Way back in 1967, I was officially appointed as the family’s Christmas Stocking Stuffer. Since my dad died, I’ m concerned that Santa would stop visiting my two little brothers.
When my dad passed away, I learned that sorrow can be overcome by doing something secret and exciting for someone else. Whenever, I see the stunned looks on my brothers’ faces, I then concluded that the best job there is, is becoming a Christmas Stocking Stuffer.
Over the years, I have gained a few insights about it and so I am offering little tips and ideas you could use for the job.
1) Finding the Right Stocking: Most families by now have their stockings and you’ll just have to do something with what you got. On the other hand, if you’re just starting out or have the chance to set up a new custom, here are a small number of things remember when you select a stocking for stuffing:
? The Right Size: I have noticed that a medium size stocking that’s 20-24 inches from cuff to toe, is the right size. Bear in mind- you have to fill a stocking and a large one could spoil your Christmas budget.
? The Right Material: It is important to make sure that the stocking is made from the right material and durable. Knit stockings stretch out in both directions. Once again, consider your finances.
? If your family hangs their stockings, make sure the loop is durable enough to hold a large amount of pounds without breaking.
2) Places to shop for items to be stuffed inside the Christmas stocking. Your ultimate goal when shopping for items to be used for the Christmas stocking is to save money, to shop for items on sale, to use store coupons, and to go to thrift stores. Here are a few ideas proven to bring out smiles on a Christmas morning:
? Office Supplies Store: memo pads, pen markers, pencil or ballpen erasers, pencils and ballpens, index cards, paper and binder clips, colored pens, plastic rulers, scrap booking items, crayolas, post-it notes, staplers, pencil sharpeners.
? Drug Store: candies, nuts of all kinds, photo film, disposable camera, inexpensive but nice toys, activity books, a nice scented cologne, a non-greasy lotion, manicure set, liquid bath soap, batteries, costume jewelry, a hypoallergenic cosmetic, hairpins, hair clips, shaving cream, hair brush
? Book Store: inexpensive books, wholesome magazines, bookmarks, book lamps, diaries, coffee mugs, cd case, dvds, small stuffed animals, jigsaw puzzles
? Hardware Store: hammers, a variety of screw drivers, various pliers, spray paint, working gloves, padlocks, key labels, flashlight, construction gadgets, paint brushes, vegetable and flower seeds
? Craft Store: beads of several colors and designs, dental floss, sewing kit, scissors with shapes, watercolor, art papers, ink stamps with nice designs, paper stickers, buttons, decors, charcoal pencils, glitter dusts, how-to kits, golden cross stitch thread, linen cloth.
? Grocery Store: chocolates, fruits of any kind, cooking tools, cookies in boxes or in foil packs, small boxes of cereal, bags of snacks, beer in cans, small bottle of olive oil, vinegars in small bottles, snack cakes in foil packs
? Baking and Cooking Supplies Store: wooden spoons used for baking, oven thermometer, baster, kitchen tongs, strainer, cork openers, spatulas, garlic crusher, vegetable peeler.
? Sporting Goods Store: tennis balls set, golf balls set, wrist bands, baseball caps, baseball bats, jump ropes, sport socks.
3) The Choice whether to Wrap the Gift Items or Not: This is an individual choice. Since I love to wrap up gift items as much as I love being a Christmas stocking stuffer, it’s not a difficult option. Every item becomes a little gift – even if it’s a single piece of candy. Furthermore, unwrapping gifts will slow a child down making the magic of Christmas morning last a bit longer.
6) Qualifications of a Christmas Stocking Stuffer: The traits that Christmas Stocking Stuffer should possess, is someone who is: a fine listener, watchful and considers love is in the details. He or she is well-prepared and creative.

Most of us celebrate contemporary Christmas customs of putting ornaments on our Christmas trees and awaiting the arrival of Santa, the Celts on the other hand celebrated the Winter Solstice. The Druids believed that the sun stands still for 12 days from Christmas Eve to the 6th of January. A Yule log was used to burn for light back on those days and the charred relics sheltered the house throughout the year. Mistletoe, which is a sign of fertility, hangs in every house with other plants as a symbol of life in the midst of darkness.
It is the Scots belief that on Christmas Eve, an intense fire would keep impish elves from going down the chimney. On Christmas Day, people would dance around the bonfires while listening to the music of bagpipes and at the same time enjoys oatmeal cake. The major celebrations happened on Hogmanay, at the eve of New Year. These would involve a tradition called “first footing”, where the first person to step inside the home in a New Year is said to carry either good or bad luck, depending on the color of their hair. During the Night of Candles, candles brighten the path for the Holy family, the first footers, and the Mummers. Mummers are often clothed in masks and pass through from every home for music and dancing. The household members would have to guess who the mummers were. On the evening of New Year, they would round houses pounding on the walls to force out the old year while chanting a particular rhyme to request entrance for food & drink.
In Ireland, the celebration ends from Christmas Eve up until Epiphany on the 6th day of January. Red candles would be lighted and decorated with holly sprigs on the eve of Christmas. A seed cake would be baked by the women for every person, three pieces of puddings for Christmas, New Year’s and the Twelfth Night. On Christmas Eve, milk and bread is placed outside and the door was left unbolted as a sign of generosity. On December 26 which is St. Stephen’s Day, every place is filled with football and gatherings. An entertaining even called The Wren Boys Procession is for boys who would put on a costume and hop from house to house singing and playing music while gripping a Holly bush on a stick. They would state that a Wren was concealed in the bush and they needed funds to feed the famished wren, which in reality, the money is for them.
The Welsh which are well-known for their fantastic singing voices and caroling, known as eistoddfodde, is a very famous activity held during Christmas. In some neighborhood, people gather around in a public area to make known who has presented the best music for a new carol. This carol is included to all the rest of the songs that are well-known and frequently sung in Wales. In other areas, a resident is chosen to be the Mari llwyd, who roam around the town in dressed white clothing while carrying a horse’s skull on a stick. Any person being bitten by the horse’s jaws must pay a penalty. One of the well-liked sweets for the Christmas holiday is called Taffy. Christmas goose is also a traditional food and a must. Santa doesn’t have any cookies and milk left for him; instead, mince pies and a bottle of Guinness was left for his taking! They also preserve the English practice of holly, mistletoe, pudding, stockings, and snow.

Christmas is a widely celebrated even throughout the world. You will find in this article varying ways on how families celebrate Christmas all over the world.
Christmas practice #1:
Â? Buy music from the grand English cathedrals. Collect stories about the Salisbury and Worchester Cathedral of England. As you occupy yourself with your music during the holidays inform your family the stories you have collected and how the grand organs were played in these Cathedrals and the church choir sang during the Christmas holiday.
Christmas practice #2:
Â? Set some time aside to do a little special holiday baking. Absorb the whole family in the process. Box up your goodies as presents to give to family, friends and neighbors as they stopover and distribute their presents to you. Encourage your children to give out the gifts of home baked goods.
Â? Fruitcakes and homemade chocolate chip cookies are a must during Christmas baking. Keep on creating your own version of baked goods every year
Christmas practice #3:
Â? As you start your baking mores, collect your tales of the real meaning of Christmas and persuade your children to pass on these stories to their future offspring and on and on through every generation. While you doing the sifting, stirring, baking and preparing the gift packages say some tales to your children and other family members.
Christmas practice #4:
Â? As the time of year starts, read or buy audio tapes of the Christmas story and the Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, or any other much loved Christmas story. Adorn the house and put up the Christmas tree as your stories in the background are playing.
Â? Be a good model by keeping a spirit of charity, peacemaking and kindness throughout Christmas time.
Â? Bear in mind and in your story telling about the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the moment when God became one of us to share our day by day experiences as we do, and that Christmas is the moment in time we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ.
Christmas practice #5:
Â? Buy a nativity scene and have this set up in an important place in your home
Â? Every time a child is born into your family, buy another figurine to put in to the scene and show these each year. Your figurines can be something you wish to be a symbol of each new person born into your family. When in-laws are added, insert another figurine to your nativity scene.
Christmas practice #6:
Â? Commemorate Christmas Eve and celebrate with your parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and other member of the family.
Â? Initiate an open house on Christmas Day for anybody who doesn’t have any place to go to and give a present or home made baked goodies and dinner to those who have no Christmas at all.
Â? You may want to consider arranging a rotation with your neighbors in your locality for the big open house Christmas party to be made each year.
Christmas practice #7:
Â? Dress your kids up in costumes like Mary and Joseph and hop from house to house, requesting if they can come in to sing Christmas carols or deliver baked goodies.
These are just some of the many ways we can involve ourselves in the joy and hope of the Christmas. Our way of life will teach our children a relevant lesson in life of the reason why Christ was born and how he would like us to treat one another – with utmost love and kindness.