What goes in the stocking
- Candy canes and branches
- Stockings packed with canes, fir branches and holly, with snowmen and small trees around.
- Gingerbread
- Gingerbread sits beside a scalloped-edge stocking in front of a fireplace, with candy canes, presents and a tree.
- Patterns
- Cuffs with ribbing, scallops, stripes and diamonds; bodies with flowers, zigzags, dots and a fir tree.
- Wool socks
- A pair of wool socks with stripes, dots and snowflakes, each topped with a small snowman.
- Fur and fillings
- Fur cuffs trim a patchwork stocking and one with a bell on a bow. Another holds an orange, candy canes and a small teddy bear.
Where stockings come from
The legend
Saint Nicholas dropped gold coins down the chimney of three poor sisters. They fell into stockings drying by the fire.
Other footwear
In Germany, Nikolaus fills children's boots on the night of December 5 to 6. In the Netherlands and Flanders, children "zetten hun schoen" for Sinterklaas.
In Italy, the Befana fills stockings on the night of January 5 to 6. Whatever the shoe, the idea is the same: leave one out and see what shows up.
Near the fire
Five stockings hang from a mantel with a garland, and a scalloped stocking stands in front of a fireplace with a fire, candy canes and presents. Color the flames last, in yellow, orange and red, so the glow fades into the bricks.
Coloring knit
Stockings are tall shapes, so print them in portrait and color from the cuff down.
- Pick one color for the cuff and a second for the heel and toe.
- Give the pair of wool socks the same stripes in reverse order.
- Dress the snowmen on the socks in scarves of the cuff color.
For presents to put inside, the present coloring pages hold the boxes. The Santa pages show who might fill them.