Christmas stocking traditions

The Christmas stocking legend is nearly as old as Christmas itself. The story goes way back to the 3rd Century AD when Saint Nicholas saved three young women from poverty by throwing bags of gold through their window. One of the bags landed in a stocking that was hanging by the fire to dry.

Over time St Nicholas (Sante ‘Claus) turned into our modern Santa Claus, and that’s why we hang stockings by the fire at Christmas.

It’s a magical tradition, especially for young children. But, as with all important family rituals, we each have our own take on how it should be done.

Stockings, pillowcases or Santa sacks?

The first Christmas stockings were just plain old socks. But for many of us, the contents of our sock drawers don’t fill us with Christmas cheer. That’s why we tend to invest in bright and beautiful purpose-made Christmas stockings.

Some of the crafty among us like to make our own stockings. Check out this fabulous Christmas stocking tutorial from Melissa of Sew like my mom. We especially love the idea of appliqueing your kids’ initials onto their stockings – too cute!

But many of us shun receptacles of the sock-shaped variety, preferring stocking alternatives...

Back in the day, before jumbo Christmas stockings were readily available, generous parents filled their kids’ pillowcases with treats. And for Sally of Miydiy, Christmas pillowcases are a no-brainer:

“I still don’t really ‘get’ the point of stockings… they’re small, they’re an awkward shape and I doubt many of the things on Santa wishlists would fit into a stocking anyway.”

Check out her tutorial on how to make gorgeous Christmassy pillowcases that will do just the job!

And Santa sacks bulging with gifts are another modern alternative to the Christmas stocking. Our hessian Santa sack (pictured above right) looks like it’s fallen straight off the big man’s sleigh.

Stocking staples

What do you put inside your Christmas stockings? There are a few stocking staples that most people agree on:

Oranges / tangerines
For many of us a Christmas stocking just isn’t a Christmas stocking without an orange or tangerine at the bottom of it. Like many traditions, the origins are little unclear – some say it’s because they look like St Nicholas’s little bags of gold, others because once upon a time these fruits were a rare treat saved only for special occasions.

Chocolate coins
Don’t you just love those little gold mesh bags filled with shiny edible treasure? Chocolate coins are one of the nation’s favourite stocking fillers and they’re yet another of the delights we have to thank St Nick for.