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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(ARA) - As Americans flock to malls and shopping centers this season in search of gifts for their family and friends, they will face a common dilemma: how to stuff this year’s stockings.
“It’s one of those ‘musts’ during the holidays in my family,” says Ryan Bredow, a 29 year-old shopper and self-proclaimed “child at heart” from Dallas, Texas. “No matter how old I get, I can’t imagine the holidays without an overflowing stocking.”
According to the National Confectioners Association (NCA) at www.CandyUSA.org, the origin of stockings dates back to the fourth century and Saint Nicholas, who was known for his kindness to children. St. Nick heard about three poor sisters whose father was desperate because he could not afford to provide them with dowries to marry.
According to the legend, one day the sisters washed their stockings and hung them by the chimney to dry. That night, St. Nicholas secretly visited their home, tossing a handful of gold coins down their chimney. The coins landed in the sisters’ stockings and the tradition of the holiday stocking was born.
Today, 18 centuries later, the tradition of holiday stockings continues as millions of Americans fill their stockings with small gifts ranging from candy and gum to lip balm and toys. With so many options available for stocking stuffing, size is really the only restriction when it comes to finding the perfect items. Consider these suggestions in preparing this year’s stocking:
Personalize: Consider each stocking as an opportunity to compliment the recipient’s unique personality. If they are interested in travel and adventure, include a language pocket-book and a map of a country they’d like to explore. If they love cooking, give them a new small kitchen gadget. And for animal-lovers, small trinkets like customized collars, leashes and combs are a great way to show a personal touch.
Give them freedom: Gift cards continue to be a widely popular gift option during the holidays. They’re useful, convenient and best of all - your loved ones can pick out exactly what they want. Add something extra to a gift card by wrapping it in unique packaging or customizing the card with your own photos at Web sites like www.cardways.com.
Be Sweet: A study by the NCA found that 89 percent of Americans believe candy plays a role in their winter holiday celebrations. And 63 percent said they give or receive a holiday stocking stuffed with goodies. Resist your own tastes buds (we know moms love chocolate but kids prefer candy) and tailor your stocking stuffer treats to his or her sweet tooth.
Keep traditions: What would a stocking be without the candy cane? Americans enjoy 1.76 billion candy canes each year, a tradition almost as old as the stocking itself. Another popular favorite and rated America’s No. 1 stocking stuffer brand is the Life Savers Sweet Storybook.
In 2006, the Lifesavers Sweet Storybook, a nearly 70 year-old tradition, will have two versions – a story starring a boy and another featuring a girl, creating another way to customize those stocking stuffers. And this holiday the Life Savers Sweet Storybook goes on-line at www.candystand.com, where kids can send family and friends holiday e-card greetings featuring scenes and characters from the two stories in this year’s Sweet Storybook.
Make new traditions: No matter what age or personality, everyone has the ability to make new traditions with gifts such as ornaments, trading cards and family photos. Try rotating one item, such as a journal or notebook, from person to person each year. Write special holiday memories in the book and pass it along throughout the years.
“I started the tradition of putting toothbrushes in my kids’ stockings years ago,” says Betty Borer a 51 year-old grandmother from Northwest Ohio. “Today, I still put them in my grandkids’ stockings – as funny as it sounds, they would be shocked to see a stocking without a toothbrush.”
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