这种风俗起源于一个传说：从前有一个心地善良的贵族，他的妻子因病去逝，抛下他和他的三个女儿。 这个贵族尝试了不少发明，都失败了，也因此耗尽了钱财，所以他们不得不搬到一家农舍里生活，他的女儿们也只得亲自烧煮、缝纫和打扫。   一晃几年过去，女儿们陆续到了出嫁的年龄，父亲却变得更加沮丧，因为他没钱给女儿们买嫁妆。
  一天晚上，女儿们洗完衣服后 将长统袜挂在壁炉前烘干。圣人Nicholas知道了她们父亲的境况后，就在那天晚上，来到她们的家门前。他从窗口看到一家人都已睡着了，同时也注意到了女孩们的长统袜。随即，他从口袋里掏出三小包黄金从烟囱上一个个投下去， 刚好掉在女孩们的长统袜里。
  第二天早上，女儿们醒来发现她们的长统袜里装满了金子，足够供她们买嫁妆了。这个贵族也因此能亲眼看到他的女儿们结婚，从此便过上了幸福快乐的生活。   后来，世界各地的孩子们都继承了悬挂圣诞袜的传统。有些国家的孩子则有其它类似的风俗，如在法国，孩子们将鞋子放在壁炉旁等等。
   
   This custom dates back to a myth: once upon a time there was a kind-hearted aristocrats, his wife due to illness died and left him and his three daughters。
   This noble tried many inventions, failed, therefore also spent money, so they had to move to a farmhouse life, his daughters also had to personally cooking, sewing and cleaning。
   Perky expression for the daughters to marry the age in succession, the father became even more depressed because he didn't have the money to buy the dowry daughters。
   One night, washing clothes daughters will hang stockings at the fireplace drying。 Saint Nicholas know their father's situation, that night, came to their doorstep。
   His family are all from the window to see already asleep, simultaneously also noticed that girls stockings。 Immediately, he from his pocket three packets gold from the chimney each cast, just dropped on the girls stocking。
   The next morning when the daughters awoke they found their stockings contained enough gold for them to get married。 The nobleman was able to see his three daughters marry and has since lived a long and happy life。
   Later, kids around the world has inherited the tradition of hanging Christmas stockings。 In some countries children have similar customs, in France, the children place their shoes by the fireplace, etc。