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Christmas stocking facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
ChristmasStockingsHung wb
Stockings on a fireplace mantel.
ChristmasStocking
A Christmas stocking hung on a bedpost.
Photograph of Socks the Cat Sitting next to a Christmas Stocking Embroidered with the Name Socks- 12-21-1993 (6461509613) (cropped1)
Socks Clinton (the White House cat of the Clinton family) lays with his stocking

A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that is hung on Christmas Eve so that Santa Claus (or Father Christmas) can fill it with small toys, candy, fruit, coins or other small gifts when he arrives. Some people even put their Christmas stocking by their bedposts so Santa Claus can fill it by the bed while they sleep.

While there are no written records of the origin of the Christmas Stocking, there are popular legends that attempt to tell the history of this Christmas tradition.

Many families create their own Christmas stockings with each family member's name applied to the stocking so that Santa will know which stocking belongs to which family member.

Images for kids

  • Stuffed Stocking (11958233475)

    A filled Christmas stocking.

  • "The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. . ." (5354088519)

    Stockings on a fireplace mantel.

See also

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Christmas stocking Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.