what's the purpose of "stocking stuffers"

[space-time]

what is the point of these stocking stuffers? addition to a more valuable present, or instead of a more expensive gift?

[graylocks]

they used to be small gifts that fit into a stocking hung by ye olde fireplace. appropriate items were candy, oranges, whittled toys - or coal if you were bad.

nowadays it seems to mean small electronic items or jewelry that might fit in a virtual stocking hung from your digital fireplace screensaver.

[Manlove]

Waddya mean, waddya mean... stuff to stuff in stockings. Seems fairly self-explanatory for anyone remotely familiar with christian christmas tradition. Purpose? Fun. To replenish sock supply. Chocolate!! A book or two. Generally smaller cheaper gifts given by parent or spouse to each other via a woolen or fabric medium.

[Racer X]

Are we talking about Christmas stockings, or fishnet stockings? What you put inside them is completely different. There is some crossover though, as there are red fishnets......

[cbelt3]

There are a number of 'Christmas Customs' that descend from divers cultures (and usually, much like Christmas itself, descended from pre-Christian religions)

As a child, we were not allowed to 'open' any Christmas present until Christmas morning. However, we were allowed, upon our return from Midnight Mass (Catholic) to plumb the depths of our Christmas Stockings, which were felt decorated sock analogues that we had made ourselves at about age 4 or 5. These were commonly 'stuffed' with one 'nice' present.. often a treasured item like a harmonica, flashlight, or a pocket-knife, some candies, a few nuts, perhaps an Orange if we'd had a particularly good year, etc.

I do not follow this custom with my family, as my wife's family followed the German custom of exchanging presents on Christmas Eve.

[NewtonMP2100]

....you won't know until you get your STOCKING......STUFFED.....then you will just love it.....!!!

[pinion]

A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer.
--Mitch Hedberg

[OWC Jamie]

similar to shoes for St. Lucy's and St Nicholas Day.
Or leaving a shoe on the window sill every night for a weeks or so before Christmas for the Lads or Elves to fill with sweets.

[mattkime]

depends upon where you're stuffing the stocking.

[NewtonMP2100]

mattkime wrote:
depends upon where you're stuffing the stocking.

......perhaps, in the rear.........????









.......of the house......??