For as long as I can remember my Mother has always set out Christmas Crackers. My kids love it. There is always a paper crown. We all put paper crowns on our head, for the rest of the night, with pretty zero regard of our personal appearance. The best part is that neither of my kids have ever acted “too cool” for it. It’s one of those traditions that will always bring up great memories—it’s like 3 generations of silliness.
I’ve always wondered where Christmas Crackers even started. This year, I decided to do a little learnin’ and spread the love to you. First, in case you have no idea what I am talking about, Christmas Crackers are little cardboard tubes, cinched on each end, so that they resemble a candy. When you pull the ends, the make a little crack or popping sound, and inside there are little trinkets. Like I said, we always get paper crowns, but I have heard that there are sometimes other little toys, jokes, etc. The tradition of the cracker dates back to the 1840’s. It was primarily practiced in England, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. They all started when an English candy maker named Tom Smith wanted to replicate French almonds wrapped in paper. He combined the look of wrapped sweets with the sound of the crackling logs on his fire—and Christmas Crackers were born. The crowns inside them are thought to come from a Roman tradition where people decorated their heads to celebrate Saturnalia. Who would have guessed, right?
Do you have any family Christmas traditions like the Christmas Cracker? Something you’ve never thought of the meaning, but always done?
~Mavis
coleen says
We also do Christmas Crackers!
Carol says
When my father came home from WWII, he brought home a recipe from England. It is for Tomato Pudding. I don’t know anyone else’s family that has Tomato Pudding during either Thanksgiving or Christmas, but we did and now my sister and I continue to make it. I could eat a whole recipe by myself, but I will share with others!
Elizabeth says
Can you share the recipe? I have never heard of Tomato Pudding either. Thanks!
Kristina Z says
We do crackers in our family, too. Also, sil, which is pickled herring, from my mother’s people, who are Swedish. I like that very well, but am glad that lutefisk disappeared with the previous generation. I hear that was pretty gnarly, though we kids were always excused from eating it. I would love that tomato pudding recipe!
Jenn in Indiana says
I am from Indiana and have never heard of such a thing, interesting!
Mavis Butterfield says
What??? Really?
Lace Faerie says
I’ve seen them in Canada when visiting but thought they were crackers, or maybe it was a cookie/biscuit/cracker synonyms. What causes the cracking sound? Crinkly paper?
My husband’s family introduced my family to Krumkaka. Large flat cookies molded while still hot around a wooden cone shaped tool. Then when cool, filled with whipped cream. My daughter took over the tradition of making them when she married. Previously my dear MIL made enough for her children’s immediate families but also sent down with us enough for each of my sisters’ family.
The Christmas tradition I started when my son was a toddler, is that he gave all his female family members (sisters, aunties, grammas, mama) a box of Cella Chocolate covered Cherries. A gentleman always brings chocolates! Ove the years, he also gifted them to his favorite teachers and a girl in his class he was sweet on. Even though his is now married, and we no longer go to a out of state giant family gathering, he mailed a box to each of my sisters last year and made them all misty-eyed to be remembered.
Mavis Butterfield says
“The bright wrapping of the Christmas cracker contains a cardboard tube. Attached to the side of the tube inside the cracker is a strip of paper. … The tube helps contain the explosion of such a small amount of gunpowder and magnifies the noise, making that nice loud bang that signals the start of a Christmas dinner.”
Monica Brown says
I am from Cincinnati, Ohio and I have never heard of it either! I think it is a super cute idea though!
Ashley says
Weird- I’ve never heard of them either! I’m in WI and I feel like we have every kind of tradition around here (a lot of heritages). When I saw the term Christmas Cracker, I automatically thought you were referring to Ritz, lol. Now that I’ve read your post though, I’ll probably start noticing them everywhere.
Mavis Butterfield says
Wow! I am shocked. 🙂 Seriously I thought everyone did Christmas crackers. Wisconsin makes good cheese though….
Melissa says
My husband’s family celebrates St. Nicholas Day (Dec 6th). The kids in the family put their shoes out on the doorstep the night before and if they have been good kids, they get a little gift from St. Nick. I had never heard of this German tradition and when we had kids, we started it too.
AlysonRR says
We do crackers – my husband is English and we’ve adopted several customs. Crackers, Christmas pudding, Boxing Day leftovers… My mother-in-law gave me her pudding recipe and I add a few variations every year to perfect my version. Best addition so far – triple chocolate stout.
We also make lefse and tunbrod and pickled herring, in honor of the Scandinavian side of our heritage. The family cookies are almond roca cookies, snowballs, and gingerbread shapes.
Our addition to holiday food traditions: curried sweet potatoes. Simple recipe and tastes great with cranberries and turkey and stuffing, etc. – in a leftover sandwich, too.
Thanks for sharing your holiday traditions 🙂
cathy says
Yes we do christmas crackers the kids love it and we all wear the paper hats