Does everyone handover stockings?

[Methe]

I never had stocking as a child and nor did DH so we have never done them for our children.

Every post I read on here mentions stocking presents, which I understand to be things like hair boobles ( ;) ) sweets and little bits and pieces which I would just wrap and stick on the pile.

Anyone else not have stockings?

Santa brings the stockings in our house. They have to be left just outside the bedroom doors rather than inside the bedroom because dd2 really doesn't like the idea that a strange man will be coming into her bedroom. Dp doesn't really 'get' stockings, he never had them as a child, so when he sees me putting cheap stationary and pants etc into a stocking he thinks I'm a bit mental, but for me the stocking is mostly about anticipation of the rest of the day.

You are correct six, in our house they are absolutely there to give them a few bits and bobs they'd get anyway and definately to keep them quiet on Christmas morning. Mine will be just 6&3 this year and are early risers, I'm hoping next year is finally the year they open on their own and leave me in peace for an hour or so

Ours are felt ones bought years ago from Woolworths. They don't look all that big but can easily fit half a dozen small things in.

Yup, ours were definitely to give mum and dad a better chance of a lie in!

I'd normally wake up at five, stocking would be on the end of the bed, I'd go into my brothers room and we would open our stockings together.

Usually would be chocolate coins, a satsuma (never eaten!) a small book and cheap toys and games we could play together - top trumps, marbles etc until a more civil hour.

It's my favourite christmas memory - sitting snug in my brothers bed, munching on chocolate coins and playing top trumps as the sun came up until it was 'fully light' and we were allowed to go and wake the parents.

Oh, and Santa bought the stockings.

My gran knitted us stockings when we were kids, I love the memory.

So yes, we do stockings, they're a medium sort of size you can fit quite a few small bits in. We open them with the kids first thing so they stay entertained until guests are up and ready for the family gifts.

Never had stockings as a child, and we haven't done stockings with DD either. Everything goes under the tree, or when DD was smaller, a Santa sack.

I knitted ds a stocking as his first Christmas present (and I really need to get on with one for my new dn). Its big enough for a small ruled item of child's clothing, a small sweet treat, rolled up colouring book and topped with a small stuffed toy. Orange in the toe is obligatory.

Wipsglitter - we don't see people on the day. All presents arrive at the house in advance, many when we visit family on Christmas Eve. So they all go under the tree.

Some of the presents mentioned on this thread seem far too large for a stocking. They'd be in the sack or under the tree here.

My mother used to cut a pair of her tights in half and use the legs as Christmas stockings.long and lumpy and stuffed with goodies

I guess we are lucky that we see close family on the day.

Stocking = tat
Santa = 10/12 big presents

You have to have stockings.

I understand that if you've never hd them then you can't understand the ball of excitement in the pit of your stomach when you wake up and feel the weight of your stocking on your legs.

It's like a ball of butterflies that signifies Christmas has begun.

As an adult you never forget that. It might be tat but it's the beginning of everything.

I love stockings!

Always had one as a child so always do them for my DC.

Santa brings their stockings (and 1 special gift or a few smaller things but those go under the tree.).

They have a small Christmas tree in their room so Santa leaves the stockings there. Then in the morning they being them through to my room and open them on my bed. Gives DH and me a chance to wake up properly.

We don't do much tat in them. There will be a few bits like stretchy men or hopping frogs but most is decent small toys, books, some sweeties.

In our house it was always a stocking from Santa at the end of the bed (as others said to keep us amused from the early wake up to 8am when we were allowed to wake mum/dad up). Then one 'main' present which was from Santa, always in the fireplace. And presents under the tree were from mum/dad, brothers, relatives etc.

I LOVED the stocking part, chocolate, silly toys, CDs as older, socks undies etc

We've never done the orange in the toe thing either, didn't do it when we were kids and it was only when I came on MN I realised that was a thing that a lot of people do. Seems totally pointless to me.

Stocking is a fabric Cath Kidston one ....big enough to fit a book, but not the annual size book in. Has things like felt tip pens, chocolate orange, a lip balm. Might add loom bands or stretchy man, or slinky. Probably some jelly beans and a note pad. I try to limit the cost of items to £1 ish. The only exception is that I always put in a multi pack of pants, which cost a bit more. I tend to save things through the year, such as a mini pack of lego which comes free with something,or a little craft kit.I aim for about 12-15 presents.
It always goes down well.
We are beyond being santa believers, but the stocking was always from him. Other presents are out under the tree, but called main presents, to be opened late morning.

we always have stockings - knee high socks which are surprisingly stretchy.

As far as I'm concerned they need to hold enough bits and pieces that by the time the kids are through them the adults in the house have all had a coffee, got some breakfast together, and are ready to face the world of the bigger presents.

I think they need to have chocolate, a satsuma, and a torch - beyond that just little bits and pieces that can keep a child amused for a while.

i love stockings, and they don't have to be full of disposable crap.

we fill with lots of sweets, underwear, stationery, books, CDs, DVDs

stockings are from Santa, plus one present under the tree. The rest I want the credit for.

Every stocking should have an orange and a nut in the toe (DS1 says if you get a nut it means you have done something naughty that year! ) Chocolate coins also shouldn't be forgotten. Something to eat, something to wear, something to read, something to play with and some nice smelly things are what make a good stocking.

Why a satsuma though (or orange)? We've never done them and not starting now.

Never done nuts either.

DS has always has one (he's 10 now)
Last year we started adult stockings, DM does mine and DH's while we do hers and DSDad's. It was actually intended as a filler before church and the pub so we could do main presents afterwards while dinner was cooking.
It worked so well we are definitely doing it again this year :)

The satsuma and nuts thing is a bow to tradition....

In the 12th Century, French nuns, inspired by the legend of St Nicholas – who gave gold to the poor – began leaving stockings full of fruit, including tangerines, and nuts at the houses of poor people. The toe of the stocking would contain an apple for good health and the heel a tangerine because they were very rare and expensive.

Kids, well grown ups now, get them. Stupid little things, sweets, miniatures of weird booze,bits of cheapy jewellry, a lush bath bomb. They are brought in to our room for opening. Tis fuckery law.

Yes to satsumas, chocolate coins and a handful of nuts.

Yes to little presents, but agree it doesn't have to be tat, although a bit of tat is fine.
No to expensive items in a stocking.