Help with stockings

[Splatling]

We don't usually get stockings, but this year we're in a new house, and have a fireplace so the kids wanted to get some. I have seem some stocking hooks on Amazon, but looks like they have a sticky surface to stay on - am worried this will damage the wood.

How else can we hang the stockings up? Any ideas for what to put in the stockings? Do you wrap stuff and then put them in the stockings, and should they get filled up on Christmas Eve? But stay up empty until then?

Sorry for all the daft questions - it was never a tradition in our house, and it will help me get it right! Thanks :)

We put stockings out on Christmas Eve in front of the fire as they get a bit heavy to hang. Also be aware if they have chocolate in they cannot get too hot!!! When dc were little they had colouring bits, small box Lego, bubble bath, book, some fun socks and pants, a small game, chocolate etc. I wrap mine as I think it is more exciting but you do not have to. My dc have always loved their stocking more than anything!!

We hang ours at the end of our beds... no fireplace action at all.

Contents include the favourite crisps and sweets of each child... including normally banned stuff like chewing gum and wotsits.

Also makeup, stationery, books, a couple of small toys. Chocolate coins.
Traditional is to put an apple and an orange and a coin in the bottom.

We just put pillow cases by the tv which is where our blocked out chimney is. This is also what my parents did.

The range do tiny felt stocking tree baubles which are very sweet. I use a tiny bit of masking tape and tape them to the underside of the mantle, then Santa takes them down and magically replaces them with the real stockings on Christmas Eve

@Youseethethingis that is genius!!! If only I had know that trick!

I got these off Amazon and seem quite effective.

Thank you everyone, some lovely ideas!

We could never get them to stay up on the fireplace so we hang them on the door handles.

They are then filled Xmas eve night after the kids are in bed with unwrapped gifts and sweets.

Traditionally stockings were a dowry is given by St nick to the families of poor women so don't forget either some real money (like a pound coin) or more modernly some edible money (chocolate coins are the most popular option, I even saw Poundland selling chocolate £5/£10/£20 notes though lol) and an orange (either real or chocolate) is a classic tradition for the stocking too.

@mam0918

We could never get them to stay up on the fireplace so we hang them on the door handles.

They are then filled Xmas eve night after the kids are in bed with unwrapped gifts and sweets.

Traditionally stockings were a dowry is given by St nick to the families of poor women so don't forget either some real money (like a pound coin) or more modernly some edible money (chocolate coins are the most popular option, I even saw Poundland selling chocolate £5/£10/£20 notes though lol) and an orange (either real or chocolate) is a classic tradition for the stocking too.

Thank you, I wasn't aware about the money or the orange - will try to remember this!

We always wrap, as as child I don’t think there is anything more magical than thank the sound and feel of rustling stocking when you touch it.

Yes wrap everything, tiny wrapped gifts are adorable I also put little bells on some gifts (super cheap gift wrap set from Tiger last year) so it makes noise too!

For filling I am quite big on stockings and went a bit OTT last year with them so just do what you can fit but ideas I have listed down are:

Soft toy poking out of top
DIY Glass jar of hot chocolate mix - edible glitter, min choc stars etc
Bath bomb from Lush
Body spray
Cute hair accessories - Claire's
Novelty Lip Balm - Claire's
Small Book
Nice notebook/activity book
Small craft item or set e.g. jar of beads or clay sticks
Nice pen or pencil
Novelty/character water bottle
Shiny geology stones
Stickers
Mini puzzle
Rolled up magazine
Small clothing items - novelty socks, knitwear gloves, character pants
Small collectible if kids are collecting anything – Schleich animals
Small tradition toys - Tiger, Rex London, John Lewis
Blind bag toys
Chocolate orange
Sugar mice
Candy cane
Chocolate coins
Big Swirly lollipop
Hot chocolate bomb

You can get stocking holders that clip or sit on the mantlepiece.

You can get cast iron stocking hangers, just search on Amazon or Google You still have to watch the weight of them though!

We put stockings at the end of the bed empty on Christmas Eve and lay sacks out in front of the fireplace. Then they’re magically filled by Christmas morning. All presents wrapped and Santa wraps in a different colour to Mummy and Daddy so DDs can see the difference and there is no concern about why Santa brought someone a Nintendo Switch and someone else at school only got a new hat and gloves.

In stockings, we put (DD1 is 7 and DD2 is 1):
Chocolate
Pens
Stickers
Little toys
Hair accessories
Etc.

Ours are hung on little pegs with fairy lights, but only whilst empty.
I then fill them on Xmas Eve and leave them by the tree in front of their sack of presents.

Thanks all, I wasn't sure if those holders would be strong enough - will have to just try and see.

@TheFairPrincess that's a pretty extensive list! Thank you for sharing, some lovely ideas there - plenty, in fact :)

My DC's stockings hang on small nails hammered into the fireplace. No need to wrap as the stocking is the wrapping imo! I always put in socks, chocolate coins, a satsuma, a candy cane hanging on the outside and a cuddly peeking out the top. Then a few other little bits. I've put in hair bobbles, facemasks, jelly tots tube, hair product and a book light this year.

We don't have a chimney and 10 years of horrific sleepers means I have never once thought of putting stockings on their beds like my mum did for me (it is lovely stretching out half asleep and feeling the weight of a filled stocking).

We place the stocking on the floor by the tree. It is then filled by Father Christmas. Everything under the tree is from family.

We use small nails / tacks in the fireplace and hang empty stockings up as part of the decorations when we put the tree up.

Then on Christmas Eve once DD are in bed, we fill the stockings up with small wrapped gifts. Generally we include gold coins, highly coveted sweets and then anything else small enough to fit inside. This year I bought a load of tat fun stuff from Pound Toy which meets the need for slime etc x