Our Christmas Traditions - Crackers and the Pickle

Christmas Crackers

After some research, I found the story of Christmas Crackers. They were invented by an English baker called Tom Smith. The Cracker is a tube that when the ends are pulled to open it, there is a popping noise or “crack”. The Cracker first included wrapped sweets or “bon bon”. The sweet was dropped and a small novelty gift was included. Soon jokes and/or witty sayings were included in the Cracker. Tom’s son started including a paper hat. The first Christmas crackers went on sale in London in 1847. The Cracker can be used for occasions other than Christmas and more expensive gifts can be included in them.

Our tradition for Christmas is putting Christmas Crackers in the tree and on Christmas morning each person takes a Cracker and opens it. You enjoy the gift, put on the silly hat, and read the jokes. We also share them with visitors during the holidays.

Here are some of the jokes that were included in our Christmas Crackers:

What do you call a blind dinosaur?
Do you think he saw us!

What lies in a pram and wobbles?
A jelly baby!

Why is an elephant large grey and wrinkly?
Because if it were small, white and smooth it would be an aspirin!

How do you start a teddy bear race?
Ready, teddy, go!

What is the most popular gardening magazine in the world?
Weeders Digest!

Customer: “This steak is terrible I want the manager”.
Waiter: “Sorry sir, he isn't on the menu”

What do they sing at a snowman's birthday party?
Freeze a jolly good fellow!

What does Santa Claus use to weed his garden?
His hoe hoe hoe!

How do you stop a rhino from charging?
Take away his credit cards!

Christmas Pickle
After research on the Christmas Pickle, it seems that no one really knows where this tradition originated. The tradition we use is the last person up on Christmas eve hangs an ornament shaped like a pickle on the Christmas Tree. On Christmas morning, excluding the person who “hid” the pickle, the other people search the tree for the pickle and the person who finds it gets a surprise gift.



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Copyright © 2007 Sylvia A. Feeley All Rights Reserved