Holiday Tradition: Hanging Stockings from the Chimney

One of the many traditions right along side putting up a Christmas tree, is hanging Christmas Stocking from the Chimney. Now we all know that stockings are great to hold additional presents, but have you ever wondered how this tradition began? Well, let me share it with you.

The tradition of hanging stockings over the fireplace at Christmas is found to go as far back as 1823. There are many legends about why stockings are hung, but the most popular legend is about a widowed man and his three daughters. They were very poor and felt that their status would make it difficult for them to marry. St. Nicholas heard the family's plight and wanted to help.  Knowing that the daughters hung their laundered stockings by the fireplace and that their father would refuse any kind act of charity, St Nicholas slid down the chimney and placed gold coins within the stockings. Because the girls now had a nice bounty, they were eligible to marry. 

Some of the more popular items to wind up in stockings were oranges. Many say it is because fresh fruit was so hard to come by and finding an orange at the bottom of your stocking was considered a great treat.  Another version is that when St. Nick visited the three girls, he left three gold balls in their stockings. Because this tradition is not easily replicated, oranges were substituted.

One known fact is that you definitely don't want to find coal inside your stocking. That is a sure sign that you are on the naughty list!

References:

Emily Spivack. (2012). The Legend of Christmas Stockings. Available: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-legend-of-the-christmas-stocking-160854441/?no-ist. Last accessed 03/16/2015.
Unknown. (Unknown). The Reason behind our Favorite Christmas Traditions. Available: http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a1015448/the-reasons-behind-our-favourite-christmas-traditions. Last accessed 03/16/2015.
Image:
Reprinted with permission from

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=28870&picture=stockings-on-a-mantle

 

Challenge #3: Midway...Optional Theme--Let It Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Hello everyone! We have reached the midway point of Challenge #3.  It is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their images from Scribbles Designs, our guest sponsor this month!

Check out all the fabulous images that the Merry Maidens got to work with this month for the mid point of the challenge.  Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to their spot in the Scribbles Designs store.

#243 Snow Kisses

#874 Snow Fun

#840 Snowman Snapshot

***You'll notice that this is the image that we got to use for our badges thanks to Sandy's generosity.***

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called Snowfest, based on the theme for this challenge.  Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of March will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set.  The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post.  If anyone is interested in purchasing this set, please let me know and I'll upload it to the store.

Have your say in determining which colour will be offered to those who link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll in the sidebar on the top right hand side.

 Now check out what the Merry Maidens came up with to inspire you.  Once again, Edwina had the time to make two!  Monica, my Co-coordinator, also had the chance to make a card for the midway of the challenge.  Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards...

So if you haven't entered already, what are you waiting for?   It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for March.  Whether you choose to link up two Anything Goes themed cards simply to earn your free paper this month, or you choose to also follow the optional theme to have a chance at the sponsor's prize, it is completely up to you!

Here is a refresher of the details for this challenge...

 Challenge #3 (March 1 to March 31, 2015) 
Optional Theme:  Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

The snow may be melting, but there are still signs of winter. Soon Spring will be upon us. Let's capture winter this month by including a little snow on our cards. So for a chance to win extra prizes, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow all over your cards!

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that snow is represented in some form or manner on your card. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.  This is important as we are not always going to have the time to go through each entry to see if it qualifies. You don't want to miss out on the chance at the sponsor's prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn this month's free digital paper, and have your name thrown into the year end draw for some extra digital goodies. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs.

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab.  As this is a unique kind of link up where we have both an anything goes Christmas option and an optional theme to follow, be sure to read all the details and rules you need to know in order to participate, by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

You can find the Challenge Details Summary along with the link up for Challenge #3 by clicking HERE.

 Don't Forget...

• Be sure to join us on March 23rd, when Monica will be back to share another holiday tradition with you all.
• Next up it will be time for our new challenge to start on April 1st.
• Then, the winners from Challenge #3 will be posted on April 8th.
• Other special posts may be published throughout the month.  Be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Design Team Changes

Hello everyone. I hope that you are all well on this lovely Wednesday evening. I am popping in to let you know of a change within our design team.

Unfortunately, we have lost Mari K. due to personal reasons. Mari may have only been with us a short time but she will definitely be missed. Please join me in wishing Mari the absolute best as she continues on her journey.

Now Mari's departure does not mean that the Merry Maidens are going to be a member down. Thankfully, I was able to coax a good friend of mine to come on board. She found herself with some time on her hands and I knew just what to fill them with!  So, I am super pleased to announce that Pat, from Patacake Pages is now officially part of The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up team.  We are so lucky to have someone with Pat's experiences and capabilities on our team.  Let's get to know her a bit, shall we?

I joined the crafting world when I went to my first rubber stamp workshop. I was hooked, until I discovered all the fun and new supplies for scrapbooking. Then I unearthed the digital world of images, papers and elements. My newest passions include water colors and mixed media canvas.

I am married with two grown children, one still in college. The other has gifted me with five grandchildren, a DIL who shares my love of crafting, and "they" are newly pregnant. Hubby and I live outside of Chicago (go Blackhawks!) and enjoy occasional family vacations.

I design for  The Outlawz,  The Path ofPositivity Challenge blog,  Craft Your Passion and Your Scrapbook Place. I have made a couple YouTube tutorials, although they are a little primitive. LOL

Please join us in welcoming Pat to the team. You will get to see Pat's first creation in just a few short days as she officially comes on board during the midway post for Challenge #3 which begins Sunday.   To visit Pat beforehand, just click on her name above.

Well, that is it for now folks.  I hope that we'll see you sometime this month in the link up.  To find out all the details for our current link up with the optional theme of 'Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!', be sure to click HERE.

See you all again soon!

Challenge #2 Winners Announcement

Hello and happy Sunday to all of our friends out there in blogland.  It is time to announce the winner and top three of Challenge #2 along with the list of individuals eligible to receive a free digital paper for February.  Are you one of those lucky peeps?!

MARGARET A.

Margaret, you are the winner of the $10.00 gift certificate from Ike's Art, our guest sponsor for February (chosen by Mini Web Tool), based on all eligible participants (i.e., those entrants who followed the optional theme).

Margaret, please send an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (or click  HERE to bring the address in your email program), with the subject, "12MoC Challenge #2 WINNER" to make arrangements to receive your prize and badge.  Please note that it may take me a few days to get back to you.  Thank you for your patience.

Next, it is time to get on with showcasing the Top Three for Challenge #2.  With just over 50 entries to choose from, this was once again no easy task for the design team.  We did however settle on three amazing creations.  So, without further ado, here are our Stocking Stuffers for Challenge #2:

CATHY

FIT KITTY

MARGARET A.

Congrats to our top three Stocking Stuffers!  Cathy, Kitty, and Margaret, please grab a copy of the badge below for your blog.

Next up, it is time to share all the names of those people who linked up two cards in February which makes each of them eligible to receive the second free digital paper of 2015.  We were a few people down this past month; so, hopefully more of our regulars will join us again during March.

Twelve people linked a total of 51 cards. Nine of those individuals linked up a minimum of two cards each qualifying them to receive February's digital paper. The blue paper was the one chosen with 62% of the votes in the poll we had up during the month of February so that is the one that everyone will be receiving. I have included the watermark of it, below.

So, the following people need to send an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (or click  HERE to bring the address in your email program), with the subject, "12MoC February Paper" to make arrangements to receive your free paper:

• Hazel
• Cathy (KraftyKoolKat)
• KT Fit Kitty
• Marji  (Tiggerscraps)
• Margaret A
• Ursula Uphof 
• Crafting Vicky
• Mandy (Paper Panda)
• Paper Addict: (Terrie)

Thanks to everyone who linked up this past month.  We are so happy to have all of you with us and hope that you'll continue to link up your holiday cards throughout the year!!!

Now, as always, if you thought you had linked up two cards but don't find your name in the list above, just let me know and we'll sort things out. We will also add these names to the 'Challenge Win Information' page as soon as we get the chance, for anyone who doesn't see this post.  I ask that you be patient with waiting for me to send out your paper. I promise that I'll get to it as quick as I can.

Just like last month, we are going to have a random draw from all the entries and give out the set of six papers, to one lucky individual.  The papers are all made so why not have an extra prize!  Here is the watermark for the full set...

The winner this month of the Santa Kisses 3x Papers is (chosen by random.org)....

JULIANNE

Julieanne, please send me an email (address and link above).  Use the subject, "12MoC: Santa Kisses 3x Set" and I'll make arrangements for you to receive the full set of six papers.

Well folks, that is it for today.  While you are here, please be sure to check out the details for our current challenge going on now (if you haven't already), with the Optional Theme this month of "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow".  You can find out all the details along with the link up, by clicking HERE.

Also, be sure to join us on March 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!  Then on March 23rd, Monica will be back to share another holiday tradition with you all.  Other special posts may be published throughout the month.  Be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

Until next time,

Challenge #3: Optional Theme--Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Hello and welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  Monica and I were very pleased at the turnout for the last challenge as we had just under 50 cards linked up again with a few people following the theme this time around too!  Well, now its time to get March's challenge underway.

The Basics

While you can find out ALL the information you need to know in order to participate in the challenge by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page (or by clicking HERE), here is a refresher of the basics.

• Anyone can link up as many Christmas and/or December holiday themed cards (including Happy New Year's cards) throughout the month with an ANYTHING GOES theme.
• Every person who has linked up a MINIMUM of two (2) cards will be eligible to receive a specially designed Christmas themed digital paper.
• Each month there will be an OPTIONAL theme to follow.  Anyone who submits a card adhering to the monthly theme, will have the chance to win a prize from that month's guest sponsor.
• Every holiday card you submit to the link up, earns you one chance to win a special digital Christmas kit that will be offered up after the year is complete.

Now that the basics are out of the way, how about we get on with the details of Challenge #3.

Challenge #3 

Optional Theme:  Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

The snow may be melting, but there are still signs of winter. Soon Spring will be upon us. Let's capture winter this month by including a little snow on our cards. So for a chance to win extra prizes, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow all over your cards!

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that snow is represented in some form or manner on your card. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.  This is important as we are not always going to have the time to go through each entry to see if it qualifies. You don't want to miss out on the chance at the sponsor's prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn this month's free digital paper, and have your name thrown into the year end draw for some extra digital goodies. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs.

Talking about Scribbles Designs, how about we get to know them a little bit better...

Looking for a unique image or sentiment? Well then! Head on over to Scribbles Designs and check out Sandy's world of her funky imagination and quirky characters. Sandy has loved art, drawing, water coloring and doodling for many years... and with the digital image world she can now share it with all of you. Brrr (Penguin) was her first main character and her other quirky images followed not long after. We hope you enjoy the endearing images available in the store and add Sandy's images to your digital stamp collections.

Click HERE to head to the store and HERE to check out the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog.  

Check out the cute and quirky images that the team worked with this month for the start of the challenge. Clicking on any of the image watermarks will take you to their spot in the Scribbles Designs store.

#243 Snow Kisses

#874 Snow Fun

#840 Snowman Snapshot

 ***You'll notice that this is the image that we got to use for our badges thanks to Sandy's generosity.***

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called Snowfest, based on the theme for this challenge.  Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of March will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set.  The specific paper up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post.  If anyone is interested in purchasing this set, please let me know and I'll upload it to the store.

Have your say in determining which colour will be offered to those who link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll in the sidebar on the top right hand side.

Now check out what the Sleigh Belles came up with to inspire you.  I (Lisa) also had the chance to make a card for the start of the challenge.  Clicking on the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check out the details for all these wonderful cards...

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for March!  Whether you choose to link up two Anything Goes themed cards simply to earn your free paper this month, or you choose to also follow the optional theme to have a chance at the sponsor's prize, it is completely up to you!

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab and all the details you need to know in order to participate, in the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

We have a packed month so Monica and I hope to see you back with us soon!

• Join us on March 8th when we'll publish the names of the people who earned the free paper for February along with the winners and top picks from Challenge #2.
• Next, be sure to join us on March 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!
• Then on March 23rd, Monica will be back to share another holiday tradition with you all.
• Other special posts may be published throughout the month.  Be sure to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

CHALLENGE DETAILS SUMMARY
Each month we'll include a summary of details for the particular challenge taking place.  If you are new, please be sure to familiarize yourself with all the details and rules in the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page.  Please note that dates and times listed below are for this particular challenge only:

• Cards for this challenge will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. (18:00 hrs), March 1st - 11:55 p.m. (23:55 hrs), March 31st, 2015.  
• You need to link up a minimum of two (2) Christmas or holiday themed cards each month in order to qualify to receive that month's digital paper.
• You can link up as many holiday themed cards as you want as long as each entry is with a new project.  No backlinking.  HOWEVER, if you decide to follow the optional theme of Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (see specific details above), only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs.  You must add 'FT' after you name so we know which cards to add to the random draw for the sponsor's prize.
• The winners and top picks for Challenge #3 will be announced on April 8th in a special post.
• Make sure when entering your project that you mention The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up in your post with a link back to this blog.
• Please remember to link directly to your blog post where we can see your creation, and not just the generic link to your blog. Generic blog links will be disabled or deleted.

We look forward to seeing you participate!

Link Up Below:

An InLinkz Link-up