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International Elf Service

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Stocking Fillers

Add an extra sparkle of Christmas Magic …

The Tradition of the Christmas Stocking

One of my most exciting Christmas traditions is climbing into the attic to find the Christmas decorations buried under the year's "I'll just put it here for now" storage. Each November I drag both Christmas sacks (because one just isn't enough!) down the stairs and start the annual rummage past the baubles, the homemade lollipop stick stars (courtesy of my lovely daughters) and that weird flying cow with a star on its head given to us by some Dutch friends. (I mean, it has to be hung on the tree EVERY year - it's a Christmas tradition!!) But the real joy is finding the Christmas stocking or in our case Christmas Sacks - each lovingly embroidered by Grandma with our names. What Stocking Filler gifts will get stuffed into them this year? It's always so exciting to start the Christmas season with this magical Christmas tradition.

Christmas traditions and family traditions

Traditions are so important at Christmas time. They give us all something to look forward to, bringing us all together and creating memories that will last not only our lifetime but beyond to those of our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on. A Christmas stocking stuffed with Christmas gifts for children is the sort of Christmas tradition that everyone can do no matter where you are in the world or what day you hang it up.

Who invented the Christmas stocking?

The tradition of hanging Christmas stockings was actually based on the story of a nobleman named Nicholas. Nicholas was a kind and generous man who, having never married nor had children, used his wealth to help out poor families as he travelled. The story goes that, on one occasion, he heard of a father who could not provide for his daughters. Nicholas, not wanting to embarrass the man, waited until night and then, under cover of darkness, threw three sacks of gold into the house (down the chimney perhaps?), one of which landed in one of the girl's stockings. When the family awoke, they found the gifts and, of course, lived happily ever after. And so the Christmas tradition began of leaving out a Christmas stocking overnight in the hope that St. Nicholas will come and fill it with Christmas gifts to be found in the morning.

Where to hang your Christmas stocking

The Christmas tradition is to hang your stocking from the fireplace mantel, often trimmed with holly and ivy, mistletoe, Christmas tinsel and Christmas baubles, and any other traditional christmas decoration. But, of course, a bedpost, windowsill, doorknob or simply under the tree is also perfect. Never fear, when Christmas Eve arrives, Father Christmas is sure to find and stuff them with all those Christmas stocking filler goodies.

What goes in a Christmas stocking?

Stocking stuffers or stocking fillers. That's the name for all the small toys, sweets, puzzles and other Christmas gifts for children that are usually found inside our Christmas stockings. Another Christmas tradition is a satsuma (tangerine? clementine? mandarin? oh, let's just call it a small orange!), a walnut (I'm not sure, I'll have to ask Father Christmas and my mum why we have this Christmas tradition) and, of course, the customary net of chocolate money (now often in Euro currency so children in Italy can delight in the big fat square €500 notes!!). (We won't mention the possibility of coal!) The point is, they are stocking FILLERS and stocking STUFFERS so they have to FILL or STUFF the stocking to bursting. Many a year I have had to sew up the seams on the sides because of Father Christmas' generosity and my own ultra enthusiasm for this fabulous Christmas Tradition has split the stitching!

What about the Elves Christmas stockings?

ALL the Christmas Stockings in the North Pole - and that's THOUSANDS OF PAIRS of festive socks every year! - are knitted by the North Pole's expert knitter Elf, Lily. She's the most organised Elf in the North Pole and even has her name in the Hot Chocolate book of records for Stripey Sock Speed Knitting. She managed to knit a thousand stripey socks in 53.2 seconds - what wackily wonderful wool work!!

International Elf Service Stocking Fillers

International Elf Service has some magical and authentic Stocking Filler gifts to add to the Christmas Day festivities. Imagine their surprise when your children wake up to find a mysterious scroll wrapped in candy cane twine or an International Elf Service official envelope poking out of the top of their Christmas Stocking. You can add a beautifully illustrated North Pole Map showing exactly the layout of the North Pole Christmas Village. Or you could include a personalised Christmas Elf Letter from chief letter writer Elfie explaining what happened in the North Pole on Christmas Eve 2020. Or, best of all, why not deliver a carefully handcrafted, personalised letter from Father Christmas (or Santa Claus) himself, addressed to all the children in the family? All these gifts from the International Elf Service are the perfect dose of Christmas magic to add to your Christmas Stockings.

With the International Elf Service Stocking Fillers you can add a beautifully illustrated North Pole Map showing exactly the layout of the North Pole Christmas Village? With the North Pole Map, children can track where the Elves are at any time during their work or play. The recipient can discover the North Pole Garden, the Reindeer Shelter and Wood Shed, and, of course, the Elves' Workshop, Delivery Shed and North Pole Mail room where everything important happens. They can also visit Mistletoe Stores (the Elves local corner shop), the the Sleigh Shed, Wood Shed and Recycling Cabin, Soap-Sud Cabin (where the Elves do their laundry), Pine-Needle Lodge (where all the festive sewing is done), and Cranberry Cabin where the Elves sleep. They can also let their imaginations fly wondering what happens in Christmas Cabin and down in the Cinammon Mine.