Turns out the cookies and milk tradition hasn't left such an easy trail to trace. But we can thank
the Dutch
, along with other northern Europeans, for inventing cookies and bringing them to America.
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.
This tradition was handed down to Dutch children who would leave treats out for Father Christmas' horse. Leaving cookies and milk for Santa could be
linked to the Great Depression
. During this time, it is believed that parents wanted to inspire their children to share with others.
Cookies appear to have their origins in
7th century AD Persia
, shortly after the use of sugar became relatively common in the region. They spread to Europe through the Muslim conquest of Spain.
According to another story, leaving cookies & milk out is a very American tradition that commenced during the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Parents wanted to teach their children to share what they had, no matter how little
.
To make this tradition a little easier and more enjoyable for you and Santa this year, we've decided to talk to Santa about his favorite cookies. While
he will gladly eat any cookie
, he definitely has his top ten favorites. You can never go wrong with these classic, delicious cookies.
Before American children began leaving cookies and milk for Santa,
Norse legend
connects the practice to the god Odin, who would spend the Yule season traveling around on a hunting trip with his eight-legged horse, Sleipner.
At a time when most families were not that well off, people started making cookies and sweets
as a way to share gifts during the medieval Christmas season
. Christmas in many cultures was a time of visiting friends and family. Since it was cold outside and the ground was hard and frozen solid, farming was not an option.
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.
Is Kris Kringle Santa Claus?
Santa Claus
—otherwise known as Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle—has a long history steeped in Christmas traditions.
Pizzelles
are the oldest known cookie and originated in the mid-section of Italy.
The first cookies are thought to be test cakes bakers used to test the oven temperature. They date back as early as
7th Century A.D. Persia
which is now Iran. They were one of the first countries to grow and harvest sugar cane.
Informal.
dear; sweetheart
(a term of address, usually connoting affection). Slang. a person, usually of a specified character or type: a smart cookie; a tough cookie. an alluring young woman.
According to An Idea,
If Santa takes two bites of each cookie served around the world, he consumes roughly 336,150,386 cookies
. … We all know Santa Claus has a jolly old belly, and that's likely because each Christmas Eve, according to an estimation by An Idea, he consumes just under 40 billion calories.
Does Santa drink milk?
“There are several reasons that I prefer milk on Christmas Eve.” Santa told me. “
I drink milk because it's good for me
. It keeps my bones strong so I can carry the bag around on Christmas Eve. I also need strong bones to help me withstand the speed of the sleigh.
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.
