ATH:Christmas Crackers

  • Kyle Valentini
  • November 27, 2010
  • 272
                        
Christmas Crackers, not the kind you eat but the kind you pull allowing goodies to fall out, were invented in London in 1847 by an entrepreneurial chap named Tom Smith. A cracker is basically a cardboard tube, covered in bright paper, filled with a colorful paper hat, a toy and usually a slip of paper with a joke or motto, and then festooned with ribbons and bows. The idea is for two people to pull the cracker apart. When the cracker is pulled, each person holding one end of the twisted paper covered tube; the friction creates a small explosive 'pop'. This 'pop' is produced by a narrow strip of chemically impregnated paper. The cracker tears apart and out of the cardboard tube tumbles the goodies. It is a running joke that all the jokes and mottos in crackers are unfunny and unmemorable. Similarly, in most standard commercial products, the "gift" is equally awful, although wealthier individuals—notably, the royal family—may use custom crackers with more worthwhile rewards. Whether or not you choose memorable rewards to fill your cracker or not, they are fun to make and even more fun at holiday parties, especially for kids. The sound alone will brighten the faces of children anxious for Christmas and we all know party hats are irresistible even at stuffy office parties. Crackers make great party favors, hostess gifts and look nice just stacked in a bowl or basket as a centerpiece. Crackers can be made to reflect your style or taste whether it be country, Victorian, modern or playful. Try using vintage paper or even fabric to cover your cracker. Use paper embedded with seeds that can later be planted in the garden. Craft stores sell everything nowadays and your choices will only be limited by your budget. Making crackers is a great way to use up small amounts of gift wrap and ribbon left over from last Christmas. Crackers are so easy to make, let the kids help. While you work on them you can share this charming British tradition that like most things has made its way across the pond for us to enjoy as well. What you will need: 1 sheet of 8 ½ x 11 inch paper 1 cardboard toilet tissue tube 1 pull-snapper (available at craft supply stores) 1 party favor (small toy, a wrapped chocolate A joke, fortune or verse handwritten on a 1 x 3 inch strip of paper) 1 folded tissue crown (Instructions to follow) 2 raffia or ribbon ties for each end Decorative embellishments to suit your taste What you do: 1. Fill the tube with party favor, joke and paper crown. 2. Insert pull-snapper so that the ends protrude equally from the ends of the tube. 3. Wrap tube in paper lengthwise and secure ends tightly with raffia or ribbon. A small line of glue will seal the seam. 4. Embellish the cracker as much or as little as you like. Instructions for paper crown (will make 4 crowns) 1 sheet of tissue paper 30 x 20" Glue or tape Scissors 1. Fold the sheet in half, lengthwise, to make a rectangle 30 x 10" 2. Repeat step 1 so that the rectangle now measures 30 x 5" 3. Fold the long strip in half, end to end. Now the piece is 15 x 15" 4. Repeat step 3 to form a piece 7 1/2 x 5" 5. Cut V shapes out of one of the 7 1/2 x 5" ends 6. Open the folded pieces. Trim to 24" and glue the ends in place.


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