As Christmas approaches, I have been thinking about how  Santa is “tarnished with ashes and soot” from coming down the Chimney.

In many cultures, chimney sweeps are thought to harbingers of Good Luck, Health, and Prosperity.

They tend the hearth, a symbol of the very heart of the home, and thus are intimately connected with domestic matters.

They clean away the soot, allowing fresh air into the household.

In olden times, the chimney sweep apparently went door to door on New Year’s Day, wishing all good luck.

Still today, in some places, people give out little chimney sweep figures to each other for luck.

In Great Britain, sweeps are sometimes hired to attend weddings, bringing good luck to the bride and groom.

In Mary Poppins, Bert sang cheerfully about his lucky profession:

Chim chiminey, Chim chiminey,

Chim chim cheree!

A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be

Chim chiminey, Chim chiminey,

Chim chim cheroo!

Good luck will rub off when I shake hands with you;

Or blow me a kiss, and that’s lucky too.

Storks nesting in chimneys are thought to bring good luck.  And, in folklore, Storks also bring babies.  Perhaps the beautiful white wings of the stork reminded people of angels, and an association was made.

I’ve heard that the Hebrew word for stork is also the word for “kindness,” or “kind mother.”

Sometimes there is nothing cozier than lighting a fire in the fireplace and settling in, warming up.   There is something wonderful about hearths and fireplaces and chimneys, and the people who tend them.  For home-makers and parents, light and warmth (both physical and emotional) are really important:

The warmth and light of a fire as we come in from the cold and darkness gives us a sense of safety, nourishment, and comfort.  Warmth is expressed by the human soul as interest, inclusion, attention, absorption, enthusiasm.  (From Making a Family Home)

So light a fire in the fireplace this Holiday and bring warmth into your home.  And good luck for the New Year too — blow that chimney sweep a kiss!