With the introduction of beautiful Christmas trees and other decorative items, the Christmas shopping can be very enjoyable. The one thing without which Christmas would be incomplete is the Christmas stocking. Everyone, especially the kids, hangs these with a belief that Santa Claus will come and put their gifts in the stockings.

The age-old tradition related to Christmas stockings says that the original Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas) left his very first gifts of gold coins in the stockings of three poor girls who needed money for their wedding. The girls had actually hung their stockings by the fire for drying without knowing about the gift of Santa Claus. It is for this tradition that Christmas stockings are being considered auspicious on Christmas. And they are always hung over the fireplace mantle.

The mere thought of stuffed Christmas stockings hung over the fireplace mantle brings smiles to the faces of small children. On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus hovers over their minds. As soon as the sun rises they get up to peak inside the stockings to see if the Santa Claus has given them their much-awaited gifts.

In the olden days it was traditional to receive small gifts like fruits, nuts, chocolates and candies in the stockings. But recently these small gift items have given way to more expensive gifts. Now the latest trend is that stockings can be stuffed with anything from school supplies and toy batteries to art and craft supplies.

The new Christmas stockings at present are made from novel materials like lace or satin, done up in creative shapes, and packed with coordinated gifts. The hot favorites among the children are the red and green color stockings with the image of Santa Claus on them. Christmas stockings are now the new Christmas gifts.