I put a lump of coal in my then 7 yo daughter's stocking.
She was delighted.
She knew it meant a trip to the snow to make a snowman...
I remember when I was about 8 or 9 years old and my dad decided that my older brother had had the chore of carrying in the coal long enough and that it was time to pass it to me.
Sounded like a glamorous and big boy job at the time. The glamour wore off rather quickly though.
All of which has nothing to do with what you posted or the article itself, just reminising (even if I can’t spell it and am too lazy to look it up)
By the way, dad told me to carry a bucket in each hand, that way I wouldn’t tip over.