What are the origins of Fathe Time filling shoes with oranges and nuts if left behind the door on New Year eve

Question

When we were children in the 60's we left a shoe behind the front door on New Year's Eve and Father Time would come and fill it with fruit, nuts, chocolate and money. I have no idea where this tradition comes from or anyone else who upheld the tradition other than my family.

Answer 1

1. You did not say where you were located, which might have been relevant and helpful. I have tried to find, on the internet, what I could about Old Father Time, and leaving food/gifts on New Year's Eve. However, there seems to be nothing other than the character of Father Time representing the old year. So I suspect that it was just a tradition in your family.

2. The shoe being left by the door, and on New Year's Eve, for a fictitious night time visitor to fill with gifts, is very similar to the stockings being left by the fireplace, on Christmas Eve, for the well-known December visitor. The fruit, nuts, chococolate and money are typical stocking fillers, and for years chocolate money has been on sale in December for that very purpose.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_stocking
http://www.aquarterof.co.uk/chocolate-coins-p-324.html/

3. Here are some websites (the first of which is conventiently called Father Time's.Net) with some traditions from around the world.
http://www.fathertimes.net/traditions.htm
http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/newyearcelebrations.html
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/newyears/ny.html
http://mn.essortment.com/newyearsevetr_rllr.htm
http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow12.htm
http://www.topics-mag.com/internatl/holidays/new-years-page1.htm
http://www.hogmanay.net/history/faq

Answer 2

I don't know the answer to this but my nan used to have this tradition with mend my sister

Answer 3

Sorry for dragging up an old thread but my family used to leave our shoes out on new years eve to be filled by Old Father Time with chocolate, in the 80's

Answer 4

i googled it and got nothing, wish i could b more help, i'd like to know too
merry xmas to u and urs