Many people believe that the tradition of gift giving during Christmas and the holiday season stemmed from the story of the Three Wise Men giving gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But there are actually several more historical traditions of giving coins and other gifts that led to the modern act of giving presents to loved ones.
The Christmas stocking originates with Saint Nicholas, a 4th century Greek Saint who enjoyed anonymously giving presents to those who were less fortunate. Saint Nick once threw bags of dowry money through windows and down chimneys to rescue the daughters of impoverished families from being sold into slavery. In some versions of the story, Saint Nick placed silver coins into the girls’ stockings as they hung to dry on the chimney ledge. Hanging stockings over the chimney became a trend, in the hopes that Saint Nicholas would spread his generosity to more homes and families.
Other stories tell of children leaving their shoes in front of the fireplace or on the windowsill overnight so that Saint Nicholas could come fill them with candies, fruits, and small gifts. In some versions of this tale, children left carrots or hay in their shoes for Saint Nick’s donkey to eat. He traveled with a donkey laden with gifts for children. Saint Nick would take the hay and carrots and replace the donkey’s goodies with gifts for the children. This translated to the modern tradition of leaving out cookies and milk for Santa.
Another Christmas tradition involving coins originated in Britain, where families would gather in the kitchen to make the Christmas pudding together. A silver sixpence was added into the pudding mix and everyone in the household took turns stirring. Whoever found the coin in their piece of pudding on Christmas day was slated to enjoy a year of good fortune and wealth.
Continue the long-standing tradition of giving silver coins to your loved ones! Enter our giveaway by telling us one thing you’re looking forward to this holiday season. Commenting below will serve as your entry for our December giveaway. But remember to keep it classy; inappropriate comments will be deleted and disqualified. Submit your comment (one comment only please) by December 21, 2017. One winner will be randomly selected on December 22, 2017 to receive a Sobek 2 oz Ultra High Relief Silver Round from our Egyptian Gods series, along with an Air-Tite plastic capsule to protect your round.
Happy holidays to you and your family!
I’m just looking forward to a peaceful loving holiday for everyone else. I don’t need anything, as I am very blessed. I just wish we all could come together and realize character is very important and how we treat one another. Peace to all and thank you Provident for allowing others to have a chance to win a Sobek. They are great coins, as I have a few of each. Thank you and happy holidays to all! RLS
Family!
I am so looking forward to no longer having to listen to “Holiday” music on the tin can overhead speaker while I work (Pharmacist at Walgreens). I love traditional Christmas music, but not the Jackson 5 belting out Santa Claus is coming to town.
I am as always looking forward to our Christmas Eve feast of 7 fishes and for the new year health and prosperity for us all in these difficult times. What we need is a rebound of silver and gold
I’m looking forward to spending the holidays with my beautiful wife and wonderful children back home in Ohio after a long time away in the military
Im a disabled veteran and I really enjoy having my wife, daughter and three dogs. I also thank my VA shrinks for taking away my mental pains. Merry Christmas to all and my biggest wish is to bring our children home from Afghanistan.
Looking forward to going to Cancun and seeing my newborn nephew.
Miracles still happen at Christmas time. God bless those serving in the military and those who have gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Looking forward to good times w family and friends and opening the new year to even more great memories.
Spending time with my family and friends!
Hopefully the price of gold and silver continue to fall!
I’m in a shopping mood
Looking forward to spending time with my 87 year old grandmother who battling breast cancer. Fuck cancer!
I enjoy watching my favorite Christmas movies, ‘Christmas Carol,’ ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ and ‘White Christmas!’
David Gassman
Merry Christmas to you all!
Spending time with family. Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year everyone.
Health and wealth for all my friends and family…….
Spending time with my family.
Looking forward to spending time with family!
Spending time with my wife, 3-year old daughter and 4-year old son! They already understand that gold and silver are treasure, sort of like pirates’ treasure to put it in terms they understand well – they also understand that dollars, quarters, etc are money but not treasure.
I look forward to spending time with my family!
Looking forward to spending time with family and friends. Wish everyone well, and happiness, have a safe and happy Christmas.
Looking forward to the end of price manipulation of precious metals,
Looking forward to spending quality time with family.
I hope and pray my 26 year old son becomes motivated to find a job and be productive!
Looking forward to being with the family and loved ones and bringing joy to the children at this wonderful time of year
I’m looking forward to spending quality time with my friends and family eating great food and watching football.
I love going to church and then listening to Christmas music by the fire with a hot toddy and opening gifts with family. Then remembering past years and family that we’ll see again one day.
Merry Christmas!
We don’t have a lot of Christmas traditions, but we do LOVE Christmas carols and decorating the tree. My husband is actually Jewish, so never had a tree growing up. He REALLY loves having one now. Our favorite ornament, given to us 20 years ago, is a pink, blown glass octopus. Yes, that’s right. Our tree is never complete without the traditional Christmas octopus. Happy holidays!
Spending time with my wife, 3 year old son, and our 3 month old daughter for her first Christmas.
Looking forward to spending time with family, and making a snow cat!
My Grandfather and Father were always into silver. I never really paid attention to it all until my daughter was born last year on November 1st. Something inside me told me that I need to start stocking up silver for her future. So from that day on every time I buy some silver I get doubles. One for her and one for me. It’s never to late to start this wonderful hobby. Besides think about how far off she will be ahead the game when she really wants to get into the hobby! 🙂 Thanks Provident metals!