Cracker history and nobility…
The Christmas cracker was invented by London-based confectioner and baker Tom Smith from his shop in Clerkenwell in the 1840s… to promote sales of his sugared almonds.
He started adding mottos and poems alongside his sugared almonds. Inspired by the cracking of a log in his fire, he added the surprise ‘bang’!
In the 1900s, when his sons were in charge of the business they added a paper hat… and in the 1930s the poems were replaced by jokes.
And since then, well some of those jokes have become, well, quite good dad jokes…
Today, Tom Smith Group is still the largest manufacturer of Christmas Crackers in the world. And they even make special crackers for the Royal Family.
How many?
Over 150 million Christmas crackers are sold in Britain each year, and around half a billion across the world! Most are thrown away… so do think about recycling yours.. or perhaps make something cool with them.
The largest ever cracker
The largest Christmas cracker ever, according to Guinness World Records, was over 63 metres long and 4 metres wide. It was made by parents from Ley Hill School in Buckinghamshire in 2001, and included a hat, toys and a joke. It was pulled by the kids to raise money for charity.
The more expensive
Some of the most expensive crackers ever have cost more then £4 million… Ok, they did contain a Cartier necklace, an Aston Martin car and even a yacht!
The biggest Christmas cracker pull
The largest Christmas cracker pull was done by 1,478 people at an event organised by Honda Japan in 18 October 2009. Just imagine the bangs!
Our Top Ten favourite Christmas Cracker jokes…
What do you call someone who’s scared of Santa?
Claus-trophobic!
What do you call an old snowman?
Water.
What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
Ice Crispies.
What kind of money do elves use?
Jingle bills.
Why is it always cold at Christmas?
Because it’s Decem-brrrrr!
Why are Christmas trees bad at sewing?
They always drop their needles!
What do you get if you cross a bell with a skunk?
Jingle smells!
What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
Frosted Flakes
Why did Santa go to music school?
So he could improve his wrapping skills.
What do you call an elf who sings?
A wrapper.
Oh… why stop there! Here’s some more…
Why was the Christmas tree so bad at knitting?
It kept dropping its needles.
What do you get if you cross a snowman and a vampire?
Frostbite.
Why did nobody bid for Rudolph and Blitzen on eBay?
Because they were two deer.
What’s Santa’s favourite type of music?
Wrap.
Why did the turkey join the band?
Because it already had drumsticks.
What do you call Father Christmas when he takes a break?
Santa Pause
What did the Christmas tree say to the ornament?
Hang in there!
How do Christmas trees say goodbye to each other?
Fir-well!
What do polar bears wear at Christmas parties?
Ice caps!
What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?
Tinsel-itis!
What do sheep say to each other at Christmas?
Merry Christmas to ewe!
Who delivers Christmas presents to cats?
Santa paws!
What do angry rodents send at Christmas?
Cross–mouse cards!
How does Christmas day end?
With the letter ‘Y’!
Explore more about the wonderful world of Christmas, with…
The Science of Christmas where Santamory explores the science and technology behind Christmas that makes the festive period so magical!
And don’t forget…
Jack & the Beanstalk – our amazing 2025 Fun Kids Pantomime
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