For over 170 years, crackers have graced the tables of our Christmas meals, considered as much of a fixture during the festive feast as the turkey itself.
While eye-roll-inducing jokes and silly hats come part and parcel, there are some aspects of the cracker-pulling experience that many of us would like to leave in the past.
Once known as “bangs of expectations”, crackers have become a divisive part of the seasonal celebrations, predominantly due to the waste they produce. Many are crafted in recyclable paper but the gifts inside are generally made from plastic and destined for the landfill. We’re talking about paperclips, keyrings, thimbles and those unusual red fortune-telling fish.
The solution? Secure crackers that include mini presents that your guests will actually love, rather than those rogue unusable DIY tools. Luxury crackers come filled with sample-sized beauty products for a self-care treat, spirits to give a merry twist to the meal or beautifully made decorative keepsakes that will be reused year after year.
Christmas crackers can also help to set the mood for the meal. Look for chic designs with pretty patterns that will enhance your tablescape and tie in your festive decorations – whether you are taking a traditional approach with wintery and holy prints or turning classic seasonal themes on their head with bright and bold patterns or illustrations.
But importantly, pay attention to the materials used in the construction. Those that are eco-friendly should be at the top of your wish list. They are meant to be harmless fun, after all, so stick to recycled or recyclable materials.
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Harrods Luxury Christmas Crackers (Set of 6)
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Bringing opulence to your festive feast, the luxury of Harrods’ crackers extends beyond the gilded exterior and velvet detailing. In fact, the gold hue is just a clue as to the delights within. One lucky guest will find an Aspinal of London card holder, while another will secure a Waterford Origami Butterfly tree decoration. There’s also a Dr. Vranjes Leather Oud Room Fragrance, Gingerlily silk eye mask and Le Creuset corkscrew and stopper. No matter which is placed in front of you, there is the added bonus of a £50 discount card for the brand of the gift too. We’re going shopping!
Buy now £700.00, Harrods
Liberty Print Christmas Crackers Box of Six
Adorned with the signature, beautiful Liberty print, this cracker set will make a striking addition to your tablescaping as they come finished with red grosgrain ribbons. There are six in the selection; in each you will find knick knacks like a yo-yo, comb, keyring and more, alongside the traditional joke and silver crown.
Buy now £49.95, Liberty
Fortnum & Mason The Spirits of Christmas Crackers, Set of 6
Christmas is about eating, drinking and being merry and this set of six crackers from royal grocers F&M will get you well on your way to the last two.
The tipple-filled crackers include elixirs of the honey gin or winter vodka variety as well as cocktail recipes created by the master mixologists at 45 Jermyn St - the brasserie inside the luxury department store.
Buy now £130.00, Fortnum & Mason
MOTH Cocktail Crackers
Sample the very best of the MOTH cocktail collection in the name of Christmas with festive crackers from the festival-favourite label. In the bumper pack, you will find the tasty Margarita, energising Espresso Martini or sweet-tooth satisfying Pink Gin Fizz. Alongside the full-strength measures are jokes, trivia and charade cards.
Buy now £20.00, Amazon
The Newt in Somerset Handmade Christmas Crackers
If you’ve had the luxury of visiting the Somerset estate of The Newt, you may have sauntered through the farm shop and lusted over the delights inside. These crackers bring that experience to your home. Inside the cracker printed with a bespoke woodland design is an entirely plastic-free selection of treats. These include cutesy helpful tools like a cookie cutter, spice grater and spiced apple tea.
Buy now £48.00, The Newt in Somerset
Little Green Cracker Company Stripe-graphic assorted pack-of-six Christmas crackers 31cm
For a kitschy addition to your seasonal tablesetting, Little Green Cracker Company take a colourful approach to its crackers and the fun continues to the contents. These include New Leaf Nurseries wildflower seeds, New Leaf Nurseries chilli seeds, Cole & Co scented travel soap, natural spa bombs and facial wash for treats your guests will actually enjoy and use.
Buy now £60.00, Selfridges
Meri Meri Medium Nutcracker Christmas Crackers (Set of 6)
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Ideal for the children’s end of the table, these charming crackers take their design cues from The Nutcracker with characters you would expect - Sugar Plum Fairy included. The ballet’s theme continues with the contents in which there is a wooden Nutcracker pin as well as gold foil paper hat and joke.
Buy now £30.00, Harrods
Puzzle Post Traitors Christmas Crackers, Pack of 6
Turn the Christmas feast on its head with organised fun. These six Christmas crackers are inspired by the hit BBC series The Traitors where the burgundy or orange exteriors open to reveal your guest’s part in the game. Who is a Faithful and who is a Traitor? Cards dictate this while also detailing shields to protect from potential banishment, extra roles, gold tokens and instructions too. There is also the classic hat and joke.
Buy now £25.00, John Lewis
Lakeland 6 Bottle Shaped Christmas Crackers
Toast to the most wonderful time of the year with these champagne-themed crackers that are shaped like everyone’s favourite fizz but pop to reveal a very different surprise. Each cracker has a glass accessory that is practical - you can always identify which is your drink - but also fun with festive designs.
Buy now £24.99, Lakeland
Fortnum's Celestial Crackers, Set of 6
These versatile crackers double up as a place-setting card so each guest knows where to sit when embarking on the big meal. They come in a neutral white tone with brown detail so can slot easily into any colour theme.
Buy now £65.00, Fortnum & Mason
Bamford Cracker Body Wash Gift Set
Forget pencil sharpeners and curling fish, the way to your guest’s heart this Christmas is through self-care. Bamford has collated its sumptuous body washes into this luxury cracker, each of which can be taken on their next trip to lather in the addictive aromas of geranium, rose, jasmine, citrus or sage.
Buy now £33.00, Harrods
Eleanor Bowmer harlequin-pattern set of 6 Christmas crackers 33cm
Move away from the traditional Christmas colour palette with Eleanor Bowmer’s harlequin design. Vibrant and fun, they do nod to the festive season with their red velvet bows that will tie it into the rest of your decorations. Snap to secure your very own hanging decoration that has been handpainted by the illustrator.
Buy now £26.00, Selfridges
Pin The Conk On The Gonk set of 6 Christmas crackers 22cm
Not your average crackers, these table toppers have a playful festive gnome illustration with a suitably seasonal design. The brand has kept the contents on the classic side with a hat, factoid and sticker.
Buy now £15.00, Selfridges
Slip Assorted scrunchies silk cracker set pack of five
Can you ever have enough hair bands? They always seem to go missing. Slip is well aware of this fact and has stashed five of its silky kind-to-locks scrunchies inside this cracker that will go down a treat with the beauty lover in your life.
Buy now £39.00, Selfridges
Fortnum & Mason The Happy Hound Cracker
Get your furry friend involved in the festive fun with this cracker designed for pups. There is no jump-inducing bang on opening, just the surprise of a new toy for your beloved pet - and the exterior is fully recyclable.
Buy now £25.00, Fortnum & Mason
