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English Christmas Question
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Jan 5, 2024 07:08:14   #
Canonuser Loc: UK and South Africa
 
Longshadow wrote:
Did that have crackers???

The paper hats referred to, almost in every case would have come from the crackers.

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Jan 5, 2024 07:39:08   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
alawry wrote:
Jerry I am also in NZ with a lot of english heritage, yes, popular here but not so much of the "Bon Bon" and more "Christmas Crackers" I guess things like this are cultural and vary from family to family. Thinking, having written that, being nearly 70 I will concede there is a lot less English Heritage here than (say) 50 or even 20 years ago; we are much more multi cultural. When I was a kid I was into shortwave radio, DXing, pretty much the only way to hear a language other than english. Now I walk down the street and thru a mall, and hear a dozen different languages an think nothing of it. You, Jerry, Keep up the good work. Cheers.
Jerry I am also in NZ with a lot of english herita... (show quote)


Thanks for the info.

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Jan 5, 2024 07:46:45   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Brian J. wrote:
The reason they are called "crackers" is the noise they make when pulled apart. I read, however, that the name may need to change as someone has suggested that the silver used in making the noise is "dangerous" to the environment so wants the makers of crackers to stop the noise source! We had crackers in England when I was growing up & so we continued using them here in the U.S.A. so I wonder how I made it to 85 years of age with all that "poison" in my environment!
The reason they are called "crackers" is... (show quote)


I had heard that the "explosive" mixture was changed years ago to make them safer. I'll have to look into that.

The silver fulminate strips have been used since 1860. One company is offering a silent alternative. Alliance National say the recyclable crackers will instead make a sound from "the audible crack of cardboard."

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Jan 5, 2024 07:52:33   #
joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ
 
We start Xmas dinner with the crackers and then wear the paper crown during the meal. It’s a fun tradition that we started when my daughter brought home a husband after graduation from U. of Liverpool twenty years ago.

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Jan 5, 2024 07:56:18   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
joehel2 wrote:
We start Xmas dinner with the crackers and then wear the paper crown during the meal. It’s a fun tradition that we started when my daughter brought home a husband after graduation from U. of Liverpool twenty years ago.


Nice.

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Jan 5, 2024 10:27:50   #
Dannj
 
I grew up in the Northeast US and crackers are not part of our traditions. Our extended family has expanded to the Southeast where crackers are part of Christmas dinners and celebrations.

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Jan 5, 2024 14:29:57   #
Granddad Loc: UK
 
Crackers, yes were all crackers on this side of the pond.

Dave.

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Jan 5, 2024 21:54:47   #
SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio
 
jerryc41 wrote:
Do many families in England use the "crackers" at their Christmas dinners? All the English TV shows have them. We've been doing that in our family for years. Amazon has lots of choices. You can also buy them from Fortnum and Mason in England, for £250 and up - each.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=christmas+crackers&crid=BUAWQZ38T6OY&sprefix=christmas+crackers%2Caps%2C96&ref=nb_sb_noss_1


We picked up the custom when we spent Christmas in Edinburgh several years ago and now it's a family tradition. We usually buy our crackers at TJMAXX - a six pack for about $20. It makes for a fun time at our Christmas dinner.


(Download)


(Download)

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Jan 5, 2024 23:11:36   #
Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio
 
You don't pull your own Christmas cracker, what you do is cross your arms and everyone has a hand on your cracker and the other hand on the person next to you. Then at the signal, we all pull hard and bang go the crackers. at least that is how it has always been done in Wales.

Many years ago you hardly saw a Christmas cracker in the USA, now they seem to be everywhere. We have always had them at Christmas dinner in Great Britain though. When I would come and visit the US for Christmas, my sister married an American, we would bring Christmas crackers over with us. It's a much British as Black Cabs in London and red double decker busses or red Royal Post pillar boxes.

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Jan 6, 2024 07:22:59   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Lucian wrote:
You don't pull your own Christmas cracker, what you do is cross your arms and everyone has a hand on your cracker and the other hand on the person next to you. Then at the signal, we all pull hard and bang go the crackers. at least that is how it has always been done in Wales.

Many years ago you hardly saw a Christmas cracker in the USA, now they seem to be everywhere. We have always had them at Christmas dinner in Great Britain though. When I would come and visit the US for Christmas, my sister married an American, we would bring Christmas crackers over with us. It's a much British as Black Cabs in London and red double decker busses or red Royal Post pillar boxes.
You don't pull your own Christmas cracker, what yo... (show quote)


Not only did I not know I shouldn't pull my own cracker apart, I thought I had to pull that thin cardboard strips inside it. I would unstick them from the cracker and pull.

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Jan 6, 2024 09:17:33   #
SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio
 
[quote=Lucian]You don't pull your own Christmas cracker, what you do is cross your arms and everyone has a hand on your cracker and the other hand on the person next to you. Then at the signal, we all pull hard and bang go the crackers. at least that is how it has always been done in Wales.

Neat! I'll have to remember that next Christmas!

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Jan 6, 2024 15:09:16   #
philmurfin Loc: Bakewell, Derbyshire UK
 
Crackers are always a part of Christmas dinner and also on Boxing Day Dec 26th.

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