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Post by heartcat on Dec 25, 2015 21:20:30 GMT
Growing up, we didn't do Christmas crackers. First dh's family was of British descent and it became a tradition I picked up from him. Second dh is Welsh, and had them since childhood, so we have continued them.
If you do them, do you pop them before or after your meal? We usually do them after the meal, although I know many people do them before, and wear the paper hats while eating.
Do you ever make your own? I never have, but my sis made her own one year that she hosted, and put pretty nutcracker tree ornaments inside them. I keep saying I'd like to do my own one year but haven't gotten around to it yet.
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 4:40:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2015 21:21:45 GMT
Yes but I forgot to get them out! We have them at home every year, we've had Monopoly and Hello Kitty ones in the past.
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Post by heartcat on Dec 25, 2015 21:23:28 GMT
@bumpsy I have never seen themed ones like that before, that's neat.  |
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BarbaraUK
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Post by BarbaraUK on Dec 25, 2015 21:26:37 GMT
In the UK so we always do Christmas Crackers - I actually buy several boxes to use at Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day dinner and on Boxing Day.
We always pull them when we sit at the table just before eating and then wear the paper hats throughout the meal.
I have made my own when I've had special little table gifts I wanted to give and really enjoyed it but more usually buy the crackers.
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 4:40:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2015 21:27:09 GMT
@bumpsy I have never seen themed ones like that before, that's neat. The Monopoly ones were my favourite, they had keyrings, money clips and a tiny game of Monopoly. |
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valincal
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Southern Alberta
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Post by valincal on Dec 25, 2015 21:28:29 GMT
We do on occasion. I love seeing everyone in their paper hats!  |
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Post by myshelly on Dec 25, 2015 21:32:21 GMT
Nope.
I'm not even sure where you could buy them here.
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lesley
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Post by lesley on Dec 25, 2015 21:32:34 GMT
Yes, we've always had crackers. This is the first year I've made them from scratch, as I found a die for the cracker shape. But I've bought cracker kits for years, where you simply add your own gift; paper hats and jokes are included. I remember my FIL being delighted the first year I made them because he found a miniature bottle of a single malt whisky inside! DS always got a Lego mini figure or a Playmobil figure, MIL got a handbag size perfume bottle, and other gifts might be jewellery, a memory stick or cuff links. And we always pull them just before we start to eat, so that we can wear our paper hats at a jaunty angle all through dinner.  |
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Post by leannec on Dec 25, 2015 21:32:47 GMT
We definitely do Christmas crackers! We're of British descent and there is no way that MIL would have it any other way  We open them at the beginning of the meal and then are forced by MIL to wear the paper crowns while we eat  ETA: Here is dh and me in our paper crowns this Christmas   |
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Post by just PEAchy on Dec 25, 2015 21:41:17 GMT
A friend of mine who is from South Africa gave them to me a few years ago. When I opened them, I kind of thought hmm, Christmas crackers?, thinking them were something edible, lol. She explained them to me and I let the kids do them on Cmas Eve. Now they've become a tradition, the kids love them! myshelly I bought mine at Pier One this year. |
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melissa
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Post by melissa on Dec 25, 2015 21:49:09 GMT
We used to do them, even though we don't celebrate Christmas. My mom always bought them but we often used them at New Years instead., and sometimes at birthdays. I do remember a set of Monopoly themed crackers as well. The prizes reminded me of CrackerJack prizes.
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Post by anniefb on Dec 25, 2015 21:57:36 GMT
Yes we always do Christmas crackers here in New Zealand.
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Post by oliquig on Dec 25, 2015 22:00:51 GMT
Nope. I'm not even sure where you could buy them here. Marshalls/Home Goods has tons. |
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Post by littlemama on Dec 25, 2015 22:18:01 GMT
Yes, we do them after dinner, before dessert. My mom buys them every year-they come in packs of 8, but there are only 4 of us. We have 20 of them at the moment!!
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Post by padresfan619 on Dec 25, 2015 22:18:46 GMT
Nope. I'm not even sure where you could buy them here. They sell them at Costco. |
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Post by padresfan619 on Dec 25, 2015 22:19:56 GMT
Yes we have them. The tradition started after I married my British husband. We get fun and practical ones. Last year I got a mini flashlight and a glass diamond shaped paper weight. We crack ours open after dinner, before dessert.
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cougarjo
Junior Member
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Jul 12, 2015 15:49:42 GMT
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Post by cougarjo on Dec 25, 2015 22:21:06 GMT
Yes, always! We put them on the plates when we set the table and pull them before eating so we can tell the jokes and wear the hat throughout the meal (and the rest of the day  ?) pic to follow... |
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cougarjo
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Jul 12, 2015 15:49:42 GMT
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Post by cougarjo on Dec 25, 2015 22:22:19 GMT
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Grom Pea
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Post by Grom Pea on Dec 25, 2015 22:23:02 GMT
We haven't but on the occasions where I've been given them they've been fun. I saw them at cost plus world market this year
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Post by Linda on Dec 25, 2015 22:28:31 GMT
yes - of course! [and thank you for reminding me to pull them out and not forget them this year]
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georgiapea
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Post by georgiapea on Dec 25, 2015 22:38:30 GMT
My family never did such frivolously fun things but I learned about them at a childhood friend's home. It's a great idea IMO, and an easy tradition to establish.
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Post by Karene on Dec 25, 2015 22:48:45 GMT
We always had them growing up and also later.
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AllieC
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Post by AllieC on Dec 25, 2015 23:36:10 GMT
Yes pretty traditional in Australia. Always had ghem growing up and we crack them by all crossing hands and popping them at the same time. The meal wouldn't be the same without everyone wearing the paper hats.
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Post by peasapie on Dec 25, 2015 23:38:01 GMT
We do them some years, yes. We pop them right before dinner and all wear the crown for the meal. This year the prizes were very elegant--I must have paid more for them than I remember!
I have have made Christmas crackers, years ago, using TP tubes and those popper things they sell. I put names on them so each person got prizes and colors specific to them.
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QueenoftheSloths
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Dec 25, 2015 23:46:51 GMT
We usually have them, but did not this year, DH thought there were some in the basement but apparently was wrong. oh well, maybe I will pick some up and we will have them for New Year's. That's another good occasion for a goofy paper hat.
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Post by bc2ca on Dec 26, 2015 0:07:33 GMT
It isn't Christmas dinner if we aren't wearing our paper hats  . |
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Post by TeuchterPea on Dec 26, 2015 0:10:02 GMT
Well I never! I had no idea that crackers were primarily a British thing. Christmas dinner wouldn't be the same without a paper hat rubbish joke and piece of tat. I used to like to buy decent crackers reduced in the sales to pull on birthdays as well but since DD flew the nest I have nobody to pull them with.  |
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Dec 26, 2015 0:49:05 GMT
Christmas crackers is a tradition we picked up while living overseas. They have become much easier to find in the US over the past few years. DH bought a big container of them at Williams Sonoma. We each had one in our stocking today, then will use the rest when we have friends over for dinner on Monday. DD's favorite part is the corny jokes included in them!
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Post by myboysnme on Dec 26, 2015 0:52:12 GMT
I have a few from when I lived in England. I used to put them on my tree but now they are just saved in my boxes of Christmas stuff.
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scorpeao
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Post by scorpeao on Dec 26, 2015 1:07:01 GMT
Can someone explain these to me? I think I get the gist, but I'd like an explanation to make sure. I've never heard of Christmas crackers....crawling back under my rock.
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?) pic to follow...
