By Dianna Phillips, granddaughter*
*Relation to Andy and/or Flora Lehr
The tradition of the Christmas stocking dates back to St. Nicholas of Myra, a rich man known for his charity. Legend has it that there was a poor widower, who could not afford dowries for his daughters. Nicholas secretly dropped a bag of gold down the chimney, knowing that the man would not accept the gift willingly. The gold slipped into a stocking that was hanging to dry over the fireplace. And so, the man could now afford gifts for his daughters and the legend of Santa and the Christmas stocking was born. People started hanging their socks in hopes that Santa would fill them with goodies. The tradition of hanging stockings did not come to America until the early 19th century when Moore wrote the poem “The Night Before Christmas” where he mentioned the stockings twice.
Early on children used one of their own socks, or made their own, decorated it and put their name on it so Santa could tell which was theirs. There was no Walmart or Etsy to buy a readymade one. So when I was born, my mother started knitting me a Christmas stocking. I don’t know where she got her pattern, but I found several old patterns on the internet that are similar to the ones that she made. She made stockings for all of the Lehr grandchildren (34), Whitlow cousins (3), and several friends’ children. She also made them for all of her children, their spouses and four of her grandchildren. She probably knitted over 50 stockings.
When she died, my dad gave me several projects that she had started for me to finish, and also the stocking pattern. I had never knitted stockings before. The most I did growing up was to help get the yarn rolled into balls. So to keep the tradition going for my family, I took knitting lessons. My mother’s directions for the stocking were vague and incomplete. Things like cash on, pick up and knit, decrease 2 stitches, and my favorite – knit off toe. My first stocking was really short (I knitted too tight) and the second was really long (trying to compensate). The third was just right. (Ha ha)
I had no idea that some of my aunts had started knitting them and passed the tradition down to their daughters and granddaughters who also continued to knit them (Mary abt 43, Judy abt 21, JoAnn abt 29, and Ruth probably lots). Aunt Mary [Eaton] helped me with new decorating designs and she changed the “Merry Xmas” (which I never liked) to “Noel” (which fit better and I like much better). She also helped with a smaller pattern for pet stockings.
I have continued the tradition, learning by trial and error. All of my children and grandchildren have stockings, and I have knitted a few on request from cousins. I have probably knitted about 26 stockings and counting. My daughter Katie has been knitting stockings for her pets and her siblings’ pets. She has also helped me to make new designs. Hopefully she will continue the tradition since she already knows how.
I am including “The Story of the Christmas Stocking” by Mary Elizabeth Lehr Eaton (Grandma Mary).
By Roger Eaton, grandson*
*Relation to Andy and/or Flora Lehr
All my siblings had these colorful stockings. I knew that my aunt Maxine made them. All my (Lehr) cousins had them, too. On Christmas morning they would be filled with an enormous orange, red delicious apple, and hard ribbon candy.
It wasn’t until I spent some Christmas holidays with Marcia’s family, that I learned that my Christmas stocking was unique. I assumed that everyone had these Christmas stockings. It had become a holiday tradition for me. Our fist child arrived in September. Toward the end of October, I was researching the Christmas stockings. I wanted to be sure that I had one for our newborn, A.J.
My mother knitted for over twenty years. She was able to find the pattern and make stockings for A. J. and Marcia. Christmas was saved! After that, she made one for Muriel and, unexpectantly, our pet dog. The newer stockings are made from an acrylic yarn. The originals were made from wool yarn. In the following years, she knitted stockings for the other grandchildren.
In 1999, I hosted Christmas for all of the Eatons and requested that they bring their stockings. Most did! I made a bracket to hang them on our fireplace. This has become a wonderful tradition.
By Jane (Lehr) McGrath, granddaughter*
*Relation to Andy and/or Flora Lehr
I was inspired a long time ago to make stockings and got the pattern from either Aunt Judy or Aunt Biddy (Mary). Over the years have made stockings for my grandsons and husband. Now the cousins have inspired me to make sure my children have them as well!!
By AJ Eaton, Great grandson*
*Relation to Andy and/or Flora Lehr
The stocking is up this Christmas! I was the AJ that kicked it all off!! This year I noticed a tag bearing the title “Made Especially for You by Grandma Mary.” The sock has traveled with us as we move across the country and is now in Boston where we are currently stationed.
By Meg (Badwey) Conger, granddaughter*
*Relation to Andy and/or Flora Lehr
Dianna, this was so fun to read! I had to hire a knitter from a yard shop to create Brock’s (Gigi’s husband) stocking. When I become a grandma, I might have to hire you!