Christmas crackers are a complete waste, 40 million sold each year that can’t be recycled (due to plastic, glitter, cheap toys). And the ‘bangs’ can terrify babies and pets.
Reusable Christmas crackers are not just more interesting, but last for years, so work out more affordable. And they have no or ‘quiet’ bangs’ and you can include zero waste gifts or none! You can even write your own jokes!
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.
‘Quiet Bang’ Reusable Christmas Crackers
Keep This Cracker is a wonderful brand of Christmas crackers. Made with pet-friendly, low-noise snaps (so don’t terrify animal friends or children), they can then be reused the next time.
These crackers work like ‘normal crackers’ in that you pull them apart. But rather than binning them, you just use another eco-snap, to use next time. Flat-packed in sets of six, just fold into shape, to use. And everything is made in the UK. Sold in many colours and designs.
The crackers and eco-snaps are both made from recycled card, and the wallet is compostable too. Printed with vegetable based inks. The ribbons also use up waste, as they are made from recycled plastic bottles.
The History of Christmas Crackers
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’, he likely was not to know that his clever invention would become an environmental nightmare.
Where to Find (Clean!) Cracker Jokes
The fun of reusable Christmas crackers is that you get to fill them with your own jokes. You could always copy the famous joke from the episode of The Good Life:
Why is the ooh-ah bird so-called? Because she lays square eggs!
If you’re stuck, here are a couple we like:
My dog is a genius. I asked him what two minus two was. He said nothing.
My boss told me to have a good day. So I went home.
Beautiful Reusable Christmas Crackers
Happy Crackers offer empty reusable linen crackers, which you can fill with your own zero waste gifts. Choose from a lovely selection of designs. A few are silk, but the rest are vegan-friendly.
A Box of Festive Fabric Crackers
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!
Embroidered Linen 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 mixed or individual designs (robin, reindeer, wreath, tree, holly or mistletoe). Sponge-clean only, not to use as napkins or place mats.
