We didn't have stockings, but we got fruit and nuts and candy for christmas...

I stuff stockings for teenagers with favorite gum, a candy bar, lip balm, new razors, maybe a magazine or gift card for iTunes or amazon.

I, too, used one of my father's socks because it was bigger. I'm ashamed to say I don't remember what I ever found in my stocking. But I sure have a good time filling my husband's, kids and their spouses, and grandson's. I wonder at what point that will stop. When do they take over the tradition in their own homes? It really does get expensive, but I would miss not doing it.

At home we didn't get a stocking, but we would go to the firehouse and see Santa and we would get a mesh stocking with a big red apple, an orange and walnuts too. Thanks for the memory.

We are old fashioned enough that our kids still get apples, oranges and English walnuts in their stockings. We also do little cars, lipsticks, eyeshadow and either lifesaver books or tootsie roll banks. We have 9 children, but the 4 left at home are the only ones we will fill stockings for this year.

Oh, I remember my dad going to the local fruit stand to hand pick the oranges, apples, satsumas and walnuts for our stockings. Then maybe a box of sparklers to light that night. We used knee socks, too. We might get a lip gloss, toothbrush, hair clips and things like that. I don't know how my Mom and Dad did it because we did not grow up rich. But I can't ever remember a Christmas when we didn't get what was on our "Santa List"!!

I now have handmade stockings for my grandchildren. I still have their dads' stockings and it's a running joke each year that now that THEY have kids, just the kids get filled stockings!!!! I just had to cut back a little with 6 grands!! But I do have their stockings stored with the rest. Wherever we hold Christmas, the kids get their stockings first. They dumped them out and sort what they got and the stockings are ready to come back home with me. Many a piece of chocolate, especially Hershey's Kisse, got eaten before breakfast...not that the kids need any more to excite them! LOL

My sons now have started traditions with their own families. Sometimes, it's just bundling up and driving around to see all the Christmas lights until the kids wind down and they can get them in bed. Then the real fun begins, especially when there are things to be put together!

I always got apples, oranges, nuts and candy in my Christmas stocking. We usually only got one present from mom and one from dad, and maybe one from SAnta when we were little, but then as we got older, we no longer had the gifts from Santa. I think Christmas was so much easier when I was growing up then now. We were always satisfied with the things we got at Christma, even though we didn't get very much.
Now a days, the kids get way too many toys, and they don't appreciate them at all.

A half dollar in the toe then a piece if fruit a coloring book (roll it) box crayons, a little matchbox car or a pretty little bracelet, a big gum ball(one of those fancy ones you get in a machine),, a small hand held game ( tilt games are fun and fit in a stocking) and of course a candy cane, Add a noise maker to be used at New Years,a small sketch pad /note pad, nail polish,Boy Scout knife, lip stick (light pink that tasted like strawberries) Penciles with a name on them,perfume (lilly of the Vally was my first)a rolled pair of scocks (fun ones with different color toes)
I use to love to come up with ideas when the kids were small.It was so much fun. Hope all these help. Sure once you get started you will get your own ideas.

Glad I started this thread. It is fun hearing about other families' traditions. I just came back from shopping for stocking stuffers, but my problem is I can't remember who gets what and I always have too much for one and not enough to fill another. For instance, everyone will get some candy, but did I get enough small items for son-in-law? He wouldn't appreciate hand cream or lipstick. So I end up just buying a load of stuff and sort it out at home.

I have to mention a funny experience we had one year with my grandson. He was about five, and he noticed that all the gifts for him said they were from Santa. When everything was opened, he turned to Poppa and me and said, "Hey, all these are from Santa. What did you guys give me?" From then on, I started putting Grandma and Pop on the tags.

We don't do stocking now that we are grown ups :(, but my gilrfriend's husband always calls me looking for ideas for "bulky" items to fill her stocking! LOL