Christmas stockings, Santa sacks and extra-large festive socks. The Christmas mantlepiece decoration goes by many names and has a history almost as rich as its ornamental power.
The legend of hanging stockings for Christmas goes all the way back to Smithsonian times. The tale goes of an impoverished widower and his three young daughters. Struggling to survive on a low income, the proud man refuses to accept direct charity.
Saint Nicholas (A.K.A Father Christmas), hearing of their plight, slides down the chimney to help by dropping gold coins. They just so happened to land in the girls’ stockings which were drying by the fireplace. Slightly fantastical and almost Dickensian, this fable is nevertheless the most widely circulated when it comes to the origins of Christmas stockings.
The practice has been a Christmas staple since the 1800s, with families hanging old socks above the fireplace in the hopes that Ol’ Saint Nic would deliver golden coins, chocolates, candies and more. A larger sock meant more room for presents. This led to the creation of purpose-built Christmas stockings which became more ornate as time went by.
Stocking fillers are now a festive fixture, the only way to kick off Christmas Day - especially if you’ve got little ones to think about. Traditionally stuffed silly with small, sweet treats like taffy and peanut brittle, today’s stocking fillers are far more exciting and varied.
If you’re stuck on ideas of what to fill your children’s stockings with this Christmas, we’ve got you covered. From miniature beauty essentials to LEGO toys and of course, plenty of gold-foil chocolate coins to fill in the gaps, they promise to leave kids giddy for the big celebrations.
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Jellycat Lavender Dragon Little soft toy 7cm
Whether you’ve yet to come across the soft and adorable Jellycat cuddly toys, or your little one has been begging for one, popping this miniature 7cm fluffy dragon into their Christmas stocking this year is bound to delight.
Buy now £27.00, Selfridges
little home at John Lewis Peg Clip Line Lights, Clear
Give your child some agency over how they decorate their space with this delightful string of fairy lights featuring stars and peg clips for their favourite photos.
Buy now £12.01, John Lewis
Frog Toothbrush Holder
Make teeth-brushing time more joyful with this happy and helpful frog toothbrush holder, which sticks to most bathroom walls and mirrors with a silicone suction cup.
Buy now £7.00, Urban Outfitters
Catastrophe Cat Stacking Game
Made up of extra cute kittens in various colours, Catastrophe is the adorable makeover Jenga lovers have been waiting for. Take in turns stacking the little cats as high as possible, with the first person to make the cat tower tumble losing.
Buy now £10.63, Amazon
Jelly Belly Harry Potter Chocolate Frog & Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans
Harry Potter has become the unofficial, yearly Christmas movie of many households across the nation. As such, your kiddo will be tickled to snack on some Bertie Bott’s beans and Chocolate Frogs while watching their favourite festive film.
Buy now £11.30, Amazon
Bandai Tamagotchi Uni
The newest generation of Tamagotchi is finally here, and the virtual pet popularised in the early 2000s has never been more hi-tech. Rather than the old-school, 8-bit black and white Tamagotchi screen, the Uni has a fantastic technicolour display.
Boasting its very own version of the Metaverse, Tamagotchi owners can meet up in the worldwide Tamaverse to play minigames, chat and exchange gifts. What’s more, thanks to the innovative smartwatch-esque design and movement tracker in the Tamagotchi Uni, kids can take their Unis for walks and wear it as a super cool accessory.
Buy now £44.99, Amazon
Lego City 60333 Bathtub Stunt Bike
A fantastic mini LEGO gift for quirky and adventurous kids, your little one is sure to have a blast with this bathtub stunt set.
Buy now £6.99, John Lewis
Rainbow Beaded Necklace DIY Kit
Whether or not you’ve managed to score coveted tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, get in on the friendship bracelet-making fun with this sweet rainbow kit from Claire’s.
Buy now £6.00, Claire’s
Save The Bees - Sow & Co Eco Grow Kit
A brilliant bonding gift for the eco-conscious child, help them grow gorgeous pollinator-friendly wildflowers in biodegradable planters and watch as fluffy bumblebees flock to your homemade garden.
Buy now £15.00, PrezzyBox
MasterChef Apron
Treat your miniature Michelin-star cook to their very own Masterchef apron and encourage them to take their burgeoning skills to the next level. With this in their stocking, they’ll be ready to help prep Christmas lunch.
Buy now £15.00, PrezzyBox
DIY Cyanotype Paper Kit
Let your child unleash their inner artist with this fantastic DIY Cyanotype kit. This set includes handy step-by-step instructions, 20 sheets of watercolour paper, two bottles of photo agent, five printable transparent sheets and all the protective and scientific gear you’ll need to complete your very own photographic art.
Buy now £49.95, Graham & Green
The Bottled Baking Co. Smart Cookies
Bake a delectable batch of chewy, oaty and crunchie Smartie cookies with the help of The Bottled Baking Co. this Christmas and replace those sweet treats that Santa munched on during his magical visit.
Buy now £12.00, John Lewis
Sylvanian Families Baby Seashore Friends Blind Bag
Add an element of surprise to your child’s stocking with a set of Sylvanian Families. These old-school collectables are cute and fun for kids to gather. The Baby Seashore Friends Blind Bag houses eight figurines including a mer-mazing surprise, and each one comes with an ocean-themed costume and accessory to wear.
Buy now £4.00, The Works
MiniU Crayons & Clouds Gift Set
Make every bath time an artistic adventure with this child-friendly, colour-changing cloud bath bomb and set of crayons designed specifically for use on the tub.
Buy now £14.75, Childrensalon
Daylesford Iced Sheep Biscuit
No stocking is complete without a delicious sweet treat. This adorable iced biscuit from Daylesford features a dancing sheep with a festive hat on, and it’s sure to delight your little ones on Christmas morning.
Buy now £5.99, Daylesford
Polly Pocket Compact Flower Garden Bunny
Leap into Polly’s world with the Polly Pocket Compact Flower Garden Bunny. A toy that can be used for water play, it contains colour-changing pieces and a splash pad. Create your own story with a helping hand from the 12 accessories provided, spanning swings for dolls and a swan boat for serene bath activities.
Strap the purple wristband on and take the compact to friend’s houses for Polly Pocket playdates.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Pretty Sticky Washi Tape
Use this goregous, easy-peel washi tape to decorate your hand-written notes, or to highlight certain passages in your textbooks.
Buy now £6.40, Papier
LEGO Hardcover Pencil Case, White
One for the LEGO enthusiasts among us, this compact pencil box comes with a mini figure which can be clipped onto one of the integrated LEGO surfaces, so you’ll have a fun desk buddy to accompany your studies.
Buy now £8.99, John Lewis
John Lewis Christmas Advert 2023 Snapper Character 3D Slippers, Green, 11 Jnr
A delight for your little one's festive feet, they're sure to spend the rest of Christmas Day trotting around with these bright green fuzzy slippers.
Buy now £15.00, John Lewis
Tala Unicorn Stainless Steel Cookie Cutter
Create magical unicorn cookies on Christmas morning with the help of this child-friendly cookie cutter from Tala.
Buy now £6.00, John Lewis
