daughters . He had no money to get his daughters married, and he was worried what would happen to them after his death . Saint Nicholas was passing through when he heard the villagers talking about the girls . St. Nicholas wanted to help, but knew that the old man wouldn't accept charity . He decided to help in secret . After dark he threw three bags of gold through an open window, one landed in a stocking . When the girls and their father woke up the next morning they found the bags of gold and were, of course, overjoyed . The girls were able to get married and live happily ever after . Other versions of the story say that Saint Nicholas threw the three bags of gold directly into the stockings which were hung by the fireplace to dry . </Dd> <P> This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas . Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold . That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas . And so, St. Nicholas is a gift - giver . This is also the origin of three gold balls being used as a symbol for pawnbrokers . </P>

Where does the tradition of hanging stockings come from