The stockings are hung by the chimney with care...

...in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there!

There is a story tied to this, about a poor and widowed nobleman with 3 daughters who he could not wed away due to financial woes. In the time of this story's origination (and in some customs today) fathers of the daughters were expected to provide huge dowries to their husbands. As a poor nobleman this was not possible. Soon though his prayers would be answered by a good man...Saint Nicholas! One night after the girls had finished washing their stockings and hung them by the fire to dry, he came and dropped 3 gold bags, one into each of the daughters stockings. This act of random kindness led to the nobleman's daughters to be wed and have families of their own.

True or Not the story exemplifies the good nature of what Christmas should be; after all haven't you always been told "it is better to give than to receive!"