Stocking Stuffers (American English)

The most common term in American English for small gifts designed to fill Christmas stockings.

What Qualifies

  • Size: Small enough to fit inside a Christmas stocking—typically no larger than a fist, though this varies with stocking size.
  • Price: Generally under $25, often under $10. The emphasis is on quantity and variety rather than individual value.
  • Purpose: Creates the experience of discovery as the stocking is emptied, rather than serving as the main gift.

Traditional Stocking Stuffer Categories

  • Consumables: Chocolates, candies, small treats, specialty snacks
  • Small toiletries: Lip balm, travel-size products, quality samples
  • Practical small items: Socks, small tools, hair accessories
  • Entertainment: Small puzzles, card games, novelty items
  • Seasonal: Ornaments, small holiday décor

The Origin

The Christmas stocking tradition traces to legends about Saint Nicholas, who supposedly left gold coins in stockings hung by a fireplace to dry. Modern stockings evolved from practical woolen socks into decorative holders for small treasures.

"Stocking stuffers carry weight beyond their price. They represent the thought of filling each compartment of celebration with small joys."

Stocking Fillers (British English)

The British equivalent of "stocking stuffers." Same concept, different terminology.

Usage

In UK, Ireland, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries, "stocking fillers" is the standard term. The words are interchangeable in meaning—only the regional preference differs.

British Stocking Filler Traditions

British stocking traditions often include:

  • Satsumas or clementines in the toe (traditional)
  • Chocolate coins (representing Saint Nicholas's gold)
  • Small crackers (the British Christmas kind, not biscuits)
  • Quality Street or Celebrations chocolates

The tradition runs similar to American practice, with regional variations in typical contents.

Secret Santa Gifts

Gifts exchanged in organised group gift-giving games with spending limits.

How It Works

Participants draw names secretly, then purchase a gift for their assigned person within a predetermined budget—commonly $10-25 for workplace exchanges, though limits vary.

Key Characteristics

  • Budget-defined: Strict spending limits ensure fairness
  • Anonymous giving: Giver identity often revealed later
  • Recipient-focused: Unlike white elephant, gifts should suit the specific person
  • Time-bounded: Exchange happens at specific event

Choosing Good Secret Santa Gifts

The challenge: buying for someone you may not know well, within tight budget constraints.

Safe approaches:

  • Quality consumables (specialty food, nice chocolate)
  • Universal practical items (quality coffee mug, desk accessories)
  • Hobby-related if you know their interests
  • Experiences (movie tickets, coffee shop cards)

For small gift ideas for women, Secret Santa budgets often align with the sweet spot of thoughtful but affordable.

White Elephant Gifts

Gifts for a specific party game involving stealing and trading—distinct from traditional gift exchange.

The Game

Participants bring wrapped gifts (often with budget limits). Players take turns either opening new gifts from the pile or "stealing" already-opened gifts from other players. Comedy and chaos ensue.

Gift Characteristics

White elephant gifts traditionally fall into categories:

  • Desirable: Items people will want to steal—gift cards, quality items, crowd-pleasers
  • Humorous: Funny items creating entertainment value
  • Regifted: The original tradition involved unwanted items finding new homes
  • Themed: Some parties require specific categories

Other Names

The same game goes by various names:

  • Yankee Swap (New England)
  • Dirty Santa (Southern United States)
  • Thieving Secret Santa
  • Chinese Gift Exchange (outdated, considered culturally insensitive)
"White elephant gifts serve the game more than the recipient. The entertainment value matters as much as the item value."

Token Gifts

Small gifts given as gestures of acknowledgment rather than substantial presents.

When Token Gifts Apply

  • Acknowledging many people (teachers, mail carriers, building staff)
  • Professional relationships where substantial gifts are inappropriate
  • Casual acquaintances where expectations are low
  • Accompaniment to cards or well-wishes

Characteristics

  • Modest value: Deliberately inexpensive to avoid obligation or awkwardness
  • Universal appeal: Safe, broadly appreciated items
  • Symbolic: The gesture matters more than the content

Common Token Gifts

  • Quality chocolates or baked goods
  • Small plants or ornaments
  • Specialty coffee or tea
  • Candles (small, neutrally scented)
  • Gift cards in modest amounts

Kris Kringle Gifts

Another name for Secret Santa exchanges, particularly common in Australia, New Zealand, and some parts of the United States.

Origin

"Kris Kringle" derives from "Christkindl" (Christ Child in German), a gift-bringer figure in German Christmas tradition. The term migrated to describe the gift exchange game.

Usage

Functions identically to Secret Santa: draw names, buy for assigned person within budget. The terminology simply varies by region and tradition.

Stocking Presents vs. Main Gifts

In many families, Christmas gifts divide into categories:

Stocking Presents

  • Small items filling the stocking
  • Often unwrapped or lightly wrapped
  • Quantity-focused: many small items
  • First opened on Christmas morning
  • Sometimes attributed to Santa specifically

Main Gifts (Under the Tree)

  • Larger, more significant presents
  • Wrapped and labelled
  • Quality-focused: fewer, better items
  • Opened after stockings
  • From family members by name

This distinction helps set expectations and creates structure for Christmas morning traditions.

Grab Bag Gifts

Gifts contributed to a common pool from which participants randomly draw.

How It Works

Everyone brings a gift meeting specified criteria (budget, theme). Gifts go into a bag or pile. Participants draw randomly without knowing what they'll receive or who contributed what.

Difference from Secret Santa

  • No assigned recipient: You're not buying for a specific person
  • Universal appeal required: Gift should work for anyone who might draw it
  • Less personal: Can't tailor to individual preferences

Successful Grab Bag Gifts

Since you don't know who'll receive it:

  • Choose universally appealing items
  • Avoid highly personal or size-specific gifts
  • Consider gender-neutral options unless the group is single-gender
  • Quality consumables often work well
"Grab bag success requires thinking about the entire group rather than a specific person. Universality beats personalisation here."

Advent Calendar Gifts

Twenty-four (or twenty-five) small gifts counted down through December.

Traditional Advent Calendars

Originally featured small images behind paper doors, revealed daily from December 1st to Christmas. Modern versions have evolved dramatically.

Gift-Filled Advent Calendars

Now common: calendars containing actual items rather than images:

  • Chocolate calendars: Small chocolate behind each door
  • Beauty calendars: Mini cosmetic products daily
  • Toy calendars: Small LEGO sets, figurines, or toys
  • DIY versions: Personally filled with chosen small gifts

DIY Advent Gift Ideas

Creating a personal advent calendar requires 24-25 tiny gifts:

  • Individual chocolates or candies
  • Small beauty items (single sheet masks, lip balms)
  • Tiny ornaments
  • Notes with planned activities or compliments
  • Small practical items
  • Miniature toys or collectibles

Party Favours / Favors

Small gifts given to all attendees at holiday parties.

Characteristics

  • Identical or similar for all guests
  • Typically very small and inexpensive
  • Often themed to the party or season
  • Taken home as memento of the event

Common Christmas Party Favours

  • Small ornaments
  • Chocolate or candy bags
  • Mini candles
  • Homemade treats in festive packaging
  • Small craft items

Hostess Gifts

Gifts brought to someone hosting a holiday gathering.

Purpose

Acknowledging the host's effort in organising, preparing food, and opening their home. Not a Christmas gift per se, but a gesture of appreciation for hospitality.

Typical Hostess Gifts

  • Wine or champagne
  • Quality chocolates or specialty food
  • Flowers or small plant
  • Candles
  • Nice kitchen items

Budget Range

Generally $15-40, scaling with the formality of the event and your relationship with the host.

Teacher Gifts / Service Provider Gifts

Holiday gifts for people providing services throughout the year.

Common Recipients

  • Teachers and school staff
  • Childcare providers
  • Mail carriers and delivery people
  • Building doormen or superintendents
  • Hairdressers, trainers, regular service providers

Appropriate Gifts

Usually modest but thoughtful:

  • Gift cards in reasonable amounts ($10-50 depending on relationship)
  • Quality consumables
  • Specialty items related to their role
  • Homemade treats with thought behind them

For understanding gift preferences, teachers and service providers appreciate the acknowledgment as much as the item.

Gag Gifts

Humorous gifts given for entertainment value rather than utility.

Appropriate Contexts

  • Close friends and family who appreciate humour
  • White elephant exchanges where comedy is expected
  • Alongside a "real" gift to soften the joke

Caution

Gag gifts fail when:

  • The recipient doesn't share the humour
  • They substitute for genuine gift when one was expected
  • They mock or criticise the recipient
  • The joke requires explanation
"A gag gift should make her laugh with you, not feel laughed at. When in doubt, pair it with something genuine."

Choosing Great Small Christmas Gifts

Whatever the terminology, principles for choosing excellent tiny inexpensive gifts remain consistent.

Quality Over Quantity

One quality small item beats several cheap ones. A single premium chocolate bar outperforms a bag of generic candy. A quality lip balm beats a collection of drugstore samples.

Specificity When Possible

Even within small budgets, choosing based on the recipient's known preferences elevates impact. Her favourite tea flavour. Treats from a bakery she's mentioned. Items in colours she actually wears.

When exploring personalization ideas, small gifts can carry personal meaning without requiring large budgets.

Presentation Matters

Small gifts benefit disproportionately from good presentation. The same item looks entirely different in a plastic bag versus tissue paper in a small box with ribbon. Investment in presentation returns in perceived value.

Consumables Often Win

At small price points, consumables frequently outperform objects. Quality food, specialty drinks, and beauty products enjoyed and gone—no storage required, no taste mismatch lasting in a drawer.

Budget Breakdown for Small Christmas Gifts

Under $5

  • Single quality chocolate bar
  • Premium lip balm
  • Festive socks
  • Small ornament
  • Specialty hot chocolate packet

$5-10

  • Quality candle (small)
  • Premium hand cream
  • Nice tea tin (small)
  • Beautiful card with genuine message
  • Specialty food item

$10-20

  • Quality scarf or accessory
  • Premium consumables with nice presentation
  • Nice small plant
  • Quality desk accessory
  • Gift card plus small tangible item

$20-25

  • Quality cashmere socks
  • Premium beauty item
  • Nice book plus bookmark
  • Small experience (movie tickets, coffee card)
  • Quality candle in substantial size

Terms by Region

Quick reference for terminology across English-speaking regions:

United States

  • Stocking stuffers
  • Secret Santa
  • White elephant / Yankee Swap / Dirty Santa
  • Grab bag

United Kingdom / Ireland

  • Stocking fillers
  • Secret Santa
  • Kris Kringle (less common)

Australia / New Zealand

  • Stocking fillers
  • Kris Kringle (common)
  • Secret Santa

Canada

  • Stocking stuffers (more common)
  • Stocking fillers (also used)
  • Secret Santa

The Core Truth

What are tiny inexpensive Christmas gifts usually called?

Stocking stuffers, stocking fillers, Secret Santa gifts, token gifts, grab bag contributions—the terminology varies, but the principle remains constant. These are small gestures of holiday spirit, scaled for budget-consciousness or quantity needs.

The name matters less than the execution. A thoughtfully chosen stocking stuffer creates more joy than its modest price suggests. A carefully selected Secret Santa gift stands out in the office pile. The small gift, well-chosen, carries weight disproportionate to its cost.

Whatever you call them, tiny Christmas gifts prove a simple truth: thoughtfulness has no minimum spend requirement.

Gifts are for making an impression, not just for the sake of it.
GiftsPick – Meticulous, Kind, Objective.