How to do crackers more greenly

[MyBlueDiary]

Was looking at the crackers in JL and my heart sank a bit. Every year it’s the same old tat and it’s just left lying around afterwards and then goes in the bin.

Is there a greener way of doing them?

How about making your own? I have done for the last few years with the inside of toilet rolls, Christmas tissue paper, a scratchcard or chocolate, and a snap (you can buy these in old-fashioned stationers.

I get the ones you fill yourself. It in a sweet and a small bubble bath.

Absolutely make your own - it's so easy, kids love it and you can personalise the fillings. I got some lovely fabric ones a few years ago but I've made homemade ones for the last 2 years with my nephew.

Lots of companies have fully recyclable ones that just have the hat and joke. Dunelm did cute ones a few years ago that had origami paper and instructions for a different animal in each one.

I have made my own from Christmas fabric fat quarters and velcro. Loads of examples online. I fill mine with felt hats a joke and a little something for the recipient. We are on year 4 with the same crackers and they have been great. No pop but the kids shout bang!

I've just bought these ones... no plastic, 100% recyclable and charades instead of tat
https://www.marksandspencer.com/christmas-crackers-and-charade-game-pack-of-12-1-santa-design/p/hbp22561766#intid=pid_pg1pip9g4r1c1

Oxfam do fill your own cardboard recyclable ones op

I make my own. Dead easy with kits from E.g www.thecrackercompany.co.uk/collections/patterned-crackers?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItr7307KZggMVxtrtCh2mYwykEAAYASAAEgJzWfD_BwE

I've previously filled with socks, hand cream, skinny Jellycat toys, miniature pre-mix cocktails...

I have done make your own ones with the kids for a few years- the works do sets with all you need, some of them are colour in ones etc & then this becomes an activity in itself.
They come with paper hat, joke etc all of which can be recycled and then if you want to add a gift you can make sure it’s tailored to the recipient & either something they will use or something consumable- eg chocolate, alcohol miniature, lottery ticket etc

You can buy cracker snaps, or shout 'crack' like Margot Leadbetter in The Good Life. ("Because it's the stem of cracker, after all").

For my greenest attempt ever, I used the thick brown paper core of my wrapping paper. It’s not a hard card tube these days, but about ten inches of thick brown paper. Just google cracker template to see how to cut them.

We were awash in party bag tat in those days so I just put some of those in, chocolate, sweets, and the dc wrote out their favourite jokes in their best hand writing.

Unfortunately it was impossible to get snaps in Ireland as they’re classed as explosives or something but that shouldn’t be hard in the UK.

Mine were decorated with rosemary sprigs, and berries. Sadly I didn’t think to take a picture.

I’ve had Tesco plastic free ones for a few years with a cardboard tree decoration inside. Like a PP I’ve gone for m&s version this year.

I bought fill your own ones from Lakeland - they're plain white with a debossed fairisle pattern. I'm getting the dc to decorate/ draw on/ paint them, which I realise is not to everyone's taste but dc is enjoying the responsibility 😁

I got a "make your own" pack in the works for £4. They come with a joke and a hat, I'm going to put a celebrations choc in each and a scratchcard.