Christmas cracker

The table ritual

Crackers are placed beside plates at festive meals or passed around during holiday parties. Two diners grasp opposite ends of the cylinder and tug firmly. Friction against a treated cardboard strip triggers a small chemical snap, dividing the tube into uneven pieces. In one customary rule, the person left holding the larger central section claims the contents, though guests often simply keep their own. Diners immediately slip on the colourful tissue-paper crowns and read aloud the jokes, riddles, or trivia strips discovered inside.

Origins in London

London confectioner Tom Smith developed the novelty in 1847. He originally packaged bon-bon sweets in twisted paper, later adding printed romantic messages inside the wrappers to boost flagging interest. The idea for the sound mechanism came when he heard a fireplace log crackle. Enlarging the wrapper to fit a friction-based noise strip, Smith renamed the invention the Cosaque before it became known simply as a cracker. Later, his son Walter introduced paper crowns and small toys to help their wares stand out against emerging rivals.

Crowns and contents

Inside each tube sits a tissue paper hat shaped like a royal crown, which diners wear throughout the meal. Folklorists connect this headwear tradition to ancient Roman Saturnalia revels, where celebrants also wore decorative headgear. Alongside the crown, the tube holds a small plastic novelty, a miniature toy, or a piece of jewellery. A slip of paper printed with a motto, riddle, or humorous line completes the surprise, giving the table a collective prompt for conversation.

How Christmas cracker is kept

Two people at a table each take one end of the wrapped tube and pull until it breaks with a snapping sound. One participant wins the larger centre piece containing the surprises. The enclosed tissue paper crown is placed on the head, the prize is kept, and the enclosed riddle or joke is read out to the table.

When and where

People pull crackers during Christmas dinner and holiday gatherings in late December, as well as during Knut's parties in Sweden at the close of the festive season.

The practice is widespread across dining tables in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as Commonwealth nations including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, alongside Swedish festive parties.

What Christmas cracker means

Wearing the paper crowns during dinner is thought to reflect ancient Roman Saturnalia festivities, where revellers wore special head coverings. Pulling the crackers invites spontaneous fun, breaking the formality of a holiday banquet with small surprises, lighthearted jokes, and shared laughter around the table.

Days Christmas cracker is marked

Questions people ask about Christmas cracker

See also

Advent wreathAn evergreen ring of candles lit week by week in the lead-up to ChristmasMatarikiThe Māori New Year marked by the midwinter rising of the Pleiades clusterHalloweenAn annual observance on 31 October marking the eve of All Saints' Day, rooted in Christian tradition and Celtic heritageValentine's DayA Christian feast day and cultural celebration of love kept on February 14 in many countries.

Good reading and sources

• Christmas cracker on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.