Introducing Prim Christmas Crackers

August 19, 2024 Tina Logassi

A Brief History of the Christmas Cracker

The Christmas Cracker was invented in the mid 1800s, by a London baker named Tom Smith. He was inspired on a trip to Paris, by the French 'bon bon' (a sweet wrapped in tissue paper). He came back to London and started selling similar treats but included a little saying or riddle with the sweet. He then decided to expand on the idea, with incorporating a "snap", so when you opened the wrapped bonbon, you'd hear a snap that was reminiscent of a crackling fireplace.

In 1861 Tom Smith launched his new range of what he called 'Bangs of Expectation' which were the first Christmas Crackers.

Since that time, the Christmas Cracker has become a tradition in the Commonwealth countries, and I'm still not sure if the tradition is a thing in the USA..

So far I've been met with "what are you talking about?" when I bring up the Christmas Cracker to anyone south of the border, LOL.

The Modern Day Christmas Cracker

The cracker has evolved throughout history, so modern day crackers are usually made of cardboard and wrapped in colourful gift paper. They always come with a little toy or gift (I hate to say it, but these are often disappointing), a tissue paper crown (which of COURSE you're supposed to put on), and a joke to tell around the table. And the snap doesn't always go off - sometimes it comes loose inside, so it can be disappointing. But if you ask anyone, the joy of a Christmas Cracker is all about the snap!

They vary greatly in price, so you'd hope the more expensive ones have better goodies inside, but that's not always the case.

Ever wondered how the snap works? The snap is made up of two thin and long pieces of cardboard, that are fused together at the ends where there's a little tiny dab of gunpowder, so when you pull the ends apart, they make a loud snap or banging noise.

The Tradition

So the Traditional way of The Christmas Cracker, is you set each place setting with it's own cracker. I think generally people take turns around the table opening their cracker. I've heard two ways of using them, either you pull both ends yourself to "snap" it open, or you take one side of the cracker and the person beside you takes the other side to snap it open. I have learned, the best way to pull apart the cracker is quickly,, a sharp pull is much more effective for it to "snap" versus a long drawn out "tug"..you'd risk the cracker coming apart before the snap can break!

Introducing Prim Christmas Crackers

So with all of these traditions in mind, I set out to create a version of a Christmas Cracker that was re-usable, durable, and incorporated the snap. The design I settled on features a plastic interior instead of cardboard. Despite my aversion to plastic, I wanted these crackers to maintain their shape year after year, and a cardboard tube would just wear down, and deform more and more after each use.

The outer "decorative" part is made using pretty festive fabrics, and complementary ribbon ties the crackers at each end. A box of the Prim Crackers includes enough cracker snaps for two seasons (I'll include sources at the bottom of this post for additional snaps), and a selection of jokes, riddles and charades you can include in your crackers. My Youtube video this week shows you how to install the snaps, fill the crackers, and then how you "snap" them!

I think holding down the ends of the snaps securely at both ends of the cracker is the best way, keep in mind it does take a bit of force to pull apart the snap, so you might want to practice ahead of time. I'd also love to hear if you have another idea for a surefire way to secure and activate the snaps, comment below!

Back to the jokes, riddles and charades - I liked the idea of including charades because how funny would it be that everyone had to act something out as you went around the Christmas table?

I have several links below to where you can make your own tissue paper crowns to include in each cracker, there are also re-usable fabric versions that wouldn't fit inside of the cracker, but you could consider making a set of these, and they get laid out at the persons table setting underneath the cracker!

I love the idea of personalized crackers because for example if you had a book lover at the table, you could include a little bookmark, or a book-ish inspired piece of jewelry. Lip balms, little fancy chocolates, tiny bottles of booze, the list is endless in what you can include in the crackers.

If you want to check out the Prim Christmas Crackers, you can find them here.

Would you like to see a pattern for this? Let me know! You could make a Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Easter version, just by switching out your fabric choices for each!