Christmas Stockings History & Buying Guide

We all know that Christmas stockings should be hung out on Christmas Eve for Father Christmas to fill up with goodies. Traditionally this has included small toys, sweats, fruit and nuts, but today can include a multitude of expensive toys and gadgets.

Also it is tradition that we hang our Christmas stockings on the fireplace mantel - but of course, not everyone has one of those so sometimes people place them on the end of the children's beds or in the living room, under the Christmas tree.

Christmas Stocking History
The story is that Saint Nicholas gave all of his money to the poor as he chose to follow the words of Jesus. As part of this he found out about three young women who's father couldn't afford to pay for a dowry for them to get married. So one night after they had washed their clothes and put their stockings above the fire to dry he saw the opportunity to help. Saint Nicholas crept in and put a bag of gold in each.

This started the tradtion in many European countries where children would just put their everyday socks out in the hope that Saint Nicholas would return and leave them a gift.

Now-a-days people either make or buy decorated Christmas Stockings.

Buy Christmas Stockings

Not are there many times of Christmas stocking, but there are many shops to buy them from.

Here's some of our personal favourites:

Pet Planet have the Cleo Pet Christmas Stocking Cat Scratcher. It's not really a Christmas stocking per se, but you wouldn't want to leave your cat out of the Christmas tradtions would you? Prezzy Box also do a Christmas stocking for dogs.

>Getting Personal have this cute little Personalised Christmas Stocking for just £9.95. You can choose a personalised message of up to 15 characters. You can also get personalised Christmas stockings from Prezzybox.

Getting Personal also do a Vintage Christmas Stocking for £19.95. This Christmas stocking has the message "Dear Santa, I've been very very good". This made me chuckle! it's 32cm wide and 54cm tall (approx).

Urchin have got this cute Christmas stocking which is made from fair trade material - as far as we're aware. And for £5.99, it's not a bad price.

The Design your own Christmas Stocking kit from Yellow Moon looks to be a great gift for kids aged 3 and over. You get a felt stocking, neon and glitter fabric paints and acrylic 'jewels'. It's a great buy at £2.99. Urchin do a make your own stocking kit.