It's from the era when homes were heated by coal stoves. Coal was necessary and practical, but not a fun thing for a child to play with. Like getting a pair of socks.
Back in Victorian times, coal was way more common in households, since it was a fuel source. It’s the 1800’s equivalent of getting socks for Christmas basically
Santa is making a grave mistake setting kids on the path to realizing they can mutually band together and form their coal into diamonds that they can use to destroy the economy with an influx of supply and make enough money to buy out the north pole and exile Santa into the frozen wastes
I was legit confused by this idea as a kid so I asked my dad what it was about. I don't recall his answer but he did give me a piece of coal as a stocking stuffer and was confused when I thought it was neat and took it away when he realized I was almost certainly going to destroy the couch with it
Think it was meant for ones old enough to not put random shit in their mouths. Otherwise it's based on the idea that it's an extremely practical present, but nothing too fun for the kid.
Coal-byproduct is used in the production of toothpaste. You are virtually guaranteeing a year of good oral health*.
* - Note: There is legal president concluding that evoking the word "virtually" is the same as using the word "not," so take this with a grain of coal.
Comments
I would probably use that coal in a coal fire over to make a
1. Coal fire pizza
2. Real nice earth oven to roast my chicken
3. Devious ways to annoy my siblings
Do you consider Anita Wards “Ring my Bell” a one hit wonder?
Even naughty kids deserve to be kept warm on Christmas.
* - Note: There is legal president concluding that evoking the word "virtually" is the same as using the word "not," so take this with a grain of coal.