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?

I bought some plastic free ones from morrisons, only a pack of 6

Yes think from Liberty this year

I looked at the usual offerings this year in the supermarkets, and was very disappointed! So have splashed out and spent a bit more on some crackers from Kuckoo. They have Lego style animal sets in them. I think we will all enjoy this, from age 2 to 79! Plus the 'Lego' can be kept afterwards, unlike golf tees that no one needs or a fortune telling fish!
They also did some with bells or whistles in to play tunes - I liked the idea of these, but you need 8 people really, and our children are too young to follow it.
I have seen fabric reusable ones, but presume these don't have snaps, or even pull apart?
Thought about making my own card ones, but I've struggled enough finding stuff to fill an advent calendar, without getting mor etchings for crackers!

I'd be gutted if presented with hotel chocolat crackers...I'm wanting the fortune telling fish

Mandatory. Great for dispersing that overly formal thing when you are facing 4 courses with widely different family members.

Stupid hat and swapping a pack of tiny cards for a comb from your uncle with no hair. We had posh ones with jewels and gold cord on one year and my mu collected all the bits and decorated our plain knitted stocking with them the following year., So sweet and very my mother
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Also I use my mini grater from a cracker most days. Bloody fantastic from nutmeg to cheese for one without most of it getting stuck.

The whole point to us is the daftness - the silly jokes and the daft tat. I for one don’t want chocolates, gin miniatures or any boring ‘sensible’ present inside mine.
The best tat we ever had was a set of vampire teeth which went down a storm with younger members of the family.

I buy empty crackers to fill with alcohol miniatures and scratchcards. We used to get the luxury ones but never used the prizes, at least this way you can have a drink and maybe win some cash!

Yes, purely because it's tradition, but I buy the make your own crackers set and fill them myself, I print off and cut out dodgy Christmas jokes, Christmas scratch cards, some christmas chocolates and any little cool things I see when I'm out and about.

We always have crackers. This thread inspired me to make my own this year! I'm very excited

Yes we buy the cheap ones empty the tat gift out of them and then stuff them with something thoughtful for each recipient, a lottery scratch card and a daft riddle or joke on top of the Christmas hat and joke that were already in there. It's a lovely thing for my kids to do them for grandma, grandpa, Aunty etc and we enjoy them.
I did pay over the odds for a few years buying the make your own kit, but cheap ready made crackers are miles easier, particularly the jumbo size, all you need is ribbon to tie the ends once you have refilled them with goodies.

I bought musical ones one year. Each cracker contained a bell and thrre were 8 so there was a whole octave. There was a sheet with carols and a baton. So much fun! And we still have the bells. And the baton.

Had one Christmas without them because I totally forgot to buy any and I didn’t like it. I buy recyclable ones so no plastic tat inside.

I didn't buy any last year for environmental reasons, basically everything ends up in the bin and seems a waste.
Ds has asked for them this year, he says he wants the crown.

We were at home, just the 4 of us for lunch last year and decided not to do crackers because of the amount of waste.
Mil always makes her own which is nice as she chooses a little gift for everyone.