Rumour has it that anyone deemed by Father Christmas to have been naughty this year should expect to find their Christmas stocking has been filled with coal. Personally, I would feel neither ashamed nor disappointed by this apparent punishment and, while I am not advocating for bad behaviour, I would like to encourage those of you who do receive rocks in your socks this festive season, to take a moment to appreciate what you’ve been given and quite how special it is.

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Coal is old – really old – I’m talking 300-315 million years old. Composed of the compressed remains of ancient plant material that grew in lush, thick, swampy forests, it’s amazing to think that this stuff was actually formed at a time when the UK was located near the equator. So it may look dull and dirty, but if you discover a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking this year, remember that what you are holding in your hand is in fact a slice of the planet’s history.

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If you have been good this year – don’t panic. We have plenty of specimens of coal on display at Manchester Museum, so don’t go being bad for the sake of getting a rock in your sock, just come and visit us next year.

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I hope your stockings are filled with everything you wish for this year.

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Hannah-Lee Chalk

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Title image: Coal specimen displayed on Living Worlds, Manchester Museum