As far as I am concerned, anything that is personalized is exactly that — personalized. It feels, smells, looks and tastes like something from the heart and soul because someone made that extra special effort especially for me.

Personalized Christmas stockings are no different as they stand out so beautifully from among all the other stockings belonging to other individuals. In this modern world of ours where most things are so very commercialized and mass produced beyond uniqueness or any kind of distinction, I vote for personalized Christmas stockings for my mantel.

So, every member of my family and the household pets have their very own stockings with their names prominently displayed for the world to perceive and appreciate. Most personalized Christmas stockings have the names of individuals embroidered and many vender even do it at no charge.

Christmas stockings also come in a wide variety of styles, patterns and fabrics. Some Christmas stockings are made of mash nylon, some are embroidered or needlepointed, some are made of plush velvet or soft flannel, some are made of knit wool or cotton, some are made of felt or canvas and they come in a wide array of colors. Today’s Christmas stockings are a far cry from those which our grandparents and even parents had.

Personalized Christmas stockings can be acquired at many online retailer sites but the following are the best to begin your search:

• Amazon.com
• Stocking Factory
• Personal Creations
• Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland
• Besigns
• The Stocking Place

But when and how did it all begin? Where and why did the Christmas stocking tradition start?

Legend has it that many years ago, a distraught man who became a widower was left with three young daughters. In an unstable state of mind he foolishly gambled his entire fortune and so his daughters remained without dowries which would make them unfit to marry.

St. Nicholas heard about the three blameless girls’ dilemma and rode out to their home in the dark of night. He quietly climbed down the chimney with three sacks filled with gold coins. He looked around for the proper place to leave them when spotting stockings which were hung to dry. He quickly put a single sack in three of the stockings and left undetected.

This is said to be the beginning of the Christmas stocking tradition.