Another thread about stockings

[PebblesMK]

I've read a few of the threads about Christmas stockings and what people put in them. I've read that it's small things like candy or knickknacks. Is that how a lot of people do stockings, something that isn't of huge importance? Growing up, my favorite thing was going to my grandparents house where on Christmas Eve about 70 stockings would be hung up on the fireplace (all hand knitted by my grandma with our names with a different "picture" each). On Christmas morning, we'd wake up and run to the living room and find that Santa had stuffed and filled our stockings to bulging proportions and gifts that didn't fit sitting next to it. They were spread all over, couches, chairs, tables, floor space. It was the most magical part about Christmas. Stockings definitely contain some of the best gifts. Because we had so many people, the gifts under the tree came out about 7-8 feet and were about 4 or 5 feet high, but even with that amazing sight....the stockings were the best. I guess I feel a bit sad that some people don't experience that. So my question is, are stockings that big of a deal or do you have traditions with stockings?

I'll try to find a picture to post of the before and after of this fantastic event!

 

[AshleyW]

I've read a few of the threads about Christmas stockings and what people put in them. I've read that it's small things like candy or knickknacks. Is that how a lot of people do stockings, something that isn't of huge importance? Growing up, my favorite thing was going to my grandparents house where on Christmas Eve about 70 stockings would be hung up on the fireplace (all hand knitted by my grandma with our names with a different "picture" each). On Christmas morning, we'd wake up and run to the living room and find that Santa had stuffed and filled our stockings to bulging proportions and gifts that didn't fit sitting next to it. They were spread all over, couches, chairs, tables, floor space. It was the most magical part about Christmas. Stockings definitely contain some of the best gifts. Because we had so many people, the gifts under the tree came out about 7-8 feet and were about 4 or 5 feet high, but even with that amazing sight....the stockings were the best. I guess I feel a bit sad that some people don't experience that. So my question is, are stockings that big of a deal or do you have traditions with stockings?

I'll try to find a picture to post of the before and after of this fantastic event!

I had what I consider a normal stocking, at least between my friends and I. I usually got a TON of candy (chocolate oranges, fudge, chocolate coins, etc.), a movie, usually some kind of jewelry (earrings or a necklace), a gift card, and lots of small knick knack things - new soaps, toothbrush, things like that.

 

[Bluestars]

I have always filled my kids' stockings with small wrapped gifts and candy. And yes, the gifts always overflow and some end up surrounding the stocking. My kids have always had fun opening the little gifts.

Also, I wrap the stocking gifts so that my kids have something to open while I get dressed in the morning. It buys me a little extra time. The gifts are just random things like cologne, small games, key chains, and other little things.

 

[C.Ann]

We always wrap - and put "bulky" things in the stockings right along with the smaller things.. If it will fit in the stocking, it goes in..

 

[maslex]

Growing up we LOVED our stockings. I know I've read that some people always open theirs up first but my dad always had us open the stockings up after we were all done opening our presents under the tree. His thought was this....."there's always a tiny bit of sadness once all the gifts are open even though you're excited on what you got.....but THEN there's the stocking and it means you get just a little bit more" LOL So he always made us wait. We would get the official orange on the bottom and then filled with tons of little candy and trinkets (hair clips, lip gloss, mittens, little toys, crayons, etc) There was never anything of "importance" like another gift per se, but it was so much fun having that little extra after everything is done.

With that said, I do the same with my boys (and they're 12 & 14 now) But I don't care what I put in the stockings....some people don't put "expensive" things in the stockings like video games, movies, etc but my train of thought is....if it fits, it can go in the stocking. The usual things in my boys stockings are a video game, movie, their favorite candy, toothbrush, deodorant, gift cards or money inside of a card, my oldest will get an air freshner for his car LOL, etc)

I'm actually playing a little trick with them this year. With the economy being the way it is, I explained to them that there wouldn't be what they normally get under the tree this year. They said fine but could you please get us "......." (the thing they wanted the most) For my oldest it would be a Nascar Jimmy Johnson expansion set for his model trains and for my youngest it would be a BB rifle. So in their stocking at the way bottom, I will have a little clue for them to go on a "treasure hunt" to find another gift (which will be the gift that they've been wanting) LOL

 

[AnnaS]

I will put various things in there - inexpensive to expensive. There is always some kind of candy. There might be gift cards (gas, xbox onlive, store, etc.). I also might put in there lip gloss, make-up (for my daughter) and deodorant, cartridges for my sons, etc.

They are hanging so they are stuffed and not over-flowing on the couch or anywhere - I guess that is our tradition, lol.

 

[maslex]

I know I just posted above but the stocking thread reminded me of a story about 8 years ago. My boys were about 4-5 at the time. Now I get up in the middle of the night EVERY NIGHT!!! Well, I got up at around 2am on Christmas morning and notice there is light coming from the living room. Not a bright light but like the Christmas tree was on or something. So I go in to see what the deal was. As I get closer I hear a bunch of giggles coming from there. I'm thinking the boys got up and were so excited to see what Santa brought. WRONG!!!! There they are, both in their feetie-pajamas, sitting in the middle of the floor with their stockings & contents of it strewn all over the place and eating EVERY single piece of chocolate that was in there. There were candy papers every where and chocolate smeared across their faces. I was so angry and hurt (since the stockings for us were so exciting) that they wouldn't have a stocking now when the woke up Christmas morning. I was horrified. LOL Now looking back, I think it was hilarious and wish I would have thought at that moment to grab the camera and take a picture. That one would have made a great scrapbook page!!! Oh well, they paid for it the next day though with a belly ache.

 

[MIGrandma]

I enjoyed my stocking when I was a kid, I don't remember anything big and important ever being in there. It was mostly candy, an orange, a few small gifts.

I have always filled stockings for my kids until they left home, and now my grandchildren (5). I did ask my two older grands (16 and 13) if they still wanted me to fill their stockings, or if they'd prefer a gift card to a store. My 16-year-old granddaughter still wants her stocking. My 13-year-old grandson didn't give me an answer, so he's still getting a stocking.

It's fun to fill them, and the very first thing that goes into the toe is a bag of "chocolate money" wrapped in gold foil. They know that, and expect that. I haven't found them yet this year, hopefully today.

I put a lot of candy and gum in their stockings, but other stuff too (age and gender appropriate), and sometimes a CD or a DVD they want. Jewelry for the girls, and hair accessories. The two little boys (age 4) are easy to do, but the 13-year-old boy is getting harder. I enjoy it though, and they enjoy it too so I'll keep doing it.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I wrap nearly everything in the stocking (even the candy) and the kids love their stockings. They go to their stockings before they got to the tree. They like unwrapping all of the smaller gifts.

I put gifts that'll fit into the stocking in the stocking, so most years they get stuff like a ds game, CD, and/or dvd in there. They also get a bottle of Coke and some candy in their stocking, as well as a few "fillers" such as a card game, nail polish for dd, a paperback book, etc.

Every year, they get a Christmas ornament in their stocking and that ornament is something that is significant for them that year. When they move out of the house, they will have a collection of childhood ornaments to take with them for their own Christmas trees.

 

[maslex]

I wrap nearly everything in the stocking (even the candy) and the kids love their stockings. They go to their stockings before they got to the tree. They like unwrapping all of the smaller gifts.

I put gifts that'll fit into the stocking in the stocking, so most years they get stuff like a ds game, CD, and/or dvd in there. They also get a bottle of Coke and some candy in their stocking, as well as a few "fillers" such as a card game, nail polish for dd, a paperback book, etc.

Every year, they get a Christmas ornament in their stocking and that ornament is something that is significant for them that year. When they move out of the house, they will have a collection of childhood ornaments to take with them for their own Christmas trees.

I forgot to say an ornament also. We have bought them one each year since they were born. And each year I keep telling them that when they move out, they will already have a start on their ornaments, since they are getting all of theirs. They seem excited and can't wait each year to see which ornament they are getting. I also ALWAYS get them each one of the big Hershey kisses. THEY LOVE IT and basically expect it each year. They've told me that it just wouldn't be Christmas without it!!! LOL

 

[golfgal]

We put smaller gifts into the stockings and the kids have always been able to open those before anything else--usually it is DS14 waiting for his siblings to wake up (we have strange kids-they have NEVER woken up early on Christmas morning). Typically they will get candy and small things like lip gloss, batteries for various toys, Axe spray for the boys, etc. This year they will probably get candy and gift cards in their stockings. I have never wrapped their stocking things but a couple years ago my Step-mom did and the kids had fun with that so I do that now.

 

[Dismom+two]

Including my dh and I....as well as two long-term boyfriends....I fill NINE Christmas stocking! Needless to say I DO NOT wrap the stocking stuffers.

Come to think of it...I need to start buying stuffers. I usually go out just one day and get all of that. I had thought a year ago of getting a storage container and buying things throughout the year so come this time...I can just rummage through all this stuff and well....stuff the stockings. Unfortunately, I didn't do it...maybe for next year!

 

[The Princess]

I hate stuffing the stocking I'd rather give them money instead of the stocking but they want their stockings stuffed.

 

[C.Ann]

Growing up we LOVED our stockings. I know I've read that some people always open theirs up first but my dad always had us open the stockings up after we were all done opening our presents under the tree. His thought was this....."there's always a tiny bit of sadness once all the gifts are open even though you're excited on what you got.....but THEN there's the stocking and it means you get just a little bit more" LOL

This is what we've always done too.. Gifts first, stockings last..

 

[KandD]

We always open our stockings last. Stocking gifts come from Santa unwrapped.
Usually it is tolietries (toothpaste, shampoo, perfume, makeup, etc.), underwear, little knickknacks, maybe ornaments, and the last few years some gift cards have been showing up in there too.

 

[clovergirl5]

We do stockings first. Stockings are from mom and dad. I used to wrap but it got to tedious(sp) with 5 kids worth. I always stuff with candy, gameboy/ds games, movies, toiletries (toothbrushes, character bandaids, bodyspray), socks, undies sometimes

I never had a stocking when I was a kid I don't know why, there were 3 of us kids and none of us had them.

 

[Tweevil]

Growing up we always had fruit and little toys in our stockings. We loved it.

My son gets every year a new toothbrush, toys, reeses, a game or video and a bottle of his favorite condiment - Cattleman's honey BBQ sauce.

It is funny because he has always gotten something like this in his stocking.

 

[Briarmom]

Including my dh and I....as well as two long-term boyfriends....I fill NINE Christmas stocking! Needless to say I DO NOT wrap the stocking stuffers.

Come to think of it...I need to start buying stuffers. I usually go out just one day and get all of that. I had thought a year ago of getting a storage container and buying things throughout the year so come this time...I can just rummage through all this stuff and well....stuff the stockings. Unfortunately, I didn't do it...maybe for next year!

I had to read that a few times...I was wondering how you got dh to approve of you having two long term boyfriends.

I have no idea what's going in the stockings this year. I'm stumped.

 

[a paper star]

Another one here that opens stockings last.

Usually in mine I get gift cards, itunes card, make up, candy, pens, small notebooks/notepads, a DVD (or a CD depending on what I wanted), jewelry. Just small random items like that.

In other people's stockings I have put candles, a small book, picture frames, ect.

 

[marypoppinswannabe]

I think stockings are my favorite thing about Christmas!!! Everyone, from the youngest child up to Grandma and Grandpa get a stocking. We all give a small gift for everyone's stockings. Traditionally, in our stockings we get our breakfast (usually pop-tarts and a banana) along with candy and various asundry items. Last year, I got some kitchen utensils I was wanting, socks/gloves, bath accessories, votive candles, and a dvd. And we wrap all of presents, it makes the stockings more fun for everyone. We typically have stuff over-flowing as well. But, we all love it!!!

I had not ever thought about doing the stockings last though. I might suggest it and see what everyone thinks...I will probably have a revolt on my hands, but it is good idea.