Socks

Socks, warmth and staying in; the message supplies the rest. Next to a weather complaint it means wrap up, your feet are going to be cold. Next to a blanket, a hot drink or a film title it paints a cosy night in, and many people drop it into plans that amount to "I'm not leaving the house." In a shopping or packing list it is simply an item, and in a message about laundry it is the sock that came out of the machine without its partner, a small joke that works in every language.

It also carries the gift-giving cliché. Socks are the classic safe, slightly boring present, so 🧦 beside 🎁 can mean "I know what Grandma got me" or, said fondly, "a sensible gift." Among knitters and people who make things by hand it stands for the hand-knitted pair, which is a proud thing to send a photo of.

Tone is gentle and domestic. It is not flirtatious, not sarcastic on its own and rarely negative; the worst it says is "it's cold" or "I'm boring tonight."

Why does a sock stand for Christmas?

Because of the stocking hung up on Christmas Eve. In Britain, Ireland, North America and much of the English-speaking world, children hang an oversized sock, the Christmas stocking, by the fireplace or the bed, and wake to find it filled with small presents, sweets and traditionally an orange. The custom is tied to the legend of Saint Nicholas, who is said to have dropped gold coins down a chimney into stockings left to dry. In many European countries the shoe plays this role instead, which is why a Dutch or Czech reader may find the sock version slightly odd.

The emoji itself shows ordinary socks, not a decorated stocking, so this reading only switches on in a December message, usually next to 🎄 or 🎅. The rest of the year 🧦 is just footwear.