“Why do we leave milk and cookies out for Santa?” was a thought I only just had… in my thirties. It was just what you did as a child–you left treats for Santa. Maybe as a thank-you gift. Perhaps as a last-minute bribe to get that really, really cool Barbie dream home. But I never questioned it until recently.
For decades, American children have been leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. But it hasn’t always been that way. Some people think the cookies-and-milk custom is derived from an older tradition, when kids would hang stockings for Santa by the chimney as a welcome gift.
Leaving milk and cookies for Santa and snacks for his reindeer took off as an American holiday tradition in the 1930s, during The Great Depression. During that time, many parents tried to teach their children that it was necessary, even in economic hardship, to give to others and show gratitude for the gifts they were lucky enough to receive.
Over the years, different countries have developed their own versions of this tradition. For example, children in Chile leave out Pan de Pascua, a sponge cake with fruit, ginger, and honey. British children leave out sherry and mince pies. Sometimes, kids leave out a cold beer in Australia since it’s hot down there during Christmas. To continue with the beer theme, Santa can expect Guinness with his cookies in Ireland.
French children leave 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 Argentina, kids skip the cookies or treats for Santa and just leave out hay for Santa’s reindeer. In the Netherlands, children leave out carrots, hay, and water for Santa’s horses.
In Germany, children skip the snacks altogether and leave handwritten letters for the Christkind, a symbolic representation of the Christmas spirit responsible for bringing presents on Christmas.
In my home growing up, I left out milk, cookies, and treats for the reindeer, but I would also leave out a little glass of beer. The same kind that my dad liked, actually. Weird.
If you’d like to track where Santa is–to make sure your treats are set out on time, check out the official NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) Santa Tracker Here: noradsanta.org
No matter how you celebrate the holiday season, whether you leave milk and cookies, other treats, or don’t do the Santa thing at all–I hope you all have a happy holiday. I’ll see you all in the New Year. As a reminder, all branches will be closed December 24th and 25th so if you’re still wanting to make some last minute treats and need inspiration while our libraries are closed, check out these e-resources for some tasty ideas: