Christmas Crackers - An Instant Pop to Your Table Setting
Your holiday table can get an instant pop of color
The holidays are among us and dressing a table for a few or many guests can be made easy by using crackers in your setting. The tradition of Christmas crackers came from our friends across the pond. They originally were first around 1845-1850 by a London confectioner named Tom Smith. He aspired to mimic the French bonbon and include a note, but they didn't sell well until he came up the what he called "Bangs of Expectation" in 1861.
The story goes that one night, Smith was sitting in front of his log fire, and he got inspiration from the cracks and sparks coming from the fire. So he thought it would be a grand idea if his crackers with candies and small toys inside could be opened with a bang! Smith Tom bought the recipe for the small cracks and bangs in crackers from a fireworks company called Brock’s Fireworks.
Christmas Crackers
can add a bit of whimsy to your holiday table. These ones by Meri Meri contain a glitter star brooch, a hat, and a joke.
$30.00 for 6
“Tom’s company built up a big range of ‘themed’ crackers. There were ones for bachelors and spinsters (single men and women), where the gifts were things like false teeth and wedding rings! There were also crackers for Suffragettes (women who campaigned to get women the vote), war heroes, and even Charlie Chaplain! Crackers were also made for special occasions like Coronations. The British Royal Family still has special crackers made for them today!”
These Rainbow Snowmen Crackers by Meri Meri are decorated with a velvet scarf and crown and would be great for a winter birthday party or holiday table. They contain confetti, a temporary tattoo, a hat, and a joke. $28 for 6
Caspari has the market for great prizes inside Christmas Crackers. Their Christmas Tree with Lights crackers comes with a foil crown, a joke, and one trinket which can be a cheese grater, deck of cards, set of colored pencils, bottle opener, measuring tape, or a whistle. $24 for 6
Tom’s sons carried on the business after his death and introduced hats and jokes to the holiday tradition. Today, companies are running with new and fun ideas. Read on to see what has evolved in the cracker business almost 200 years later.
Eco-friendly
The Little Green Cracker Company in the UK makes eco and ethically-friendly crackers. Each cracker is made of recycled paper and includes a snap, hat, joke, and one of each of a scented tealight, shampoo bar, pea-shoot seeds, two teabags, jam, and wildflower seeds. $66 for 6
We have lots of ideas for you to bring to your holiday table.
Follow us on Instagram to see how we are getting ready for the festive days ahead.
Photos by Meri Meri, Caspari, and The Little Green Christmas Cracker Company.
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