A BOLTON supermarket has sought to revive an almost forgotten tradition this Christmas - putting an orange into a Christmas stocking.

Morrisons Bolton handed out hundreds of oranges wrapped in tissue paper to parents across Bolton on December 16 along with a story card encouraging them to tell the tale behind the tradition to their children, ahead of the big day, in a bid to resurrect the fading custom.

The tradition can be traced back to a story of Father Christmas dropping three gold coins down a poor family's chimney which landed in the three children's socks hanging by the fire to dry - today he leaves a golden orange to remind us instead.

Peter Jones, Store Manager at Morrisons Bolton, said: "Like kissing under the mistletoe and putting out carrots for Rudolph, oranges in stockings is part of the magic of Christmas.

"We want to help keep these traditions alive and help Bolton’s parents pass on the stories behind them to their children.

"And if Father Christmas wants to swing by and pick up an extra sack of oranges we’ll be happy to help."

Over three quarters (79 per cent) of people in the UK with a child in their household no longer observe the tradition, meaning it is in danger of disappearing entirely, according to a recent YouGov poll on behalf of the retailer.

Other seasonal customs in danger of disappearing according to the survey include knocking on doors to sing Christmas carols and putting a sixpence in the Christmas pudding, with just two per cent and six per cent partaking respectively.

Nick Groom, folklore expert, author, and Professor at the University of Exeter who has worked with Morrisons to re-tell the orange's story, said: "Behind every seasonal tradition there is almost always a rich story from long, long ago.

"These are usually linked to the natural world, particularly when certain foods are in season.

"But we are in danger of losing this treasure trove of stories. Oranges in Christmas stockings provide a moment to remember and reflect on these stories: what they tell us about life in the past, the present, and the future, and how to keep these messages alive for the next generation."

In a bid to rekindle interest in fading great British Christmas traditions Morrisons also

gave away 50,000 sprigs of mistletoe in 2015, and giving out 100,000 carrots for Rudolf and bringing back carols to its store playlist in 2016.

The top Christmas traditions in danger of dying out according to YouGov survey:

1. Christmas carolling (observed by 2 per cent)

2. Putting a sixpence in your pudding (6 per cent)

3. Putting an orange in a Christmas stocking (13 per cent)

4. Kissing under the mistletoe (15 per cent)

5. Putting a carrot out for Rudolph (21 per cent)

6. Decorating a real Christmas tree (25 per cent)

7. Putting sherry and a mince pie out for Father Christmas (26 per cent)

8. Sending out Christmas cards (65 per cent)