What is a Christmas cracker?
A Christmas cracker is a decorated cardboard tube pulled apart by two people at Christmas meals in England and the UK. It makes a small bang and contains a paper hat, a joke and a small gift.
Crackers were invented in the 1840s by Tom Smith, a London sweet maker. He was inspired by French bonbons wrapped in paper and added a love message, then a small snap of explosive paper.
The snap is made from two strips of card with a small amount of chemical that creates a pop when pulled.
Christmas dinner tradition
At Christmas dinner, people cross their arms and pull crackers with the person next to them. The person who ends up with the larger piece keeps the contents.
Most people wear the paper crown during the meal and read the jokes aloud. The jokes are famously bad, which is part of the fun.
Luxury crackers may contain higher-quality gifts, while cheap ones usually have small plastic toys. Crackers are also popular in other Commonwealth countries, such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand.