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Who invented the Christmas cracker? -

Historians generally agree that the Christmas cracker was invented by London-based confectioner and baker Tom Smith in 1847.

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Tom Smith -

Smith set up shop in Goswell Road, Clerkenwell, in the 1840s. He initially produced wedding cakes and sweets.

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Inspired by the French -

During a sojourn in Paris, the English confectioner discovered the French bonbon, a sugared almond wrapped in a twist of tissue paper.

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It's a wrap! -

Back in London, Smith started making his own bonbons, which he sold in the same manner, in a twist of paper (the origins of the traditional sweet wrapper).

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A gift for the ladies -

The candy sold well. Smith then came up with an inspired marketing ploy. He began to insert a motto into the wrappers of the sweets. As most of his bonbons were bought by men to give to women, most of the mottos were simple love poems.

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Firing the imagination -

Smith's bonbons sold especially well during the festive season, which prompted another idea. Inspired by the "crackle" of a log fire, he designed a log-shaped package that would produce a surprise bang when pulled apart. Inside would be an almond and a motto.

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Bang! -

He achieved the bang by using two narrow strips of paper layered together, with silver fulminate painted on one side and an abrasive surface on the other. When pulled, friction created a small explosion.

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From Cosaque to cracker -

With the size of the paper increased, Smith decided to replace the bonbon with a trinket. This again served as a way to beat the competition. The product was initially marketed as the Cosaque (French for Cossack, chosen supposedly because the crack they made when pulled were reminiscent of the cracking whips of Russian Cossack horsemen). However, the novelty items were soon renamed "cracker" by the public.

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A gifted entrepreneur -

Smith, who by now was being assisted by one of his sons, Walter, continued to develop the cracker. It was Walter who later added the gifts—paper hats and sourced novelties from Europe, America, and Japan, things like whistles, streamers, and party blowers.

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Who else claimed the cracker? -

Smith's assertion as the inventor of the cracker was challenged by one Gaudente Sparagnapane, whose family owned the Sparagnapane Christmas cracker and confectionery business. His company, which was established in London in 1846, a year before Smith's, described itself as "the oldest makers of Christmas crackers in the United Kingdom." Sparagnapane, however, was better known for being the father of British suffragist Florence Gertrude de Fonblanque (front row, center), who was a main organizer of the 1912 women's suffrage march from Edinburgh to London.

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Cracking on with business -

By the 1890s, Tom Smith's business had expanded to the point where new premises were required to keep up with production. The company ended up in Finsbury Square, employing 2,000 people. In 1953 Tom Smith & Company merged with Caley Crackers, and is still in business today.

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Festive decoration -

While crackers were produced for a variety of themes, including parties, votes for women, and for celebrating major events like the end of the First World War, it's for Christmas that the festive table decorations are most associated.

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Batger & Co. -

Competing for customers with Tom Smith & Company in the 1920s and '30s was Batger & Co.

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Batger family -

The Batger family were leading sugar refiners in Great Britain, and by the early 20th century had become the country's largest jam and confectionery makers.

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Novelty crackers -

The company specialized in novelty crackers, the enclosed gifts ranging anywhere from musical toys to animal masks.

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Competitive era -

In the post-war years, competition became fierce among Christmas cracker manufacturers, with bold new publicity campaigns used to entice the public into purchasing their merchandise.

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A cracker for all occasions -

Christmas crackers were being produced in all sizes to fit every pocket.

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Origins of the Christmas paper hat -

One item that has pretty much always been enclosed in a cracker is a colorful paper tissue hat.

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Saturnalia celebrations -

The tradition of wearing festive hats dates back to Roman times and the Saturnalia celebrations, which also involved decorative headgear.

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Knut's party -

In Sweden, a Knut's party is a tradition on Saint Knut's Day (January 13), which marks the end of the Christmas and holiday season. Pulling crackers that have been used as tree decorations is part of the festivities, with paper hats worn accordingly.

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Christmas crown -

The idea of wearing a paper crown, however, may have originated from the Twelfth Night celebrations, where a king or queen was appointed to look over the proceedings.

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Traditional celebrations -

Christmas crackers are mainly part of seasonal celebrations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.

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Stateside success -

The Christmas cracker is not so well known in the United States, though the table decoration remains an important part of holiday traditions in some states, whether used as part of a family dinner or as part of a larger holiday celebration.

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Sophisticated tableware -

The Christmas cracker itself can serve as a sophisticated item of tableware. Some can be purchased filled with luxury gifts like fine chocolates, high-end cosmetics, and even jewelry.

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How to pull a cracker -

A cracker is pulled apart by two people, each holding an outer chamber. This causes the cracker to split unevenly to leave one person holding the central chamber and prize. Of course, you can enjoy the activity solo as well.

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Christmas cracker contents -

Small toys, plastic models, or trinkets are the rewards claimed by those left with the outsized half of the cracker.

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Christmas messages -

Rather than romantic verse, crackers these days regale diners with a motto, joke, riddle, or a piece of trivia.

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Christmas crackers, by appointment -

And the humble Christmas cracker enjoys royal patronage: Tom Smith holds the Royal Warrant as suppliers of Christmas crackers and wrapping paper by appointment to the royal household. In fact, the company has been the proud recipient of a Royal Warrant to the monarch since 1906.

Sources: (Victoria and Albert Museum) (Historic UK) (HistoryExtra) (Tom Smith Crackers) 

See also: The best Christmas light displays around the world

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