When we think of Christmas stockings today, we picture colorful socks hanging from a mantel — filled with tiny surprises, treats, and maybe a little holiday magic. But long before stockings became part of modern Christmas traditions, children used shoes — not socks — to collect gifts!
This tradition began in parts of Europe, especially in the Netherlands and Germany, where children placed their shoes by the door or fireplace on the evening of December 5th in celebration of Sinterklaas. The next morning, they would wake to find mandarins, nuts, chocolates, small toys, or gingerbread tucked inside. Sometimes carrots were left out for Sinterklaas’s horse — and in return, children received kindness back in the form of treats.
Over time, as the tradition spread across Europe and later into North America, shoes became stockings, fireplaces became decorative mantels, and Sinterklaas gradually transformed into the Santa Claus many of us recognize today. But at the heart of the tradition is the same idea: giving, generosity, and a bit of seasonal wonder.
Today, stockings are found in homes, classrooms, holiday markets, and festive displays around the world. Some stockings are plain and cozy — others glitter, jingle, or represent characters and themes. Many families personalize stockings with names, stitched initials, or special designs passed down from generation to generation.
And while filling stockings may look different depending on the family or culture, one thing remains true: it’s a joyful reminder of anticipation, giving, and celebration.
If you’d like to help children explore the history behind holiday traditions, these resources support reading, curiosity, and critical thinking.
Christmas Stocking Fact Booklet
Students explore where stockings originated, how traditions changed over time, and what makes this tradition meaningful in different families and cultures. It makes a wonderful mini history lesson paired with a simple craft or writing extension.
Christmas in the Netherlands Booklet
This booklet introduces students to Sinterklaas, wooden shoes, holiday foods, parades, and cultural traditions still celebrated today. It helps children see how holiday customs vary around the world — and how many connect back to the traditions they recognize.
Pairing these two resources together makes a fantastic cultural learning experience for December!
Here are five read-aloud books that go beautifully with the story of stockings, Christmas traditions, and celebrations around the world:
The Legend of St. Nicholas — Dandi Daley Mackall
Christmas Around the World — Mary D Lankford
The Baker’s Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale — Aaron Shepard
St. Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins — Jim Forest
The Night of Las Posadas — Tomie dePaola
These stories introduce cultural traditions, generosity, symbols, and the history behind holiday celebrations.
Here are a few meaningful extension ideas for home or classroom use:
1. Shoe or Stocking Compare & Contrast Chart - Kids compare how gifts were once left in shoes versus today’s stockings.
2. Design-Your-Own Stocking Craft - Students draw, decorate, or craft a paper stocking and write: “If I designed a stocking for someone I love, it would include…”
3. Letter Writing Activity — To Sinterklaas or Santa - Encourage kindness-focused wishes rather than just “things.”
4. Geography Connection: Where Did the Tradition Travel? Mark the Netherlands, Germany, and the U.S. on a map to trace how the tradition spread.
5. STEM Challenge — The Strongest Stocking Hook - Students engineer a hook or hanger that can hold a filled paper stocking.
Traditions like Christmas stockings aren’t just decorative — they carry stories of kindness, sharing, and cultural history. When we explore where they began, children learn that celebrations grow and change as they move across time and place — just like people do.
So the next time a stocking is hung, filled, or admired, it becomes more than a decoration. It becomes a connection — to the past, to families, to culture, and to the joy of giving.
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