Don’t Forget Santa’s Cookies and Milk: The History of a Popular Christmas Tradition | HISTORY (2024)
Today in the United States, leaving out a plate of cookies (Oreos and classic chocolate chip are popular choices) and a glass of milk for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve is a well-established tradition among children. But it hasn’t always been that way. According to one theory, the cookies-and-milk custom is derived from an older tradition, when families would stuff stockings with goodies for Santa and hang them by the chimney, his preferred mode of entrance, as a welcoming gift. Now, however, those stockings are usually chock-full of treats and smaller gifts for the family members themselves.
Leaving cookies and milk for Santa—and perhaps a few carrots for his reindeer—took off as an American holiday tradition in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. In that time of great economic hardship, many parents tried to teach their children that it was important to give to others and to show gratitude for the gifts they were lucky enough to receive on Christmas. Some 80 years later, many children still set out cookies and milk for Santa, whether out of the goodness of their hearts or (in less wholesome cases) as a bribe to receive more gifts from the jolly bearded man in the red suit.
The original roots of this holiday food tradition go back even further—all the way to ancient Norse mythology. Odin, the most important Norse god, was said to have an eight-legged horse named Sleipner, which he rode with a raven perched on each shoulder. During the Yule season, children would leave food out for Sleipner, in the hopes that Odin would stop by on his travels and leave gifts in return. Such a tradition continues today in countries such as Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands, where children still believe that horses carry Santa’s sleigh instead of reindeer. On Christmas Eve, they leave carrots and hay—sometimes stuffed into shoes—to feed the exhausted animals. In return, they might hope to receive such holiday treats as chocolate coins, cocoa, mandarin oranges and marzipan.
Over the years, different countries have developed their own versions of the cookies-and-milk tradition. British and Australian children leave out sherry and mince pies, while Swedish kids leave rice porridge. Santa can expect a pint of Guinness along with his cookies when delivering toys in Ireland. French children leave out a glass of wine for Père Noël and fill their shoes with hay, carrots and other treats for his donkey, Gui (French for “mistletoe”). In Germany, children skip the snacks altogether and leave handwritten letters for the Christkind, a symbolic representation of the Christmas spirit who is responsible for bringing presents on Christmas. Though many German kids mail their letters before the holiday—there are six official addresses for letters addressed to the Christkind—others leave them out on Christmas Eve, decorated with sparkly glue or sugar crystals. On Christmas morning, the letters have been collected, and gifts left in their place.
In the past, the Netherlands would celebrate Christmas on Dec. 6, so on Dec. 5 the kids would leave out their shoes and wake up to their shoes being filled with treats. This would change over time and eventually lead to children leaving out cookies and milk for Santa instead.
The earliest examples of Christmas cookies in the United States were brought by the Dutch in the early 17th century. Due to a wide range of cheap imported products from Germany between 1871 and 1906 following a change to importation laws, cookie cutters became available in American markets.
We can also trace back a popular Christmas tradition involving milk and cookies, though not quite as far. Turns out, the tradition of leaving milk and cookies for St.Nick started back in the 1930s during the Great Depression. It was a way for parents to teach kids to show gratitude for gifts, even during hard times.
You can never go wrong with these classic, delicious cookies. Santa himself lists these as his favorites, and he prefers them soft and gooey with lots of chocolate chips. If you decide to leave these out for him, make sure there's a glass of cold milk nearby!
Children in the United States bake cookies for Santa and leave them out with a glass of milk on Christmas Eve. Some kids even leave carrots for Santa's reindeer.
In the past, the Netherlands would celebrate Christmas on Dec. 6, so on Dec. 5 the kids would leave out their shoes and wake up to their shoes being filled with treats. This would change over time and eventually lead to children leaving out cookies and milk for Santa instead.
Offering milk and cookies is an expression of gratitude. The treat shows appreciation to Santa for the gifts he leaves behind on Christmas Eve. It also signifies generosity, as you are sharing something with Santa, a quality often encouraged during the festive season.
According to one theory, the milk-cookies custom can be traced back to the 1930s, during the Great Depression. During that time of economic hardship, many parents tried to teach their children that it was important to give to others and to show gratitude for the gifts they received over the holiday.
Some parts of history suggest that leaving Santa cookies and milk really started during the Great Depression of the 1920's and 30's. Naughty children thought they could bribe Santa with treats in hopes of him leaving them a toy or something else.
Some also believe that leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus originated as an American holiday tradition in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. During that time of economic hardship, parents tried to teach their children to give to others and to show gratitude for the gifts they received at Christmastime.
It is believed that the first Santa Claus was Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was a monk and therefore did not marry. The Santa Claus that we know lives in the North Pole. According to some North American sources, his original name was Kris Kringle before he changed his name to Santa Claus.
In the United States, many children leave a glass of milk and a plate of cookies for Santa. Some families deviate from the norm by leaving Santa and his reindeer carrots, pizza, or even celery.
What's Santa's favorite food? Santa's most favorite is cookies, but he'll eat just about anything that you like and that you leave for him on Christmas Eve.
But leaving cookies and milk for the jolly old elf didn't become a widespread American Christmas tradition until the Great Depression. With millions facing sudden hardships, parents wanted their children to learn the importance of giving to others.
Christmas Traditions: History of Cookie Decorating 🎄🍪
One of the earliest recorded forms of cookie decorating is the springerle, and the oldest known springerle mold is housed at the Swiss national museum in Zurich, Switzerland. The artistic element of cookie making also can be traced back to Medieval Germany.
But leaving cookies and milk for the jolly old elf didn't become a widespread American Christmas tradition until the Great Depression. With millions facing sudden hardships, parents wanted their children to learn the importance of giving to others.
She found a delicious recipe for gluten-free “Jesus cookies.” My daughters call those really puffy, soft sugar cookies with lots of icing and sprinkles you find in the grocery store “Jesus cookies” because they seemed to get them during Sunday School A LOT.
Cookie decorating dates back to at least the 14th century when in Switzerland, springerle cookie molds were carved from wood and used to impress Biblical designs into cookies.
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