Craft Your Own Christmas Crackers (Holiday Poppers)

Christmas crackers or holiday poppers originated in England in the mid 1800's and are a traditional part of most family Christmas celebrations in England today. Commercially produced crackers are readily available throughout England and are becoming more common in the U.S. market, too. They are reasonably inexpensive to purchase, if you can find them. If not, you can craft your own Christmas Crackers at home. It's a simple project and one that parents and kids can do together. They are fun to create and fun for all ages to open on Christmas Day. Start a unique new family tradition with homemade English Christmas crackers.

The English Christmas Cracker

The cracker is a colorfully wrapped cardboard tube with a small cap-gun type of "popper" that makes a loud snap when the tube is pulled apart. Inside the tube is a paper crown to wear during Christmas dinner or while opening presents. Also inside the tube are small toys (such as you would use as party favors), candy, and a clever riddle printed on a slip of paper.

Christmas Cracker Supplies

· Empty toilet paper tubes - you'll need 1 for each person at the Christmas dinner table or each person opening presents. If you find you need extra tubes, you may also use paper towel tubes or wrapping paper tubes. Just cut them to length with a craft knife.

· 1 package of gold, silver, or brightly colored tissue paper - to make paper crowns.

· Left-over wrapping paper and curling ribbon - from last Christmas to wrap and close the tubes.

· 1 sheet of computer paper - to print riddles on.

· Inexpensive novelty toys - (like you would give as birthday party favors). Available at your local Dollar Store.

· Small party poppers - they look like little plastic bottles with a pull string (also available at your local Dollar Store).

· Individually wrapped candies - from the bulk foods section of your grocery. Hard candies, caramels, and Chocolate Kisses are popular.

· Invisible tape

· Hot glue gun

How to Make Christmas Crackers

· To make paper crowns, cut strips of tissue paper 22" x 8". Fasten the ends of each strip to form a headband that will fit both kids and adults. Try it on to check size. Fold the strips accordion style and cut triangular notches on one end. When the crown is unfolded they will look like the points on a crown. Set aside.

· Cut strips of printer paper approximately 1"x3". Print a different riddle on each one. (The sillier, the better. Pick up a book of riddles from the library for ideas)

· Secure a party popper in one end of each cardboard tube with hot glue. The popper's string should extend to the outside of the tube.

· Wrap each tube in gift wrap, leaving approximately 3" of paper extending beyond each end of the tube.

· On the end of the tube holding the party popper, twist the paper wrapping to close it, making sure that the string of the popper is twisted inside the paper. Secure this end with curling ribbon.

· Through the open end of the tube, insert a paper crown (fold it up small enough to fit), several pieces of candy, a novelty toy, and a printed riddle.

· Twist the paper closed and secure with more curling ribbon.

How to Use Christmas Crackers

Christmas crackers have traditionally been used at Christmas dinners and when opening presents.

For fun and festive dinners, place a cracker at each table setting. When the family gathers at the table, each person opens their cracker with a hand on each gathered paper end of the tube and pulls it apart. If the party popper's string has been securely wrapped in the paper, it should make a loud pop when pulled. Each person then empties the tube of its contents, unfolds their paper crown and places it on their head. Taking turns, each person reads the question of their riddle and the rest of the diners try to answer the riddle. Sometimes the wrong answers are funnier than the right ones. And, it's amusing for the children to see the adults wearing silly paper crowns on their heads throughout dinner..

If you prefer, pass out your homemade Christmas crackers to each person as they gather to open presents. Once everyone's together, they open the crackers, put on their crowns, and read and answer riddles while presents are being passed out.

If you've been looking for a way to bring a new element of fun and festivity to your Christmas celebration, do try these homemade Christmas crackers. I started making these with my children when they were in elementary school (I made all the riddles so the kids didn't learn the answers ahead of time). My children are now adults and the grandchildren are now my helpers. English Christmas crackers have become a treasured holiday tradition that the whole family enjoys and we aren't even English - we're French!

From my family to yours...Merry Christmas.