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Original poster

Bloody Christmas Crackers

259 replies

GlamorousHeifer · 14/12/2024 07:21

I am driving myself mad (admittedly a short drive!) over Christmas crackers of all things!
I must have been looking online researching my options for about 8+ hours (in total, not 8 straight hours, I'm not that crazy!) but none of them are quite right.
Must be:
*Plastic free
*Beautiful
*8 pack
*Pre made, not make yourself
*Decent gift (no toe nail clippers or tiny screwdrivers!) Ideally a keepsake.
*Suitable for teen boys and girls
*Not more than £25.
Aibu to believe the crackers of my dreams exist despite an extensive search coming up with nothing?
For those that need to hear it, this is lighthearted, yes I do have plenty of other things to worry about, yes I know the COL has gone up and some people won't be able to celebrate at all etc etc.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
BunnyLake · 15/12/2024 11:59

Even the more expensive crackers are shite. I gave up on them a couple of years ago.

OneCoralHare · 15/12/2024 11:46

The website is puzzle post but the taskmaster crackers are currently £18 on amazon

OneCoralHare · 15/12/2024 11:44

There are some games type crackers such as taskmaster or traitors which could be fun. I’ll see if I can find a link.

Barbadossunset · 15/12/2024 11:30

Unfortunately I do - so it's £3.99 Lidl crackers with charades in for us this year.
🤣🤣🤣

DutifulLark · 15/12/2024 09:46

Barbadossunset · 14/12/2024 23:27

@DutifulLark I’ve just googled them - they look great fun.
How rude of your guests not to join in - I hope you haven’t got to have them this year.

Unfortunately I do - so it's £3.99 Lidl crackers with charades in for us this year 🤣

AndThereSheGoes · 15/12/2024 09:25

ElfAndSafetyBored · 14/12/2024 16:52

I saw some today with a miniature cheese grater. I came close to buying because I really want one but it probably cheaper to just buy a miniature cheese grater.

I have two miniature cheese graters from crackers which are in use every day. They are fantastic. No idea why the big size ones are the norm.

Taytocrisps · 15/12/2024 09:09

I see you've settled on some crackers for this year, so I'm just here to recommend that you order ahead for next year. If you've seen some you liked, they may be a lot cheaper in the Christmas/January sales.

angela1952 · 15/12/2024 08:39

Sorry this was in response to @KeziaOAP above

dancinginthekitchen · 15/12/2024 08:39

Have a look at the Little Green Cracker Company, They are all non-plastic and compostable with gifts like packets of wildflower seeds, mini soap or shampoo bars, wax melts, organic tea and coffee bags. I saw them in our local garden centre but they were a bit out of budget for me

angela1952 · 15/12/2024 08:38

When I was a child we had these, and I think that there was a version with a handmade glass animal in them too. Not too good for teens though!

angela1952 · 15/12/2024 08:37

The best we've ever had contained little whistles that each played a single note. Once we'd all opened them there was music to play with them, with my very merry DH pointing to each person in turn to add their whistle to the tune. It was hilarious, my 80 year old mother laughed so much that she fell off the chair and my children loved them too.

KeziaOAP · 15/12/2024 08:11

Talipesmum · 14/12/2024 08:48

I still hanker after the “snowbabies” crackers from late 1980s which had little mini ceramic baby animals in them - Penguin, seal cub, snow fox etc. They were so cute.

Yes remember crackers containing Wade Whimsies, my late mother had quite a collection.

Abracadabra12345 · 15/12/2024 07:56

SharpOpalNewt · 14/12/2024 07:31

Good ones we've had before had some kind of game inside we played together.

When the kids were small we had ones with wind up Santas and reindeer and we had a race across the table with them.

We had the wind up Santas and reindeer, they were so much fun! Robust too. They came out every year until they were finally passed on to our local preschool

Souredgrapes · 15/12/2024 07:11

Glad you found your crackers @GlamorousHeifer . Also good to know I’m not the only one who gets obsessed with what crackers to buy ! I’ve had the Sophie Allport ones before and I shamelessly gathered in all the little polar bears while no one was looking. 😆
I can’t do links but if you haven’t already , take a look at Fortnum and Masons cracker selection . They fit your brief beautifully other than costing up to a grand a box .I’ve resorted to Etsy and filling my own . I’m not looking forward to fiddling about putting them together but I don’t have a grand spare to drop on Crackers at Fortnum and Masons . 😆

EmmerdaleFan78 · 15/12/2024 06:30

You won’t get ‘keepsake’ gifts if you’re only spending £25 on an 8 pack. That’s just over £3 a cracker. I reckon for a decent present, you’d be looking at £10-15 plus per cracker. We don’t even bother with them anymore tbh.

If you want something a bit different, you’ve probably still got time to get little gifts from Etsy and use them as ‘favours’ as an alternative to crackers.

Isatis · 15/12/2024 05:48

There's a picture upthread of the nutcracker toys inside those crackers.

Andera · 15/12/2024 03:26

Nomorepants · 14/12/2024 08:15

I bought these from here at full price. Now have just ordered more for future years at a massive discount.

www.musicroom.com/christmas-crackers-vintage-nutcracker-6x30cm-rr62231

There's no information at all what's inside them, is there?

Monty27 · 15/12/2024 03:10

Waitrose is as fancy as I get. I think they're brilliant.

littleyeti · 15/12/2024 02:33

Ordered the RSPB crackers - I love pin badges so perfect for me! Thanks for sharing.

SardineJam · 15/12/2024 02:31

GlamorousHeifer · 14/12/2024 09:00

I love these:
https://www.sophieallport.com/products/snow-season-christmas-crackers-set-of-6
Over budget but tempted to say sod it and order some!

Probably a drop in the ocean, but there is a 15% off discount offered on the website...

Gowlett · 15/12/2024 02:23

I know it’s not the point of this thread…

But a lottery scratch card is the worst gift I can imagine.
At best, it’s a piece of cardboard. At worst, I might win…

SnoopySantaPaws · 15/12/2024 02:16

Cosycore · 14/12/2024 07:25

Tbh I’m just not bothering with crackers.

Im sorry that’s not helpful to you, OP. But I would rather not waste my money

I love the smell of them, I'd be very disappointed to have to go without!

@GlamorousHeifer

you're tough to please!

please provide links to ones with small screw driver set! They're perfect for my craft needs and my old set is almost dead. I've been looking for crackers with them in, to no avail!

VegTrug · 15/12/2024 01:45

Lakeland are the only ones with decent gifts (wooden games) but why 8 hours?! Who cares enough about bloody crackers!?

daisychain01 · 15/12/2024 01:44

I've got a lipstick case with a tiny mirror inside which I've had for years - it's still going strong and it's so useful . I think it was from a posh Harrods cracker.