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Christmas Stockings - A Very Tartan Christmas
As the Christmas season approaches (O.K. I know it is not quite December but being a business owner means I am always prepared) it is time to start planning our festivities.
When I think back on all my childhood Christmases, the thing I found the most exciting was getting my Christmas stocking. I was fascinated by how my empty stocking would be miraculously filled by the time I woke up and of course, I spent many Christmas Eves waiting up to catch a glimpse of Santa but to no avail. This got me thinking, why do we have Christmas stockings and when did the tradition start?
The History of the Christmas Stocking
How long have we been using Christmas Stockings?
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It is hard to pin down precisely when people started hanging Christmas stockings – either by the fire or at the end of their beds (like I do) – but we are able to say with certainty that the tradition must have been in full swing by 1823. We can assert this as, Clement Clarke Moore’s “A visit from St. Nicholas”, was published that year. We all probably know the poem better as “’Twas the night before Christmas”, anyway this poem says in its opening stanza “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there” which clearly shows that it was a well-known tradition at the time. I know this doesn’t give us an exact date for the origin of this tradition but it at least points to it having been established for at least two centuries.
What are the origins of Christmas Stockings?
So much for the when, let’s have a look at the much more interesting why. Clearly the tradition of hanging stockings has a lot to do with the story of St. Nicholas who was a real historic figure. St. Nicholas was a 4th century bishop in Myra, Turkey. He was born to wealthy parents who died when he was young, leaving him a great fortune. Nicholas used this wealth to help those less fortunate than himself, this trait led to the popular origin of the stocking tradition.
The story is that St. Nicholas heard about a poor merchant whose three daughters would not be able to marry as a result of the father’s poverty. In those days it was expected that the father of the bride would provide a dowry to the groom, being unable to do so would leave the girls with few options. In order to save the girls from lives of servitude or prostitution, St. Nicholas sneaked into their house at night and placed money into the girls’ stockings that were drying by the fire. The girls, upon waking, were over the moon as they could now get married. News of this spread and eventually it became a tradition across Europe from where it moved to the USA.
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An alternate origin story is that the modern stocking comes from an ancient Norse tradition. It was commonly held that Odin led the Wild Hunt – a large group of ghostly or other-worldly horse riders in the sky.
Odin famously rode a grey horse called Sleipnir and children would leave carrots, straw, oats, sugar cubes etc. in their shoes outside the house for the horse to eat. In return for the kindness the children had shown to his horse, Odin would leave sweets and money in the children’s shoes.
Tartan Christmas Stocking
Whatever the exact origin of this tradition, it is a lot of fun and one that children (and some adults) eagerly look forward to each year. Here at ScotlandShop, we offer Christmas stockings in over 500 tartans, to help you deck the halls with Scottish heritage. Our Christmas Stockings are made in the Scottish Borders by our team of talented seamstresses, who use our 10oz 100% wool fabric to create the stockings. Our Tartan Christmas Stocking is handcrafted to the highest quality, ensuring it will last for a lifetime of festive memories.
Personalised Christmas Stocking
Add an extra personal touch with embroidery - add Initials, name or a date. This is a great option for gifts, or to celebrate a special occasion- like a Baby's 1st Christmas.
Please check the website for all embroidery information, including fonts, colours and make up time.
Tartan Stockings for Christmas
Scottish Stocking Stuffers
While we still recommend the traditional, oranges, nuts, coins and sweeties, we just have to include a touch of tartan in our stockings. We have a range of smaller Scottish goodies that make the perfect stocking filler for your loved ones.
Tartan & Scottish Christmas Tree Decorations
Our range of tree decorations are a great addition to any stocking, from elegant tartan ribbon and bows made in a tartan of your choice, to quirky tartan Santa's and Scottish sheep in those classic red and green tartans synonymous with Christmas. Show your Scottish love with our Hamish the Highland Cow or Westie Highland Terrier decorations.
CASHMERE
Our wide range of cashmere is a great option to fill your stocking, we offer gift wrapped sets to help make your festive shopping that bit easier. 100% cashmere made in Scotland-shipped worldwide.
brushed wool tartan scarf
How could we not suggest our popular Brushed Wool Tartan Scarf, with over 110 tartans to choose from, we're sure we have something for the love of your life. Cosy and warm for the nippy mornings and brisk nights, which tartan will you choose?
FUDGE
It's not Christmas with out some sweet treats. Our Scottish fudge is not only delicious it is preservative free- meaning no nasties! Handmade like many of our garments and accessories, this fudge has been made the old fashioned way, using only the best ingredients to give you that unique, smooth flavour.
Clan Crest Cufflinks & Kilt Pin Set
A little extra surprise at the bottom of the stocking for the special man in your life. We can have these custom made in over 123 clan crests, or for the last minute shoppers we have stock of more general Scottish Crests.
What is your go to stocking stuffer?
Tartan Christmas Sack
The tradition of Christmas sacks is thought to also stem from the story of St. Nicholas, who was said to leave small bags of gold coins as gifts for those in need. These bags, often imagined as simple cloth money pouches, became a symbol of generosity and surprise. Over time, the image of those early money bags transformed into the larger, more decorative sacks we know today, brimming with gifts instead of coins.
They are more than just a practical way to bundle gifts, a Santa sack carries with it the magic of surprise on Christmas morning and the sentiment of family tradition. Many families now treasure them as keepsakes, bringing them out year after year to mark the season with warmth and nostalgia.
In 2025 we released our brand new Tartan Christmas Sacks, available to be custom made in over 500 tartans. Similar to the Stockings we also offer embroidery on the sacks, making them a beautiful keepsake to treasure.
If you have a go at making your own Tartan Christmas Stocking or sack and want to share your results or perhaps you have decorated your house using one of our custom made stockings, please feel free to share with us by emailing us or tagging us on Facebook or Instagram, we'd love to see!
