Christmas Stockings

Christmas Stockings Were Hung by the Chimney with Care

A Christmas stocking is an empty sock that children hang on Christmas Eve so that Santa Claus can fill it with small toys, candy, fruit, coins, or other small gifts when he arrives. These small items are often referred to as stocking stuffers or stocking fillers. In some Christmas stories, the contents of the Christmas Stocking are the only toys the child receives at Christmas from Santa Claus. Tradition in western culture dictates that a child who behaves badly during the year will receive only a piece of coal.

Of course Christmas stockings have become an artform over the years and if you browse below you'll see a huge variety of stockings. And yes, you will realize that this Christmas, a new stocking may be the perfect gift.

Deciding what to put in that stocking can be difficult. Candy, batteries, nuts, cookies are a few examples. What else? Here are some cookie recipes if you want to bake your own presents.

Collectible Christmas Stockings on eBay

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History of the Christmas Stocking

From "Santa and His Works", By Rebecca Roberts, illustrated by Thomas Nast

The story of the Christmas stocking has many versions. The original story has evolved to allow for differences in culture. Here is a favorite version of the story:

Once there was a father with three beautiful daughters. Although the daughters were kind and strong, the father despaired of them ever making good marriages, because he didn't have enough money to pay their dowries.

One day, St. Nicholas of Myra was passing through their village and heard the locals discussing the plight of these poor girls. St Nicholas knew the father would be too proud to accept an outright gift. So he waited till dark, snuck to the man's house, and dropped three bags of gold coins down the chimney.

The daughters had spent the evening washing clothes, and had hung their stockings by the fireplace to dry. The gold coins dropped into the stockings, one bag for each daughter. In the morning, they awoke to find enough money to make them each a generous dowry, and all married well and happily.

As word of St. Nicholas' generosity spread, others began to hang their stockings by the fireplace, hoping for a similar gift.

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