What are traditional stocking stuffers and the story behind them?

Answer 1

There is a legend associated with the origin of Christmas stockings. St. Nick, who wanted to remain anonymous and help a poor family, threw gold coins down their chimney. They fell into a stocking that was hanging there to dry instead. Common stocking stuffers are candy canes, little toys, and other small stuffs for kids.

Answer 2

Small toys and the gold-foil chocolate coins.

The legend is that a Catholic priest in now-modern Turkey (named Nicholas, of course) found out a father in town was going to sell his daughters to service because he could not pay the dowry. So Nicholas put money in the shoes. Years later he would do the same, but this time it was cold and no shoes were left outside. So he climbed on the roof and tossed the money through a hole in the roof, and the coins fell into the socks that were drying by the fire. This is why some folks hang stockings by the chimney, and the Dutch leave shoes out.

Answer 3

Tangerines are fun, because they used to be expensive and only bought at Christmas...and they provide a handy breakfast during all that unwrapping. A little sugar candy is nice, like French Creams...Chocolate coins, small toys designed to be lost or broken in two hours, something noisy for 5am, and, if you want the kid to be quiet, jam a book in the top. Weird stuff too.

Answer 4

Learn a bit about the christmas stocking tradition at:
http://www.christmasgifts.net/Christmasblog/2006/08/09/the-christmas-stocking-tradition/

Answer 5

My mother told me the story that Saint Nicholas felt sorry for all the poor children who had nothing for Christmas. So he began leaving small wooden toys that he had carved, along with fruit and nuts and candy for the poor children.

Answer 6

I always got a dime, a nickel and a penny...my grandmother told me that was the gifts/ symbol from the three kings. Also an Orange and Apple because she had some available.