If you want your festive celebrations to pop, then having some Christmas crackers is a must. Somewhere down the line, they became as associated with the festive season as turkey and the fairy lights on a Christmas tree. But where do the origins of the Christmas cracker lie?
A cracking invention
The truth is that this is one festive invention that the British can claim credit for. Crackers were first created by Tom Smith, a confectioner based in the East End of London. He came up with the idea while he was in Paris, and it was inspired by the bon bon sweet popular in that country. They are sweetened almonds packaged so that the paper twists at each end – just like a cracker. Smith started to sell bon bons in his shop, but he also placed messages in the wrapping paper.
Of course, what makes the cracker different from the bon bon is the pop when you pull it open. That notion came to Smith when he was listening to the noise made by his log fire. He placed a couple of narrow paper strips together inside the package, one of which had silver fulminate painted on it. When the cracker was pulled, it led to friction that produced a loud pop.
A pop-ular product
With the addition of the pop, the cracker as we know it was born – and it was an instant hit. It made Smith a rich man, and has remained central to the festive season ever since.
Now you know the story behind a cracking Christmas tradition!
