In celebration of Palmer Coking Coal Company’s 80th anniversary, the company is once again providing “lumps of coal” to Christmas shoppers looking for a funny gift or gag.

Palmer’s staff is raising funds for Vine Maple Place, and a donation box is available to support this nonprofit organization providing homes for single mothers.  In traditional English folklore, a lump of coal was left in the stockings hung over the fireplace of those who had been naughty the previous year.

However, the tradition of a lump of coal may date back to Italy. On the evening of the day after Christmas Italian children would be visited by an elderly woman named La Befana (derived from the word ‘epiphany’) who flew on her cleaning broom leaving treats for good children, but lumps of coal for the wicked. Danish children put a shoe out on Christmas night with good children receiving chocolate and rascals getting coal. The Scottish New Year’s tradition holds that if a tall dark stranger comes through your door carrying a lump of coal, it is said to be good luck. Another tradition claims the lump of coal is the fuel that warms a blazing eternity for those who’ve misbehaved.

If someone on your Christmas list has been naughty and deserves a lump of coal in their stocking this year, please stop by Palmer Coking Coal located at 31407 state Route 169 in Black Diamond and pick up a free gift wrapped piece of coal.

Palmer is one of King County’s largest providers of landscape products including sand, gravel, rock, topsoil, beauty bark, play chips, compost, lava rock, and red cinders. For directions call 425-432-4700 or visit www.palmercc.com.