A tradition I have with my family and extended families as one soninlaw has an "x", I have stockings that I have made for each of us. They hang from the mantle each year, and are refilled year after year, by Mr. and Mrs. Santa, (DH and Me). the stockings are personal to each one, some are the fabrics that that one chose or are about their hobbies or their favorite christmas theme. But the stockings belong to me. They can have all the goodies out of it, but they must give it back if they expect it to be refilled next year.
when it cam time to replace my own kids's stockings as they were about to fall apart, "NO No NO! That's MY stocking. I like it!" So I cut off the front, and put it on another fabric for a front, added a backing and made a new stocking out of the old. They had had their stockings since birth and didn't want to give them up.
So it looks like a house full of kids on my mantle, but i wouldn't have it any other way. :)