My aunt knit a Christmas stocking for me in the 40s. I still have it and I'll be 70 tomorrow. We received an orange, an apple, sometimes socks or underwear. My aunt made similiar stockings for my daughters in the 60s.
My kids got an orange or apple in the toe, at least one pair or socks (it became a running joke in the family that the girls got socks each year--hey, they always needed socks) some candy, small toy, something small that was appropriate to their ages.
When oldest daughter was a teenager, she realized she, her sister and dad always got stockings from Santa and I didn't. From then on, I received a filled stocking also. The family has continued the tradition. I have everyone over for dinner Christmas Eve. There are bags hidden in the bedroom with everyone's name on it; my daughters and I each contribute to all the bags. They're taken home, Santa's elves fill the stockings and hang by the chimney with care. We all open our stockings at home on Christmas morning.