Why do we have Christmas crackers and which of the jokes are actually funny?
The glittering cardboard novelties come complete with a paper crown, toy and joke but that wasn't always the case
THEY are a must-have at any Christmas dinner - but why are Christmas crackers a festive tradition and where did these novelty items originate?
The glittering cardboard crackers come complete with a paper crown, toy and joke... but that was not always the case.
Why do we have Christmas crackers?
Christmas crackers are a British tradition dating back to Victorian times when in the early 1850s, London confectioner Tom Smith started adding a motto to his sugared almond bon-bons which he sold wrapped in a twisted paper package.
The story goes that he was inspired to add 'bang' when he heard the crackle of a log he had just put on the fire.
He decided to make a log shaped package that would produce a surprise bang and inside would be an almond and a motto and soon the sugared almond was replaced with a small gift.
Originally sold as the Cosaque it soon became known by the public as the 'cracker'.
But it wasn't until the early 1900s that the paper crown was added by Smith's sons, Tom, Walter and Henry, after he died and gave the business to them.
The idea behind the paper crown is thought to have originated from the Twelfth Night celebrations, when a King or Queen was appointed to overlook the proceedings.
Then, by the end of the 1930s, the love poems were replaced by jokes or limericks.
What are the best Christmas cracker jokes?
They aren't usually that funny - in fact, they are almost cringe worthy that even the champion of Dad jokes would avoid.
But in 2016, a list of the finest list of Christmas cracker jokes was compiled by UKTV's Gold that might actually get you giggling.
While the winning joke was centred on one of the biggest subjects of the year, other topics such as Sports Direct, Roy Hodgson and Jeremy Corbyn were also covered.
Here are the top 20 jokes that made the list.
- How will Christmas dinner be different after Brexit? No Brussels.
- What do workers at Sports Direct get for Christmas dinner? About 5 minutes.
- How do you recognise a Christmas tree from BHS? All the branches have gone.
- I bought my mum Mary Berry's cookbook for Christmas, I tried to get Paul Hollywood's but he'd sold out.
- What's David Cameron's favourite Christmas song? All I Want For Christmas is EU.
- Why has Hillary Clinton asked Santa for a 23-letter alphabet? Because she is sick of F.B.I.
- Why didn't Roy Hodgson go to visit Santa at The North Pole? He couldn't get past Iceland.
- Why are Jeremy Corbyn's Christmas cards on the floor? His cabinet collapsed.
- Philip looks out of the window on Christmas Eve: 'That's some reindeer' he says. The Queen replies: '63 years. Yes, that is a lot.'
- What's the difference between the clementine in your Christmas stocking and Donald Trump? Nothing, they're both a little orange.
- What do you get if you cross Donald Trump with a Christmas Carol? O Comb Over Ye Faithful.
- What's the best advice you can give at the UKIP Christmas party? Avoid the punch.
- Why did the three wise men only have frankincense and myrrh? Because Team GB took all the gold.
- Which parent is likely to do the Christmas shop at Tesco this year? Dad might, Marmite not.
- Why can't the England football team play Yahtzee this Christmas? Because they got rid of Allardyce.
- I can't get to the chocolates in my advent calendar. Foiled again.
- Why is Bob Dylan's sleigh so quiet? Because it has Nobel.
- Why is everyone filing for divorce and custody of the kids this Christmas? Tis the season to be Jolie.
- Who might be cooking Christmas dinner at Number 10 this year? Theresa May.
- Why can't Mary Berry eat turkey sandwiches? Paul Hollywood took all the bread.
How to make your own Christmas cracker
You can make your own Christmas crackers using empty toilet rolls and tissue or wrapping paper.
Wrap paper around the toilet roll leaving enough paper on the ends for people to hold onto.
Pop personalised gifts, sweets and jokes into the tube.
You can even buy paper crowns and cracker poppers online to complete your festive fun.
Then add card or stiffener in the remaining paper to keep its cylindrical shape, before tying or twisting the paper at the end of the tube.
Your cracker is now finished and ready to be shared with party guests!
MORE ON CHRISTMAS
Other fun facts about Christmas crackers
The largest Christmas cracker in the world measured 207 foot (63.1m) long and 13 foot (4m) in diameter.
It was made by the parents of children at Ley Hill School and Pre-School, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, on December 20, 2001.
The biggest Christmas cracker pull was done by 1,478 people at an event organised by Honda Japan at Tochigi Proving Ground in Japan, on October 18, 2009.