What Are the Origins Of Christmas Stockings?
It seems likely that St Nicholas, who was a 4th-century Greek bishop known for his generosity and acts of kindness, may be the source of the tradition. According to the legend, he heard of a poor man, who could not afford dowries for his three daughters. St Nicholas secretly dropped bags of gold coins down their chimney, which landed in the stockings the daughters had hung by the fire to dry. When they woke up, they found the gifts, which allowed the daughters to get married. This act of generosity is thought to be the root of the Christmas stocking tradition, where gifts appear in stockings hung by the fire.
Interesting Fact: Some European countries have a tradition of leaving shoes by the fireplace instead of stockings.
What Do Modern Christmas Stockings Contain?
Everyone adds their unique spin to the tradition. Stockings come in all shapes, sizes, and styles—from traditional red and white fleece to personalised and handmade options. Many families enjoy embroidering each family member’s name on their stocking or selecting stockings that reflect individual personalities. Some families even extend the tradition to pets, with special stockings for dogs and cats!
Another emerging trend is the use of eco-friendly or handmade stockings, using sustainably sourced materials, such as linen or recycled fabrics, as a way to make Christmas more eco-friendly. Handmade stockings are also popular, as they add a personal touch to holiday decorations.
What Goes into Stockings Today?
Historically, stockings were filled with simple, practical items such as fruits, nuts, or small toys. Oranges, in particular, were popular stocking stuffers, as they were once a rare and treasured treat in the winter. In some households, oranges are still included.
Today, stocking stuffers vary widely and can include sweets and chocolate, small toys, gadgets, personal care items, and even mini versions of more expensive gifts. Stockings are often filled with fun, thoughtful, and personalised gifts that bring excitement to Christmas morning. I still really enjoy selecting items that reflect my children's interests!
A Timeless Tradition
Whether hung by a crackling fireplace or placed under the tree, Christmas stockings continue to be a cherished part of holiday celebrations. They are a symbol of generosity, warmth, and family connection, representing both the magic of childhood and the spirit of giving. From humble beginnings as a tale of secret kindness to a cherished holiday tradition, Christmas stockings remind us of the simple joys and traditions that make the holiday season so meaningful.
Five Great Ideas For Stuffing Christmas Stockings
Apart from the traditional fruit, chocolate and nuts, we've got some lovely ideas for helping to fill your Christmas Stockings.
1. Soap is always a good place to start! Our organic bars are available in a wide range of fragrances and can be used with our Eco Soap Bag. Perfect for travelling, the soap bag quickly absorbs moisture from your soap and helps to protect the contents of your toiletry bag from drips and slime!
2. Linen & Cotton Back Scrubber - who doesn't love to scrub their back in the shower or bath? Perfect for getting to those hard to reach parts of your back, this dual textured exfoliating back scrubber is a great gift for all the family. Match it with our pack of ten Reusable Makeup Wipes, our Bamboo Face Cloth or our Bamboo Shower Mitt!
3. Eco Picnic Lunch Gift Bundle - a beautiful, practical way to have lunch on the go. No more need for lunchboxes with hard edges! The Reusable Sandwich Wrap and Snack Bags provide the perfect wrapping solution for all the family, removing the need for plastic alternatives.
This gift bundle includes one sandwich wrap and one snack bag, with a great choice of colours at a generous discount!
4. Protective Case for Glasses or Sun Glasses - these brightly coloured linen cases are perfect for protecting specs. Softly lined with matching linen to help prevent any scratches to your eyewear, with two layers of padding for additional protection. Easy to find in a bag, particularly if you choose a bright colour!
5. Plain Notebook - I'm never found without a notebook to jot things down in or to make quick line drawings. This beautiful hand printed A5 notebook with white paper, plain on one side and ruled on the other from The Honey Bee Collection.
With a strong Kraft card cover and 16 pages of great quality, heavyweight 150gsm ecological white plain paper, it is great for both pen, ink and pastels.
I hope that's given you just a few ideas for Stocking Fillers for this Christmas. We have so many lovely gift ideas to choose from that it was really difficult to simply offer a choice of five ideas. For our complete range of Stocking Fillers click here to explore all the choices on our website.
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