Christmas crackers are a traditional Christmas favorite in the UK and other Commonwealth countries. They are tube-shaped cardboard containers that have a prize, joke, paper crown, and snap inside. When two people pull on either end of the cracker, it splits open with a popping sound. Christmas crackers add fun and excitement to holiday celebrations.
What are Christmas crackers?
A Christmas cracker is a brightly colored paper tube sealed on both ends and twisted in the middle. The tubes are filled with a strip of chemically treated paper that emits a popping sound when pulled apart. Most Christmas crackers contain:
- A paper crown or hat
- A small gift or toy
- A paper slip with a joke, riddle, or saying
Christmas crackers are placed on dining tables and pulled apart before or after Christmas meals as part of holiday celebrations. When the cracker snaps open, the person left holding the bigger half keeps the contents inside. Wearing the paper crown and reading the jokes are tradition. The gifts inside can include small toys, puzzles, stickers, jewelry, and more.
History of Christmas Crackers
Christmas crackers were invented by British confectioner Tom Smith in 1847. He was inspired by the French bonbon, a type of candy wrapped in paper that cracked when opened. Smith sold the first crackers as an evolved bonbon with a love motto inside. His early versions simply had a popping sound with no snapping mechanism. In 1860, he added the “snap” element by putting chemicals treated strips of paper between the halves that created the snapping sound.
The crackers grew in popularity throughout the late 1800s. As sales increased, the gifts and jokes were added inside. Fancy decorated crackers with lavish gifts became a status symbol in well-to-do households. Lower priced crackers allowed all economic classes to partake in the fun. By the early 1900s, crackers were produced in large factories and had become a mainstream British Christmas tradition.
Early Christmas Cracker Contents
The gifts and jokes inside Christmas crackers evolved over time. Some notable inclusions in early crackers were:
- Sweets like toffee or fudge
- Mini games and puzzles
- Paper dolls or figures
- Riddles and knock-knock jokes
- Mottoes or romantic quotes
Higher end crackers might contain jewelry, small vials of perfume, miniature books, or silver charms. Paper crowns were a later addition in the early 1900s.
How Christmas Crackers are Made
Christmas crackers are produced on cracker making machines in factories. The manufacturing process generally includes:
- Cardboard tubes – Long sheets of cardboard are rolled into tubes around metal rods.
- Wrapping – The tubes are wrapped in decorative paper with festive colors and designs.
- Filling – The inner contents like gifts, jokes, and crowns are stuffed inside each tube.
- Snaps – Chemically treated snap strips are inserted to provide the popping sound.
- Twisting – The middle of each cracker is twisted to help guide the snapping.
- Ends – The ends of the cracker are folded and sealed.
- Packaging – Crackers are grouped into boxes for selling and shipping.
Popular cracker designs are produced in large quantities on the cracker machines. Some companies still hand-assemble custom crackers with higher quality gifts and decorations.
Christmas Cracker Snaps
The snapping sound comes from the chemically treated paper strips inside the cracker. They are made of thick paper layered with granules of silver fulminate mixed with ground glass. When the paper is pulled and bent, the friction ignites the silver fulminate and causes a chemical reaction that makes the snapping sound.
Christmas Cracker Traditions
Christmas crackers are used as part of holiday celebrations in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries. Some traditions include:
- Placing Christmas crackers on the table beside each place setting
- Taking turns pulling the crackers before or after Christmas dinner
- Wearing the paper crown found inside
- Reading the jokes out loud and laughing together
- Using the gifts for Christmas games like charades or bingo
The crowns create a festive atmosphere and the jokes and laughter bring everyone together. Christmas crackers make an enjoyable addition to holiday meals, parties, and gatherings.
Christmas Cracker Alternatives
Some alternatives are used in place of Christmas crackers in certain settings and situations:
- Party poppers – More compact popping noisemakers
- Bonbons – Candy in wrappers without the snapping mechanism
- Stockings – Filled with small gifts and goodies
- Wish crackers – Paper tubes with holiday wishes instead of jokes
- Handmade crackers – For a personal touch at home
But most people enjoy the classic Christmas crackers that have been used for generations.
Popular Christmas Cracker Gifts
The small gifts inside modern Christmas crackers include:
- Foil crowns
- Mini games and puzzles
- Playing cards
- Stickers
- Temporary tattoos
- Magnets
- Jewelry like earrings and necklaces
- Office supplies like notepads and pens
- Holiday treats like candy canes
Higher end Christmas crackers may contain nicer gifts like glass ornaments, ceramic coasters, metal bookmarks, or luxury cosmetics. The gifts add extra fun to the cracking experience.
Popular Christmas Cracker Jokes
Along with the gifts, the jokes inside Christmas crackers bring laughter to holiday gatherings. Some popular types include:
- Cheesy one-liners
- Silly puns
- Christmas riddles
- Clean knock-knock jokes
- Funny questions and answers
- Corny wisecracks
Here are a few examples of classic Christmas cracker jokes:
- What do you call an old snowman? Water!
- What do snowmen eat? Iceburgers!
- What does Father Christmas do when his elves misbehave? He gives them the sack!
- Knock Knock! Who’s there? Arthur! Arthur who? Arthur any Christmas crackers left?
Buying Christmas Crackers
Christmas crackers are very popular during the holiday season and are available from many major retailers. Here are some tips for buying them:
- Look for variety packs with different designs to please everyone.
- Check labels for ages 12+ or 18+ for more sophisticated gifts and jokes.
- Buy early as high demand items sell out closer to Christmas.
- Shop sales after the holidays to stock up on discounted crackers for next year.
- Purchase crackers in bulk online for large gatherings and events.
- Search for luxury, eco-friendly, or specialized crackers for unique gifts.
The average cost of Christmas crackers ranges from $2-$8 per cracker. Prices are higher for premium crackers with extravagant gifts and packaging.
Where to Buy Christmas Crackers
Popular places to buy Christmas crackers include:
- Grocery stores – Often have cracker displays during the holidays
- Discount stores – Affordable packs and bulk options
- Specialty shops – For high-end, luxury, or custom crackers
- Online retailers – Large selections with home delivery
- Catalogs and direct sales – Festive themed cracker sets
Handmade and reusable Christmas crackers can also be purchased on craft websites or made at home.
Christmas Cracker Activities and Games
Christmas crackers can be used to play games and have fun activities at holiday celebrations:
- Cracker races – Two people face back-to-back and race to unwrap a cracker first
- Charades – Act out the joke or gift from your cracker
- Christmas bingo – Mark off cracker items on a bingo board
- Cracker piñata – Whack a cracker piñata to release gifts and prizes
- Crowning ceremony – Vote on superlatives and award crowns for each
- Left, right gift exchange – Pass gifts left/right based on cracker cues
The crowns, jokes, and novelty gifts lend themselves to all kinds of festive games and amusement for Christmas parties.
Christmas Cracker Joke Competition
A fun party activity is having a Christmas cracker joke competition. Guests each read their joke from the cracker and everyone votes on the funniest one. The winner gets a prize like a box of chocolates or bottle of wine. It’s a lively way to enjoy the silly humor found inside the crackers.
Green Christmas Crackers
Eco-friendly Christmas crackers are a greener alternative to traditional crackers. They are made from recycled materials and contain no plastic toys or glitter. Popular environmentally friendly crackers include:
- Reusable crackers – Can be stuffed with new surprises each year
- Handmade fabric crackers – Filled with treats and paper gifts
- Plantable crackers – Embedded with wildflower or herb seeds
- Wooden gift crackers – With wooden toys and natural treats
- Paper crackers – Made of recycled paper with sustainable gifts
Green crackers help make Christmas more sustainable. The eco-options provide just as much fun and laughter without unnecessary waste and plastic pollution.
How to Make Reusable Christmas Crackers
Reusable Christmas crackers are a crafty way to reduce holiday waste. They can be made at home by following these simple steps:
- Cut fabric into rectangle shapes for the cracker body
- Decorate the fabric with stitches, ribbons, buttons, etc.
- Line two fabric pieces with a pops of recycled paper
- Glue or stitch around the long edges of the lined-up fabric
- Fold and glue the open short ends closed
- Add reusable and recyclable gifts inside
- Wrap a ribbon around the middle and tie off in a bow
The reusable crackers can be stuffed with new surprises each Christmas season. Get creative with handmade crackers!
Conclusion
Christmas crackers add a delightful pop of fun and whimsy to holiday celebrations. The tradition of cracking open the paper tubes filled with crowns, jokes, and trinkets brings smiles and laughter to Christmas meals and parties. Christmas crackers provide a cherished opportunity to come together and make merry memories. The simple act of wearing paper crowns and reading corny jokes connects us to past generations who also enjoyed the ritual. While the contents of crackers have evolved over time, they continue to represent Christmas cheer and the playful spirit of the season.