Stockings are definitely my favorite Christmas morning tradition (and the most fun gift to choose!).

Growing up in my family, we always had Pez dispensers and I loved seeing which characters my parents picked out for each of our socks.

My husband’s family has always done a huge amount of snacking with Pringles as a favorite and we have continued both of these stockpiling traditions in our family.

I asked on Instagram what stocking traditions other families had and loved hearing the wide variety of answers!

Some traditions involved what gifts or treats to put in the stocking, while other traditions involved where and when they were opened!

If you need some good ideas for Christmas stockings, I hope this post is helpful!

Over 50 traditions related to Christmas stockings

Fun breakfast item
Think of it as Pop-Tarts, mini cereal boxes, or any of your favorite cereals—it’s a playful stocking filler that keeps the hungry at bay if you open your socks first while the rest of your morning unfolds.

Chocolate
I don’t think anyone is surprised that it made the list. The fun part about chocolate is that there are so many different types – here are some of the items people say they find in their stockings every year!

Bottle of water
This is a simple and useful stocking tradition. One of those gifts that everyone needs and always appreciates, because you really can’t have too many.

Quarter
It may seem a little silly, but I’m sure this will become a charming tradition – fun to discover in a stocking, and honestly, there are still places where a quarter comes in handy.

Toiletries
Giving something practical and consumable as a gift is something I love to do. Here are some of the suggested toilet sock items

Jewels
It may come in a small box (perfect for tucking into a sock), but opening it is always a thrill. Whether it’s a necklace, earrings or a ring, any piece makes a perfect gift. My favorite place to buy jewelry is Hey June. I wrote it all down here.

Lottery scratch off tickets
For just $1, they add a spark of fun to Christmas morning as everyone scratches to see if luck might be on their side.

Fun drinks
Mini Martinelli’s, Jarritos, a small soda, or even a pack of Kool-Aid—little drinks tucked into a stocking look even more festive.

Socks and Underwear
I mean, who wouldn’t love an update to these essentials!? I also love this because you could go very simple or you could have a lot of fun!

Whoopie cushion
A silly and timeless prank gift that somehow never stops being funny.

Clue on the wrapping paper
A tiny slip of wrapping paper crumpled in the print/design that tells you which gifts under the tree are yours. Simple, smart and surprisingly fun.

Bandaid
A box of fun plasters or a small bandage is practical but playful at the same time – children especially love them.

Magazines
A favorite magazine rolled up in a stocking looks old-fashioned in the best way and gives everyone something to flip through on Christmas morning.

Small stuffed animal
A tiny soft toy or stuffed character is a sweet and welcoming surprise for little ones.

Movie tickets
A couple of tickets for a post-holiday outing – easy, fun and something to look forward to.

A special ornament
A simple angel ornament (or any small ornament) adds a sentimental touch and becomes part of the family collection.

Roll of tape
A surprisingly useful little add-on to the stocking and one that is always used.

A new movie
A DVD or digital movie code for a family favorite or new release – it’s the perfect gift for a movie night later in the week.

Snacks
Dried apricots, popcorn, chips, bags, nuts, Easy Cheese with crackers, olives, cherries, smoked oysters – stockings are the perfect place for everyone’s favorite little surprises.

Fun or nostalgic candy
Pop Rocks, Life Savers books, chewing gum, “charcoal” candies, Neccos or treats from your travels, nostalgic sweets make stockings magical.

Small toys
A wind-up toy, a Schleich animal or classic Hot Wheels cars: such a simple idea that will inspire lots of love!

A piece of fruit
From tangerine tips to grapefruit (or even a whole pineapple or coconut), the fruit is a traditional and charming stocking filler.

Socks opened last
Some families keep stockings until the end of Christmas Day. It’s a sweet way to end the holidays and gives everyone an extra moment to look forward to.

Or…Open them first
Other families make stockings before anything else, sometimes even before the parents are fully awake. Socks left at the foot of the bed allow kids to unzip them together and then crawl in for another 20 cozy minutes while parents wake up.

The tradition of wind-up toys
A silly and delightful favorite: everyone gets a wind-up toy. Part of the fun is going to the toy store beforehand and testing them all to find the funniest one.

International treatments
Santa Claus “brings” snacks and drinks from the towns he visits along the way – everything from unusual candies to Japanese sodas. Turn socks into a little taste testing adventure.

Socks selected by the brothers
Once the kids are old enough, they get a little budget and pick out socks for each other. It’s sweet, simple, and takes the pressure off by making everything look perfectly “even.”

Fruit at the top
A banana on top of the stocking – and you had to eat it before opening anything else. A bizarre tradition that is delightfully old-fashioned.

Annual ornament tradition
Each year, each child receives a new ornament tied to something memorable from the past year – sometimes sentimental, sometimes just plain fun. When they leave the house, they will have an entire collection of meaningful ornaments. Some families shared that parents hand-make special ornaments (such as a cross-stitch design) each year.

A snack for each person
Each person has their own “signature” stocking snack: I loved the family who said their house had green olives for the women and cashews for the men.

Socks for St. Nicholas Day
Some families make stockings on December 6th instead of Christmas morning. A fun way to extend the season.

Pez Dispenser Collection
Each family member has their own Christmas Pez dispenser that comes out every year, along with a few packs of refills. Some have had them since childhood!

The Diet Pepsi tradition
Every year a can of Diet Pepsi ends up in the husband’s stocking (born from the year a newlywed couple forgot to buy presents and threw one away as a joke). It got stuck.

A Christmas Barbie
Even as an adult, a daughter still gets a Barbie in her stocking every year. Now she plans to continue the tradition with her own daughters.

Beanie Babies are back
Parents tuck the Beanie Babies of their childhood into their children’s stockings: nostalgic, sweet and completely unexpected.

In honor of mother
One reader said, “A box of Dots candy in honor of my mom. They were her favorite candy, so now I include a box of them in all our stockings. My brothers make these for their whole family, too.” How sweet is it?

Nail clippers in every sock
A dad once shopped for socks at Walgreens and it always included nail clippers. Years later, his children have passed down the tradition, practical and surprisingly easy to handle.

The “S” sock.
It all starts with S: socks, candy, smelly things, stupid things, little things. A fun theme that’s easy to stick to.

The great gift goes in the stocking
In some families, Santa’s large gift is unwrapped and placed inside (or draped over) the stocking to make the stocking even more magical.

The socks are the main event
Stockings aren’t just trinkets – some families fill them with beauty products, stationery, jewelery and even more expensive gifts. The stocking becomes THE big problem.

Silver dollars wrapped in aluminum foil
One reader shared, “My grandfather always gave foil-wrapped silver dollars to all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When he died, my father carried on the tradition. Then, after my father died, my husband and I took up the tradition again.” I love it so much!

A surprise gift card below
One mother-in-law always added candy and a $100 gift card to the bottom of each stocking. The shop changed every year, so the surprise was half the fun. This reader said she can’t wait to continue the tradition once her kids are grown!

Socks instead of presents
Some couples skip gifts altogether and just exchange socks. It feels simple and intentional, while still giving each other something to open up and enjoy.

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