Many elements of Christmas have seeped into the year's other headline occasions.
You can now get wreaths for Easter and Halloween (however inadvisably). The less said about Halloween Christmas trees, the better. Some novelty advent calendars are designed to count down to Eid, Diwali or even a wedding day instead.
But crackers? Well, if you ask me, they're for Christmas exclusively (despite the Easter bunny trying to muscle in on the action).
The tradition of Christmas cracker pulling stretches back to the 1840s, when London sweetmaker Tom Smith was inspired by French bon bons to invent the Christmas table decoration. His ‘small pop’, created by pairing two strips of paper with a chemical compound, was to echo the crackle of a log fire. And behold: the first iteration of the cracker we know, love and pull today.
While today's cheaper crackers still contain a silly joke and a folded paper crown as per Smith's original creation, the cracker, very much like the advent calendar, has undergone a serious upgrade.
Luxury versions holding premium trinkets are available for those willing to splash out for extra Yuletide sparkle. Made from stiff coloured card and reams of tissue, they are artfully festooned with foil decorations and swirls of ribbon, and stuffed with small treats so luxurious that they could count as the main Christmas gift itself.
London's department stores are the primary purveyors - Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nicks and Fortnums all stock the glitziest on their shelves, with prices to match. Brands have also added to their festive offering through crackers, with beauty, booze, snacks and jewellery all tucked inside crackers, ready for the victor to claim.
How to ensure you're the one with the prize? The internet is full of cracker-pulling tips, from holding your end lower than your partner’s, and pulling slowly rather than snapping. Unblinking eye contact couldn't hurt either, and promises to add an edge to the festivities.
There are plenty of designs available, no matter what Christmas theme you’ve got in mind. To narrow the selection, I’ve gathered the finest luxury Christmas crackers to buy this year, from one set costing a grand, to options filled with sparkling jewellery.
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F&M Regency Crackers
How much is too much to spend on Christmas crackers? All except the 1 per cent might sensibly conclude that a grand is beyond the realms of extravagance, but for those willing to part with such a sum, Fortnums is your store.
The royal grocer stocks this six pack of red velvet and tissue crackers, complete with silver-plated dining accessories like cheese mice markers, napkin rings and an egg cup with a spoon.
Fortnums has form in the cracker department: it once made a life-sized version designed to be pulled by 24 people, and on another occasion, stuffed a six-person cracker with jokes written by Stephen Fry. If it’s elite crackers you’re after, Fortnums is a safe pair of hands.
Buy now £1000.00, F&M
F&M White Christmas Crackers
Not everyone can or should bankrupt themselves in the name of Christmas crackers, a sentiment F&M agrees with via this set of six white crackers. The trinkets inside may not be silver-plated, but they’ll still be very special - you’ll find a drinks jigger, festive cookie cutters and a miniature measuring cup and grater inside, alongside paper crowns and a funny joke.
Buy now £65.00, F&M
Harvey Nichols Six Luxury Christmas Crackers
Running with a festive bow theme, Knightsbridge department store Harvey Nicks has Friendmas Christmas crackers in the bag. The box of six has a bold red design finished with black branded ribbon ties, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Gifts include a Waiter’s Friend corkscrew, a Champagne bottle stopper, and dinky pots of honey and booze. In short, a very merry selection.
Buy now £65.00, Harvey Nichols
Claridge's Christmas Crackers
Six handsome crackers in a sharp Art Deco style; well, it could only be Claridges. London’s grande dame hotel is helping customers bring a little of its glamour to their Christmas tables, complete with gifts inside; think a joke, a Claridge’s cocktail recipe and a keepsake inspired by the hotel’s illustrious heritage.
Buy now £100.00, Claridge's
Astrid & Miyu Twilight Star Studs Cracker in Gold
Like the thought of showering your guests with diamonds? Head to jewellery brand Astrid & Miyu, where the Twilight Star Studs Cracker hides a set of sparkling stud earrings inside the patterned card, ribbon-tied cracker. Buy a set of four crackers, and you’ll receive 10 per cent off, along with exclusive gift packaging for the decorations.
Buy now £55.00, Astrid & Miyu
Liberty Beauty Christmas Crackers Box of Six
Liberty has packed some of the biggest hitters in its beauty hall into its set of six Christmas crackers, guaranteeing skirmishes over the dining table once everybody figures out what’s in store. There are full-sized and travel minis of Sisley mascara, MZ Skin moisturiser, SUQQU lipstick and more. Could they be too good to pull? Depends on your guest list.
Buy now £95.00, Liberty
Jo Malone London Red & Blue Cracker Gift Set
Jo Malone London's Christmas collection includes elite crackers packed with some of the fragrance house's bestsellers, all in handy mini size.
Buy now £38.00, Harrods
MOTH Cocktail Crackers
Sample a cracking selection of MOTH cocktails in the name of Christmas with these fun designs from the festival-favourite label. They’ve sold out every year since they launched and no wonder - the set of six includes the likes of a Margarita, Espresso Martini or the let’s-pretend-we’re-somewhere-sunnier Pina Colada. Alongside the full-strength measures are jokes, trivia and charade cards.
Buy now £29.00, MOTH
Slip Pure Silk Large Scrunchie Cracker - Sugar Plum
Can you ever have enough hair bands? They always seem to go missing. Slip is well aware of this fact and has stashed three of its silky kind-to-locks scrunchies inside this cracker that will go down a treat with the beauty lover in your life.
Buy now £42.00, Lookfantastic
Heal’s Marble Christmas Crackers Mixed Set of 6
Heal’s crackers are bound to match any colour scheme. The set of six features a swirled marbled pattern that promises to add a pop of colour to any tablescape. The hand-assembled decorations bear small leather goods from Undercover, including a luggage tag, measuring tape, bookmark, pencil sharpener and a password book.
Buy now £65.00, Heal’s
Rockett St George Luxury Milagro Christmas Crackers
Magnets, fabric patches and boot charms await inside Rockett St George’s typically OTT cracker design. Another fun choice for Friendmas or Christmas cocktails - because I’m not sure how much your great aunt will get out of a pouty lip-shaped iron-on.
Buy now £45.00, Rockett St George
Morris & Co. Blackthorn Foiled Christmas Crackers
Perfect for a family lunch, these Morris & Co. Christmas Crackers not only look the part, but come packed with useful gifts like travel nail clippers, a keyring pen and a tiny grater that’s perfect for grating chocolate, nutmeg or cheese over a future office lunch.
Buy now £40.00, John Lewis
Cox & Cox Six Luxury Handmade Striped Crackers
In a burgundy stripe and with cream ribbon ties, Cox & Cox’s crackers have been handmade by a Dorset maker. The set of six all come with a paper hat, a joke, and a wholesome novelty gift, which could be wooden plant markers, sweet pea seeds, seedballs, or a rose gold monstera plant-shaped paper clip.
Buy now £45.00, Cox & Cox
The Newt in Somerset Handmade Christmas Crackers
If you’ve had the luxury of visiting the Somerset estate of The Newt, you may have sauntered through the farm shop and lusted over the delights inside. These crackers bring that experience to your home. Inside the cracker printed with a bespoke woodland design is an entirely plastic-free selection of treats. These include cutesy helpful tools like a cookie cutter, spice grater and spiced apple tea.
Buy now £40.00, The Newt in Somerset
OKA Ocellus Napkin Crackers
Swapping card for linens, OKA offers a decidedly greener and chicer take on disposable crackers. Sold as a set of four, they contain four horn gifts of a bookmark, haircomb, spoon and bottle stop.
Buy now £95.00, OKA
Marc Jacobs Minis Cracker Set
This travel fragrance gift set comes in cracker-style packaging, and while it may not make a pop, the dinky bestsellers inside are bound to be a hit.
Buy now £44.00, Lookfantastic
