Stocking Fillers Through the Years - Swizzels (2024)

FAQs

What were the original stocking stuffers? ›

Initially, stockings were filled with simple and practical items, such as fruit, nuts, and small toys. However, it wasn't long before small, festive trinkets and novelties became the norm, further cementing the tradition of stocking stuffers as we know it today.

Stocking fillers would include: 1950s: A penny, a satsuma, liquorice, an annual, and excitingly, the first sugar mice! 1960s: Christmas annuals remained big stocking business and they were joined by more Christmas sweet jars – Parma Violets, Jelly Babies, Black Jacks and Love Hearts.

A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that is hung on Saint Nicholas Day or Christmas Eve so that Saint Nicholas (or the related figures of Santa Claus and Father Christmas) can fill it with small toys, candy, fruit, coins or other small gifts when he arrives.

Fruit – usually oranges, satsumas or mandarins are included – along with nuts and candy canes. Recently, chocolate coins have become a favourite and stockings, whether bought or homemade, can be tailored to suit any budget or style.

Stockings or pillow cases were left by the beds upstairs, ready to be filled with gifts – if the child had been good, of course! Every year the stocking would contain a satsuma or mandarin orange, a walnut and a coin.

Most people think of stockings of the 1930s and 1940s in terms of the “cuban heeled” or “fully fashioned” stockings that were sheer and made of rayon, nylon, or silk.

Nylon stockings went on sale May 15, 1940, and were a smashing success. Prior to the production of nylon stockings, American women wore stockings made of silk or rayon. By 1942, nylon stockings were taking twenty percent of the stocking market.

1920s Stockings were a staple in virtually every woman's closet during the Roaring Twenties. They were traditional made from materials like silk, wool, or cotton. As manufacturing became more advanced during this decade, they eventually started to be made out of Rayon - a brand new synthetic material.

In a “poor child's” Christmas stocking, which first became popular from around 1870, only an apple, orange and a few nuts could be found. Father Christmas / Santa Claus – Normally associated with the bringer of the above gifts, is Father Christmas or Santa Claus.

We also have German Christmas traditions to thank for the Christmas stocking! Traditionally the empty sock or sock-shaped bag was hung on Saint Nicholas Day so that Saint Nicholas (or related figures such as Santa Claus/Father Christmas) could fill it with small toys, candy and coins.

What does an orange in your stocking mean? ›

They're Said to Represent a Gift of Gold from Saint Nicholas

The father eventually found out who the gift giver was and was so moved he told everyone in town about Nicholas. This was not only the origin of Santa Claus but also one reason for oranges—which represent bags of gold—in our stockings.

Nearly 1.8 billion of a certain popular stocking stuffer are made each year. Beginning as a simple “sugar stick,” candy canes have been a popular stocking stuffer since at least the late 1800s. And each year, roughly 1.76 billion candy canes are made and about 90% are sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

To honor the legend of St. Nicholas placing gold spheres in the maiden's stockings, people began to gift oranges instead of gold. Another reason is that the tradition of the Christmas stocking may have started during the Great Depression.

Another way that stockings may have originated comes from the Dutch tradition of putting out shoes before St. Nicholas's feast. This tradition involves children putting out their shoes before bed on December 5^th.

When is the most popular stocking-opening time and who isn't taking part in this pastime? The most popular time for opening stockings, with 32% of respondents, is before the gifts on Christmas morning. My family always does stockings post-gifts, but I'll allow it.

Traditionally stockings are filled with small and less expensive gifts like Chocolate (coins or selection boxes), sweets, Christmas themed socks, small toys like playing cards, books and more.

1920s Stockings were a staple in virtually every woman's closet during the Roaring Twenties. They were traditional made from materials like silk, wool, or cotton. As manufacturing became more advanced during this decade, they eventually started to be made out of Rayon - a brand new synthetic material.

Stockings cut and sewn from knit fabric yardage using an accurate pattern. wool, linen, or cotton knee socks (because the tops are not visible under the petticoat) -- again in colors noted above under Best. For small girls, tights in cotton or wool (same colors as above) may stay up better than stockings.

Prior to the production of nylon stockings, American women wore stockings made of silk or rayon. By 1942, nylon stockings were taking twenty percent of the stocking market.