Christmas Stocking Traditions

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Why Do We Hang Stocking on the Fireplace at Christmas Time?

Christmas stockings are one of the most popular Christmas traditions as well as greatly appreciated decorations! But, where does the Christmas stocking tradition come from ? Why do we place stockings on the fireplace at Christmas? What do we use to fill Christmas stockings? Treats such as candy and other sweets? Gifts such as toys for kids or that "little something" that will bring a smile on each face on Christmas morning?

One thing is sure: while parents use Christmas stockings to decorate the fireplace at Christmas time, Santa Claus fills these very same Christmas stockings with toys for kids during Christmas night. Christmas stockings definitely add up to the spirit of Christmas. But... what do you really know about Christmas stockings? That is what you're going to learn in this page.

Why Do we Hang Christmas Stockings on the Fireplace?

Origins of Christmas stockings

Janlynn Cross Stitch Kit, 18-Inch by 10-Inch, Christmas Morning Stocking
Photo: Janlynn Cross Stitch Kit, 18-Inch by 10-Inch, Christmas Morning Stocking

We all taught the same story to our kids: they have to hang their Christmas stocking on the fireplace mantel so that Santa Claus can fill them with sweets and toys on Christmas Eve.

This is a tradition that started long ago and continues up to these days, except for the hanging of Christmas stockings on the fireplace mantel. Indeed and, more particularly because many house don't have a fireplace any more, people hang Christmas stockings anywhere in the house.

A common belief is that the Christmas stockings of children who have been good and behaved well during an entire year, will be filled with gifts and candies. But have you ever seen a child who hasn't been good an entire year?

Share your Own Christmas Traditions

Whatever they are: Christmas stockings, cookies and milk, etc.

So, do you decorate the chimney or any other place of the house with Christmas stockings yourself?

Are there any special Christmas tradition that you observe and transmit from generation to generation?

Do you observe specific Christmas traditions?

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Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without our all time traditions!

Darren says:

I still don't know where christmas stockings originated

RocklawnArts says:

We actually open our stockings xmas eve. Lets us enjoy the small stuff more before getting to the rest of the presents xmas morning. Never over-thought the logistical oddity of opening them before Santa came. He brought the big stuff.

symworks says:

We give 'stockings' as presents all year round. More interesting than one big gift - personally I prefer lots of smaller gifts. Yay for stockings!

cibble2 says:

Christmas is a Time about getting together with your family and friends not all Presents

prosperity66 says:

I'm green with envy, Julie! I love family gatherings - and don't mind if we're even fifty! Everyone's welcome and the more we are the more fun we have ;)

Floorance says:

Dom - traditions in our family run DEEP when it comes to Christmas! In our family, all my brothers and sisters (all 5 of them) get together every year and sleep over at my mom's house. With all our kids it's about 22 people every year - it's so crowded but I wouldn't trade it for the world! I've never known a Christmas morning without all of my siblings...and my kids have never known one without their Aunts, Uncles and cousins. How cool is that?

No Christmas tradition for us, because...

 

The Story behind the Christmas Stockings

And then Christmas stocking tradition was born...

Set of 4 Assorted Elegant Holiday Harlequin Christmas Stockings 18
Photo: Set of 4 Assorted Elegant Holiday Harlequin Christmas Stockings 18"

Yes, there's a legend behind the Christmas stocking tradition and, like all legends, it is a story which has a happy ending. But there's more... If you thought that Santa Claus was the first to fill Christmas stockings with treats and gifts, you were mistaken. Here's the story.

There was once a kind nobleman whose wife died because of an illness and was left behind with three daughters. The family moved to live in a peasant's cottage after loosing all their money.

As the daughters were in the right time to get married, their father was once again faced with a problem on where and how to get dowries for the families of his three daughters new husbands.

One night after the daughters were done in washing their clothes, they hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. That same night Saint Nicholas stopped by in the nobleman's house, he knows about the nobleman's worries. He peeked through the window and noticed the stockings hung over the fireplace, an idea struck Saint Nicholas. He took three small bags full of gold from his pouch and threw one by one down the chimney, the small bags landed on each stocking on the fireplace.

The next morning, the daughters found the small bags full with gold in their stockings. The nobleman was able to see his three daughters marry and he lived a happy and long life.

The Traditional Christmas Stocking

A first idea would be using basic monochrome Christmas stockings

Plush Christmas Stocking 14in x7in

Amazon Price: $1.50 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

Whenever you really want to stick to the tradition, the classic Christmas stocking is the perfect one to hang on the fireplace mantle.

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Christmas Stocking Holders

Angels will keep your Christmas stockings in the right position

Lighted Acrylic Angel Christmas Stocking Holder

Amazon Price: (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $15.00

Angel themed Christmas stocking holders. What a wonderful thing to have both religious and festive symbols of Christmas associated at the same place.

The use of Christmas Stocking as a Decoration

Why do we decorate with Christmas stockings?

Jim Shore Heartwood Creek Holy Family Christmas Stocking Holder, 5-1/2-Inch
Photo: Jim Shore Heartwood Creek Holy Family Christmas Stocking Holder, 5-1/2-Inch

Besides the traditional use, Christmas decorating often involve the use of Christmas stockings as they bring a very special touch to the Christmas decor of a home.

Christmas stockings evolved through the years and we can find a lot of different ones on the market: different styles, different colors, different sizes. The range of Christmas stocking designs is very large and you can get almost whatever style of stocking: personalized with your name, featuring Christmas and/or Nativity scenes, inspired by Disney movies, dedicated to your favorite sport team and there are even Christmas stockings especially for pets!

For those who don't want to purchase ready-made Christmas stockings and want to hang one of their kind Christmas stockings on the fireplace mantel, they can even make them themselves, having to just make a search on Google for free Christmas stocking patterns. As a matter of fact, Christmas stockings are a highly successful market!

Nativity and other Religious Christmas Stockings

For a more traditional ambiance, use Christmas stockings featuring Nativity and other religious scenes

With the secularization of our society, Christmas became more than a religious holiday. However, basically it is a Christian festivity. Revive the actual meaning of Christmas with religious stockings.

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Anime and Movie Themed Christmas Stockings

Christmas stockings featuring the kids' favourite heroes

Create wonderful memories for your children. Your first baby's first Christmas stocking, your toddler's favorite TV show, your teen's favorite movie star or hero... These stockings will create sweet Christmas memories for years to come.

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Santa Claus Themed Christmas Stockings

Christmas stockings featuring Father Christmas will set up the winter holiday mood

If you prefer not put the accent on the religious side of Christmas, you might want to use these original Christmas stockings that will bring a lot of fun to the home and your Christmas Day. There is a wide range of unusual Christmas stocking designs for you to choose from, here are a few ones.

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Personalized Christmas Stockings for the Whole Family

How about using customizable Christmas stockings?

Create your own Christmas traditions and get personalized Christmas stockings for the whole family. When adults, the children will take their own stocking with them and continue the traditions that started in their early childhood.

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Make your Own Christmas Stockings at Home

Learn how to produce stockings for Christmas

How To Make...Christmas Stockings
by HobbyCraft | video info

30 ratings | 25,939 views
curated content from YouTube

Christmas Stockings for Sport Amateurs

Hang Christmas stockings featuring your favourite sports team on the fireplace

Is there a sport amateur in your family? Football, baseball or any other sport? Hang their favorite sport team Christmas stocking to the fireplace, they'll be grateful you did.

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Christmas Stockings for Pets

Stockings for humans' best friends

Whether you want to fill them yourself with their favorite food and toys or prefer to get them ready-made, don't forget to hang your pet Christmas Stockings to the fireplace!

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Cheap Homemade Christmas Stocking Kits

Bid on these stockings before anyone else!

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Find Inexpensive Christmas Stockings

Discounted stockings for Xmas decor

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Christmas Decorations, Gifts, Stories, Traditions, Parties and More

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Make Christmas Time and any Day a Holiday

Christmas Traditions and Customs
Welcome to "It's Christmas Time", our comprehensive Christmas online resource. Our mission is to provide you with ideas for making Christmas homemade decorations to make your home stand out from the crowd on Christmas day! In addition, you'll also find extended tips on how to make Santa costumes for kids and adults, Christmas cards, crafts, recipes, gift ideas for those you love and care for, how to throw Christmas parties, tell children tales and much more.
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Holly Day is the gathering of online pals who made decision on creating the largest online resource to help you make any day of the year a holiday. Created in the form of monthly calendars you will find ideas on how to throw themed parties (for example, in July we planned a Luau party), decoration, card, craft, recipe ideas to make for major yearly holidays as well as extended information about international day celebrations and the best holiday destinations in the world.

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Which of These Are your Favorite Christmas Stocking Designs?

Let us know the type of stockings you hang near the fireplace on Christmas

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From Christmas To Valentine's Day, Easter to Halloween, if You Enjoy Holidays, You'll Take Pleasure in Reading these Pages!

Besides Christmas stockings, I write on many different topics!

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prosperity66

If you're looking for the story behind the Christmas stocking tradition, you've come to the right place.

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Martha Stewart's Christmas Tips 

Handmade Christmas: The Best of Martha Stewart Living

Amazon Price: $4.94 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

Get Train Themed Christmas Stocking Stuffers 

SANTA GIGABITES TRAIN 12 CTS

Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

Are you looking for Christmas stockings stuffers? Then, this 12-pack train filled with candy will work wonders and wow your little ones!