crackers (Christmas - rather than describing some people on this group!)

[Simon]

No: HPFGUIDX 6543

Shahara wrote: "Ok, I'd love to make these for my family...any ideas as to
what to put in them?  Is there ever candy or nuts, coins, or just little
gifts?  I am thinking a few marbles, mini keychain, little plastic or wooden
animals, tiny deck of cards...that sort of thing??"

Amanda asked: "I'd like to know how to make them "crack," for they do pop,
as I recall."

If you can find the right shop then you can buy the bits, to insert in the
crackers, which go pop when you open them. My mother gets them from a party
/ gift type of shop. They are called Cracker Snaps and the only places I
have found them online only sell them in packs of 144 (one possible site
that does is: http://www.oldenglishcrackers.com/). I am fairly certain it is
possible to buy them in much smaller pack but have not found anywhere online
that does. It is also possible to buy kits that include the wrapping paper,
snap, jokes, toys, hats and whatever else is needed to make a set of
crackers.


Amanda wrote: "Some of the smaller James Avery silver charms are still in
the area of $10. I've used these as the prize baked into things before.
Considering what pre-made crackers tend to run over here, is that overly
expensive? I'm not sure."

It really depends on what you want to do. When my family makes Christmas
Crackers they are being made specifically for the person and are then also
used as place settings at the Christmas Dinner table (or even at other
occasions - they do not have to be confined to Christmas). We usually try to
follow some sort of theme through the crackers, but as they are made by
various different people, so you do not know what is going to be in your
cracker, it can be difficult. They usually include some form of chocolate
and a little gift (it is worth noting that I am, at 21, the youngest at this
occasion - so we do not really require the Christmas jokes and silly little
gifts that many families would want from their crackers).

If you have children then it may be fun to get them to help make the
crackers. We have also done it in the past so that everyone gets an ornament
/ decoration - which are then added to the Christmas tree (leaving open the
idea of a Harry Potter theme - <vbg> - or anything else of a similar
nature - tailored to suit the family / people in question).


Simon (who has just remembered that he needs to go and get the gift for his
mothers Christmas Cracker!)