VPS.net’s Twelve Days of Christmas – 8 Maids a-Milking

By now the Christmas spirit should be well and truly flowing through your veins. We only have eight more days until Christmas and VPS.net is beaming with joy as the big day inches a little closer.

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…8 Maids a-Milking!
It’s hard to imagine Christmas without thinking of all of the delicious food that goes with it. For some, it’s a large honey ham baked to perfection. Others can’t wait to fill their glass with some creamy eggnog. And others still can settle for those warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies that Mom makes. As I thought about these famous chocolate chip cookies, it made me think about how much Santa must love cookies and milk! He does in fact get a full plate of cookies and large glass of milk at almost every house he visits.
I wanted to find out where the tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus began. Do we leave them out because we just want Santa to have a treat? Or is there a little more to this yearly tradition?
Although the roots of this tradition are a bit unclear, it is thought that leaving cookies and milk for Santa began around the time of the Great Depression. Parents wanted to inspire their children to share with others, and who better to share with than Jolly Old Saint Nick! Children would get excited when they saw nothing but crumbs on the plate, signifying that Santa had indeed enjoyed his treat.
Another theory to this tradition dates back to a medieval German custom. When families decorated their trees, they would include apples, wafers, and cookies. As time went on, Santa would occasionally snag an apple slice and cookie when he was hungry throughout the night. When the German traditions mixed with Christianity, the idea of leaving a snack for Santa became a staple for many German homes.
The actual reason may not be clear, but the important thing is keeping a fun tradition in your home. In fact, it seems that the only reason we leave a beverage for Santa is because cookies simply taste better with a cold glass of milk!
Baking cookies as an activity with friends and family is a great way to bring on the holiday spirit. Put on some Christmas music, fill the air with a gingerbread candle, and bake away! Even if the cookies don’t turn out great, make sure to leave a couple for Santa. I hear he’s not too picky when it comes to cookies.
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