Christmas crackers were invented by British confectioner Thomas Smith, back in 1846. While visiting Paris, he came across a sugared almond wrapped in tissue paper, and thought this would be a nice festive way of eating sweets at Christmas time. By 1860, he had added chemically impregnated paper to the crackers, to make a loud bang. Originally called ‘bangs of expectation’, today millions of Christmas crackers are bought each year, to be enjoyed around the table.
Unfortunately, his ‘good idea at the time’ has resulted in many issues. Christmas crackers can’t be recycled due to their make-up, so bins are overflowing on Boxing Day with 40 million crackers that languish on landfill for years, often with glitter and foil. Most also contain more plastic inside (cheap toys etc), and the ‘bangs’ can terrify babies and especially pets.
Keep Christmas crackers away from small children and pets, due to choking hazards. For cracker gifts (included or homemade), keep toxic foods and plants away from animal friends – read more on keeping pets safe at Christmas.
Why Choose Reusable Christmas Crackers?
Have you ever counted the number of crackers used in a single festive season? It’s staggering. Most traditional crackers are disposable, ending up in the bin after one pull. Reusable crackers, on the other hand, can be enjoyed year after year. They don’t just reduce waste—they eliminate it. By reusing materials, fewer resources are required to make new products, saving energy and reducing landfill impact.
At first glance, you might think reusable crackers are pricier. But consider this: a one-time purchase can last for many Christmases. With traditional crackers, you’re buying new ones every year. In the long run, reusable crackers save you money, freeing up funds for other festive treats.
Imagine crackers tailored to your family’s unique quirks. With reusable crackers, you can personalise them with names, inside jokes, or themes that match your decor. It turns each cracker into a treasured keepsake, rather than a forgettable trinket. Plus, deciding what surprises to include is part of the fun!
Where to Buy Reusable Christmas Crackers
These woodland crackers are made from linen (flax plant) and embroidered with satin thread. In beautiful designs, just fill with your own gifts. Choose a box or mixed designs, or individual designs (robin, reindeer, wreath, tree, holly or mistletoe). Sponge-clean only, not to use as napkins or place mats.
2 Green Monkeys offer nice fabric crackers, fill with your own gifts, then pack away to use again. Sold as single crackers of boxes (bright or traditional dark green and red festive colours), you can add optional embroidering of names. After pulling apart (no bang), just unroll to reuse as napkins for dinner!
KeepThisCracker is a company that makes pretty crackers that you can still pull, and use low-noise eco-snaps that are kinder to pets and young children. Free from single-use plastic, these are sold in various designs and colours, and you just ‘pull with a pop’ then refill with more snaps to use next year. They’re sold in a reusable card wallet, and tied with ribbons made from recycled plastic bottles. Each order includes full instructions.
Eco-Friendly Paper Party Hats
East End Press makes paper garlands and party hats from thick textured cotton waste paper, then sewn onto strong cotton thread, so they are easy to hang. Printed with nontoxic inks, the garlands are sent in recycled paper sleeves. Keep string away from children and pets.
The chicken concertina paper garland is folded, and features four designs that repeat over 20 chickens for 3 metres!
