Blog
Written By
Leavingcookies and milkout for Santa Claus—and perhaps a few carrots for his reindeer—on Christmas Eve is a popular practice among American children. But how did the tradition begin?
There isn’t a definitive event to trace this tradition back to. It could be due to Saint Nicholas, who is said to have dressed in red robes and ride his horse on December 6th to distribute candy to good children and coal to bad ones. Sound familiar? Children have left out overnight food for the saint in exchange for gifts for centuries, but when European immigrants moved to the American colonies, Saint Nicholas was slowly replaced with Santa Claus in American culture. But this isn’t the onlyoriginstory for milk and cookies.
The basis of the food for gifts tradition and even Santa Claus may go back to Norse mythology. The god Odin was thought to ride his eight-legged horse,Sleipnir, with his ravens Huginn and Muninn in midwinter to deliver gifts to humans. To entice Odin to stop at their homes and leave gifts, children supposedly left hay forSleipnir. However, people may be confusing children’s part in Odin's journey with that of St. Nicholas’s ride above, as the two were eventually combined in Christmas folklore. Regardless, the custom has evolved over the centuries for Dutch children. Instead of leaving treats for Odin’s eight-legged horse, they now set out carrots for Father Christmas’ normally legged horse in return for gifts, much like the American version.
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. To do this, families began leaving snacks for a weary Santa Claus and his 8 reindeer. Focusing on the act of giving at Christmas, it also taught young children to be thankful for the gifts they received that year. Decades later, children still set out cookies and milk for Santa, though perhaps today it’s more of a bribe to receive more gifts!
And many other countries have their own special treats to leave for Santa and whatever animal pulls his sleigh. Children in the United Kingdom leave the holiday-favorite mince pie, Swedish kids leave a special Christmas-time rice porridge, and in Germany, the gift is instead a letter to Santa. One thing remains consistent, though. Around the world, children know to be kind to Santa duringhisyearly journey around the world.
Related Posts
Featured
Staying Healthy During Spring Sports
Keys for fueling strategies include providing energy, maintaining hydration, and supporting muscle recovery post-exercise. Dairy products provide athletes an all-in-one approach to fueling their performance, all at a cost-effective rate.
Supporting Dairy Cattle Farmers on Earth Day
Discover how dairy farmers contribute to Earth Day's environmental goals at The Dairy Alliance.
Coffee and Milk Dos and Don’ts: Drink Real Milk from Cows
It is safe to say that the latte is the most popular milk-based coffee beverage. But you must make it right, with the coffee and milk blending for a smooth, flavorful sip.For your next latte, follow these dos and don’ts of coffee and milk to create an enjoyable experience.
We are global advocates for dairy as an essential ingredient to life.
Log in to our portal
Dairy Farming for Consumers
Visit our Dairy Farms
Overview
Meet our DairyFarmers
Virtual Field Trip
Virtual Farm Tours
Group Dairy Farm Tours
Meet our Dairy Cows
Milk Agricultural Safety
Sustainability and the Dairy Industry
Dairy Farming for Farmers
Overview
National Dairy Month
Checkoff at Work
Dairy Recipes
All Recipes
Dairy Drinks
Desserts
Kid-Friendly
Lactose Free
Salads and Sides
Dairy in Schools
Overview
Moo Brew
Milk Dispensers
Nutrient Rich Smoothies
High School Sports Nutrition Resources
Strive for 35
School MIlk Supply Toolkit
Current Dairy Resources
World School Milk Day
Contact Youth Wellness Team
Dairy Nutrition
Overview
Health Benefits
Bone Health
Lactose Intolerance
Milk Impersonators
Functional Foods
Nutrition Toolkits
Resources
Blog
Newsroom
Professional Resources
Farmers Map
School Staff Map
Site Map
About Us
Our Story
The Alliance Team
FAQ
Careers
Contact Us
Official Sweepstakes Rules
Privacy Policy
© 2024 The Dairy Alliance | Website Design by Winn-Brown & Co
Discover the World of Dairy Farming with the Dairy Alliance
Making Every Drop Count ↗
For Consumers
Overview
Visit our Dairy Farms
Meet our Dairy Farmers
Virtual Field Trip
Virtual Farm Tours
Group Dairy Farm Tours
Meet our Dairy Cows
Milk Agricultural Safety
Sustainability and the Dairy Industry
For Farmers
Overview
Checkoff at Work
Dairy Farmer Resources
National Dairy Month
Looking for School Recipes?
Visit our Dairy in Schools Section ↗
Dairy Recipes
All Recipes
Dairy Drinks
Desserts
Dairy in Schools
We partner with schools to expand opportunities for students to make healthy food choices.
Contact Our Youth Wellnesss Team
K-12
Overview
Moo Brew
Milk Dispensers
Nutrient Rich Smoothies
High School Sports Nutrition Resources
Strive for 35
School Milk Supply Toolkit
Current Dairy Resources
World School Milk Day
College & Universities (coming soon)
Make It Count With Milk
Download PDF ↗
Dairy Nutrition
Overview
Health Benefits of Dairy Products
Bone Health
Lactose Intolerance
Milk Impersonators
Functional Foods
Nutrition Toolkits
It’s Balanced Nutrition By Milk ↗
Explore our Resources
Blog
Newsroom
School Staff Map
Professional Resources
Making Milk Cool ↗
About Us
Our Story
Careers
The Dairy Alliance Team
Contact Us
FAQs