Best Stocking Fillers for this Christmas
Filling a Christmas stocking can pose a challenge, especially if you have used up all your great ideas on the main presents under the tree. What do you get people who have everything they need or someone who is not quite an adult but no longer a child? Furthermore, you may never have received a Christmas stocking yourself and have no idea where to start. Fear not, as here we’ll explain some of the more traditional stocking fillers and provide some inspiration for this Christmas.
Plus, of course, we all need to be aware of the colossal impacts of consumerism and ensure we don’t buy presents just for the sake of it. No one wants a stocking filled with cheap plastic novelties these days. So let’s consider some of the best Christmas stocking fillers that have a light touch on the environment so we have a fun-filled, happy but much greener and more considerate Christmas.
What is a Christmas stocking?
A Christmas stocking refers to an empty sock that is hung on a bedpost or fireplace by a child on Christmas Eve to be filled by St. Nicholas or Santa Claus during the night. Adults traditionally filled these stockings with small gifts, like fruit, nuts, sweet treats, coins, and toys.
Nowadays, people rarely use their own socks, opting for a larger, handmade or shop-bought stocking. Some are knitted, while others are decorated with patterns or embroidered with the recipient’s name, and they are no longer limited to children as adults indulge in them too.
Gold coins
Legend has it that St. Nicholas threw three bags of gold coins through the open window of the home of a poor family and that one of those coins landed in a stocking that was drying by the fire. This saved the daughters from starvation. Following tradition, you could either place a few real coins or a bag of chocolate coins in the toe of a stocking.
Fruit
Another great thing to place in that awkward space at the end of the stocking is an orange or satsuma to represent the gold coins. Alternatively, you could use an apple, or, If the stocking is a large one, some people gift a chocolate orange.
Sweet treats
Fill the heel with sweet treats – either the recipient’s favourites or special editions that are only available at Christmas. For kids, a time-honoured favourite is a peppermint candy cane or a moulded chocolate Santa, while adults seeking balance may enjoy some CBD edibles, such as CBD gummies or cookies.
Ethical gifts
Worry for the environment and concern for animals and societies is often at the forefront of our minds at this giving time of the year. What better way to have a positive impact this Christmas than to buy an ethical gift? Ethical and eco-friendly gifts are made using sustainable practices with consideration for the welfare of workers or animals.
Since these types of gifts have grown increasingly popular, there is now a wide range to choose from, including recycled, vegan, and Fairtrade gifts, not to mention a variety of exciting experiences. While gifting something special, you also make a difference to the world around you.
Pamper products
The winter exposes us to harsh weather resulting in dry skin, chapped lips, and a weakened immune system. Consider gifting teenagers or adults nourishing pamper products, such as hand lotion, moisturiser, lip balm, bath bombs, face masks, superfood supplements, or multivitamins. Meanwhile, children are often given a lot of sugary snacks at this time of year, so gift them a healthy smile by including a toothbrush and toothpaste in their stockings.
Winter woollens
Knitted accessories like gloves, hats, scarves, and socks make a great Christmas stocking filler for any age since they are a timely gift that is likely to get used straight away. If you have the skill, save money and make your gift even more special by knitting it yourself.
Toys and gadgets
The choice of small toys for kid’s stockings is limitless, from fun fidgets to gleeful games or creative crafts and sensible stationery. But as we have already said, please try and avoid plastic.
Appeal to an adult’s inner child with a toy from their past or provide something useful like a torch or a kitchen gadget.
Christmas stockings on a budget
A Christmas stocking shouldn’t cost a fortune, so aim for a few items for no more than a pound each. If possible, start looking out for fillers early in the year so that you aren’t rushing to get it done last minute and end up going over budget out of desperation.
Do remember the traditional items we have already mentioned for the best Christmas stocking fillers such as fruit and a few chocolate coins rather than resorting to cheap plastic items that will probably quickly end up in landfill.
Scour the sales
Keep an eye out for inspiration throughout the year and snap up end-of-line bargains with your recipient in mind. Capitalise on the best deals by buying in bulk if you are in charge of filling more than one stocking.
Save samples
If you receive samples of anything like makeup or chocolates and you don’t want them for yourself, save them to add to a stocking. Those little toiletries you get at hotels? They are the perfect size to pad out a Christmas sock.
Listen to the recipient
Keep an ear out for things that the recipient mentions being interested in. If they are creative, start looking for crafts. If they are a collector, you might be able to add something relevant to their collection.
Final thoughts
While a Christmas stocking is usually the precursor to the main presents under the tree, people experience just as much excitement opening them.
Much of the joy of Christmas is revisiting historical and family traditions, so it doesn’t really matter if you fill a stocking with the same or similar things as last year – it’s almost to be expected. However, if you have never done a stocking before or you are stuck for inspiration, these tips for the best Christmas stocking fillers will no doubt set you on the right track.