What Do You Put In Christmas Stockings?

The tradition of hanging Christmas stockings is thought to have originated in the early 1800s in Europe. According to legend, a poor widower and his three daughters struggled to make ends meet. The widower could not afford to provide dowries for his daughters to get married. One night before Christmas, the daughters washed and hung their recently worn stockings to dry by the fireplace, when Santa Claus happened to stop by their home. He noticed the stockings and felt bad for the family, so he filled the daughters’ stockings with gold coins. When the daughters woke in the morning, they were overjoyed to find the gold coins that could be used for their dowries. From then on, children began hanging their stockings by the fireplace in the hopes that Santa would fill them too.

Another possible origin comes from St. Nicholas himself, who was known for secretly giving gifts to those in need. According to this source, St. Nicholas wanted to anonymously provide dowries for three poor sisters, so he threw three bags of gold down their chimney. The gold landed in the sisters’ stockings that were drying by the fire. This led to the tradition of children hanging stockings on Christmas Eve in anticipation of St. Nick’s gifts.

Traditional Stocking Stuffers

Christmas stockings have traditionally been filled with small items like candy, fruits, nuts, and little toys. According to Home Cleaning Family (https://homecleaningfamily.com/traditional-stocking-stuffers/), some common traditional stocking stuffer ideas include:

Candy Canes – These red and white striped peppermint candies are a Christmas classic. Fun flavors like cherry or chocolate have also become popular modern twists.

Chocolates – Small chocolate bars or foil-wrapped chocolates are delicious treats to tuck into a stocking. Hershey’s Kisses, Lindt Truffles, and Ferrero Rochers make tasty choices.

Clementines – The small, sweet citrus fruits are a bright addition to any Christmas stocking. They are an easy snack to peel and enjoy.

Mixed Nuts – A small pack or can of flavored nuts like glazed pecans, honey roasted peanuts, or spicy cashews add crunch and flavor.

Stuffing a stocking with these nostalgic edible items helps continue cherished Christmas traditions. The stockings bring joy when discovered Christmas morning before opening other gifts. Simple classic stocking stuffers don’t need to be elaborate to create holiday magic.

Santa Themed Items

A fun way to get into the Christmas spirit is to include Santa themed goodies in the stocking. Some classic Santa items that are perfect for stuffing stockings are:

Coal – Getting a lump of coal in your stocking is a humorous way to jokingly express your naughtiness. The coal can be a real piece of charcoal or a novelty candy coal. It brings laughter on Christmas morning.

Candy Canes – What’s more iconic for Christmas than a candy cane? The red and white striped minty treats are a tasty necessity for stockings. Look for fun sized candy canes to tuck in the toe.

Notes from Santa – Kids love getting a personalized note from Santa. Write a short note thanking them for the milk and cookies and wishing them a Merry Christmas. Sign it “From Santa” for an extra festive touch.

Useful Small Gifts

Some of the most useful items to put in Christmas stockings are small yet practical gifts. These are items that the recipient may truly appreciate but not splurge on themselves. Useful small gifts like gift cards, lip balm, socks, and batteries can make excellent stocking stuffers.

Gift cards are a fail-safe stocking stuffer for people of all ages. You can pick gift cards to the recipient’s favorite store or restaurant so they can buy exactly what they want. Coffee shop gift cards like Starbucks or Dunkin are great options for adults. For teens, try gift cards to popular clothing stores or gaming shops. Gift cards allow the recipient to get something they’ll really enjoy.

Lip balm is another useful stocking stuffer during the winter when lips easily become chapped. Choose fun flavors like vanilla, strawberry, or mint so the recipient will enjoy using their new lip balm. Lip balm is an affordable yet practical little gift.

New socks are a cozy addition to any stocking. Look for warm fuzzy socks to keep toes toasty. You could also choose funny printed socks as a humorous gift. Socks are a useful staple that makes a great small gift.

Batteries are an often forgotten stocking stuffer but they are incredibly handy to receive. Get batteries in common sizes like AA, AAA, and 9V. The recipient is sure to get use out of fresh batteries for their electronic devices and toys.

When choosing useful small gifts like gift cards, lip balm, socks, and batteries, you know your loved one will appreciate these practical items in their Christmas stocking.

Fun Trinkets

Classic and nostalgic stocking stuffers such as mini games, playing cards, silly putty, and bubbles are fun for all ages. Mini wooden block puzzles like Melissa & Doug puzzles and pocket-sized card games like UNO make great small gifts to toss in a stocking. Silly putty, mini etch-a-sketches, and yoyos are inexpensive trinkets that provide hours of entertainment. For a festive twist, fill Christmas stockings with holiday themed items like Christmas tree erasers, Rudolph red noses, and snowman building kits.

Bubbles are an easy way to spread cheer with minimal cleanup. Stocking-sized bubble containers, wands, and liquid are available at dollar stores and big box retailers. Other nostalgic stocking stuffer ideas include kazoos, whoopee cushions, and finger traps. These silly gifts will bring smiles on Christmas morning.

Luxury Fillers

For those looking to fill Christmas stockings with a touch of luxury, small yet indulgent gifts like gift cards, candy, jewelry, and perfume make perfect additions. Gift cards to expensive restaurants or high-end stores like Tiffany’s or Saks Fifth Avenue enable the recipient to treat themselves. Customized jewelry like engraved necklaces and bracelets or monogrammed cufflinks add a personal flair. Designer perfumes and fragrances like those from Chanel, Tom Ford, and Yves Saint Laurent evoke glamor and sophistication. Top-shelf chocolates from brands like Godiva or silky truffles from local chocolatiers satisfy a sweet tooth. For the fashionista, statement socks or a silk tie from Prada or Versace dresses up an outfit. And for those who appreciate only the finest, velvet slippers bearing iconic logos like Gucci’s distinctive stripes or Versace’s Medusa head ooze luxury (source).

Customized Gifts

Giving personalized, customized gifts is a great way to fill a stocking with meaningful items that show you put thought into the gift. Some popular options for customized stocking stuffers include:

Ornaments – Get a special ornament customized with the recipient’s name, monogram, or family photo for a heartfelt gift to unwrap. Personalized Christmas ornaments make treasured keepsakes. (https://24hourwristbands.com/blog/level-up-your-companys-year-end-party-with-unique-custom-items/)

Keychains – Fun customized keychains with the recipient’s name or initials make great little gifts to find in a stocking. Add a keychain with their zodiac sign, birthstone, or other personal details.

Mugs – Personalized mugs with photos, monograms, or special messages are memorable stocking stuffer gifts. Pick their favorite hot drink and get a customized mug just for them.

Personalized candy – Make candy bars, M&Ms, gumdrops, or other treats more special by customizing them with the recipient’s name, initials, or fun designs. It adds a personalized touch to sweet treats.

The best customized stocking stuffer gifts are those with personal details that show thoughtfulness and make the gift meaningful. Custom ornaments, mugs, candy, and keychains can all be personalized with names, monograms, photos, and special messages.

Beauty Items

Some classic beauty-related stocking stuffer ideas include nail polish, lip gloss, bath bombs, and lotion sets. These small indulgences make great little presents.

Nail polish is an easy stocking stuffer gift that comes in a huge variety of colors and finishes. You can pick a few fun shades like glittery reds and greens that fit the Christmas theme. Mini sets of nail polish are available from brands like OPI and Essie. According to Makeup and Beauty Stocking Stuffers from $5 to $25, OPI’s mini nail lacquer set has six festive colors perfect for the holidays.

Lip gloss is another beauty item that works well for stockings. Choose a few fun flavors like peppermint or cranberry. Burt’s Bees and Chapstick make great options. Or opt for a mini lip gloss set from a brand like Anastasia Beverly Hills.

To help someone relax after the holiday rush, tuck in a bath bomb or lotion from Lush or Bath and Body Works. Their holiday scents like vanilla and peppermint are soothing and indulgent. According to Stunning Beauty Stocking Stuffers, Lush has gift sets with bath bombs and body lotion that make excellent stocking stuffer choices.

Festive Treats

No Christmas stocking is complete without some festive treats! Candy canes are a quintessential stocking stuffer that bring holiday cheer. Look for fun flavors like grape, cherry, watermelon, or sour apple in addition to the classic peppermint. Mini candy canes are perfect for stuffing in the toes of stockings.

Another tasty tradition is adding an orange, tangerine, clementine or satsumas. The bright citrus fruits pair nicely with other sweet goodies. You can also include chocolate Santas or snowmen, peppermint bark, gingersnaps, or shortbread cookies decorated with red and green sprinkles.

For a fun twist, fill stockings with hot cocoa sets featuring festive mugs, mini marshmallows, chocolate spoons, and of course, hot cocoa packets or tins of the good stuff. Edible spoons in peppermint or cinnamon flavors take hot chocolate to the next level. Kids and adults alike will love sipping on steaming mugs of creamy, chocolatey holiday cheer.

No matter what edible treats you choose, just make sure they are individually wrapped so they don’t create a huge mess in the stocking itself. The sweet surprises inside will put smiles on faces Christmas morning!

Conclusion

Christmas stockings provide a fun opportunity to give loved ones small tokens of appreciation and holiday cheer. When filling stockings this Christmas, opt for a thoughtful mix of festive treats, useful tools, luxurious splurges, and lighthearted novelties. Pick items tailored to each recipient and include some classic stocking stuffers like candy canes, lip balm, and miniature toys to tap into nostalgia. Top recommendations for pleasing stocking stuffers include scented candles, fuzzy socks, gift cards, popcorn tins, and handmade ornaments. With a personalized assortment of goodies, Christmas stockings are sure to delight.

In the end, what matters most is the joy of giving and sharing the spirit of the season together. As long as stocking stuffers come straight from the heart, they will fill your loved ones with cheer on Christmas morning.