Does anyone still use crackers?

[pinkksugarmouse]

Just curious. I haven't had Christmas crackers for years and was never overly impressed with them except maybe as a very young child. For years I have only had Christmas with one or two other people so it seems pointless anyway.
I am interested in how other people do things. Do you have crackers? What kind do you have?

We don’t, I bought some last year from Aldi (monopoly ones I think) but they are still in cupboard, my kids are not really bothered by them, I might do scratch cards instead this year as dc’s are now teens. TBH, I have always found crackers to be a huge waste.

We always have crackers and i dont really think about the waste! I will definitely be having them this year.

@BluebellsGreenbells

Why are you so bothered? If you don’t like them, don’t buy them.

🙄 I'm not and I don't. As my post said I am interested in how other people celebrate Christmas. I am a bit of an anthropologist. And Christmas culture and traditions are one of my favourite topics.

We do. This year because there are few of us and all adults I have splashed out on ones with little bottles of booze in them! They will deffo be used!

Yes, we do. I have to agree most crackers are just rubbish and the only reason I get them is because of tradition.

I used to get some from Oxfam at one time that had lovely handcrafted gifts in them. But not seen them for years so I'd been buying the ones with rubbish in them. This year I decided to make my own with a little gift I know the recipient will love.

@Bluntness100

I also really couldn't expect DH to wear one of those dreadful hats

Gosh, he sounds a bit uptight.

He can be quite serious but has an amazing sense of humour for some things too. He doesn't do things just for "tradition" but he can make me laugh so much at times. Such as when he bought a 5ft plastic skellington decoration for me for Halloween and called it "Boney." And when he came back from the shops on his birthday with a range of presents for our hamster.

This is the first year we'll do without. My extremely practical children have said no thanks to advent calendars too. I'd say it's our way of cutting out unnecessary plastic but it's more about leaving cash in the pot for presents and Xmas food.

Yes, but only buy decent ones or make your own crackers to avoid plastic tat.

I buy beautiful pre made crackers and put a few little sweets and a lottery scratch card in each of them. No plastic tat!

Yes, those do sound very funny indeed op.

It’s not Christmas without a fortune fish!

Amanduh, just bought some, great idea! Not seen those for years.

Yes, but imo the cheaper the better, the "quality" ones are still full of tatt no one will use and the best bit is the joke (the more naff the better)

Last year I did lucky dip and used up all the odd ones we had left from previous years, rather than buying new.

I buy the make your own kits and put gifts in them. Minitures for the adults and keyrings for the kids.

@PontiacBandit, you've just reminded me I got little screwdrivers in my cracker one year and put them in my handbag and thought no more of it. A few weeks later I was away with work when a colleagues lens fell out his glasses. Imagine his face when I triumphantly produced the little screwdrivers and asked him not to think of me as too weird / the sort of person who always carries screwdrivers

Of course! Wouldn’t do Christmas lunch without them. We just get supermarket ones.

We always have them even if it’s just us-plastic free ones recently though, paper hat, non plastic items.

Absolutely have crackers. Surprised anyone who preps a Christmas lunch for family, doesn't.

Yes, those do sound very funny indeed op

Yes, it,s one of those things that adds to the special occasion, even if they are really poor value for money.

Love crackers at Christmas. Have got the racing penguin ones this year so should be a bit of a laugh for everyone. I love that everyone sits eating dinner in the silly paper hats as well. I think you'd have to be a bit of a cock to think you were above wearing one!
It’s not Christmas without a fortune fish!
Definitely! I've actually bought them separately because I know they won't be in my crackers this year. Bring back happy childhood memories

I just love Christmas crackers. Last year was the first we didn't have any. Thought I had somevputvaway but unfortunately didn't. I remember as a child my DM got these wonderful crackersat least I thought so As well as the usual joke hat and small toy/item they also had a balloon and a sparkler. I would usually buy them in the sales after Christmas so that way I would get really good ones for less money. Got brilliant ones one year in Debenham's for £10. Tbh I haven't even thought about Christmas yet as there is only going to be the two of us this year.

We usually buy the fill your own cracker kits from John Lewis then pick a theme of things to fill them with. This year it will be little wooden 'peggies' in a Christmas theme from a local seller, plus the obligatory hats, jokes and maybe a chocolate or two. I love crackers 😊

We always have them - it’s not a proper Christmas dinner otherwise.
Cheap ones - the expensive ones only have more expensive tat, and we have more than enough chocolate at Christmas anyway.

As for the plastic tat, since all our milk comes in glass bottles, and we never buy water in plastic bottles, I feel entitled to that small amount at Christmas.

I also put them in the Christmas tree and take them out when needed.