The custom of Christmas Stockings started from the story of St Nicholas who used to drop money into a stocking which would be drying by the fireplace to help out a poor family.

This also started the custom of putting bags of gold or a tangerine, satsumas and often nuts into the bottom of the stocking.  Did you know that St Nicholas is also the Patron Saint of pawnbrokers.  The familiar pawnbrokers symbol comes from the tale of St Nicholas giving three bags of gold.

Although it is the common to find chocolate coins at the bottom of a Christmas Stocking, there may also be a candy cane peeping out of the top.

A fun fact… the biggest Christmas stocking was 51m (168ft) long and 70ft wide from heel to toe.  It was made in Tuscany, Italy on 5^th January 2011.  A lot of presents would fit in that stocking!!

There are also sorts of different traditions throughout the world, for instance, in The Netherlands, Belgium and some parts of Germany small presents and sweets or candy are left in shoes or boots by a window or door by Sinterklass,  on St Nicholas’ Eve and St Nicholas’ Day (5^th/6^th December).  The children may also leave some hay and carrots in shoes for Sinterklaas’s horse.

We have a variety of Christmas stockings/sacks for you to make your own, click on the links or visit our Christmas section to see what we have.

Adapted from and more information can be found on http://www.whychristmas.com