The humble Christmas cracker started life in Victorian London, when confectioner Tom Smith wrapped sweets in decorated paper — reportedly adding the snap in the 1840s after being inspired by the crackle of a log fire. Jokes and paper crowns followed, and the formula has barely changed since. What has changed is what goes inside: the era of the throwaway plastic trinket is giving way to crackers you'll actually want to open.
Luxury retailers have run with the idea. Fortnum & Mason's Festive Treats set swaps gimmicks for Marc de Champagne truffles, chocolate Napolitains, shortbread and an owl-shaped chocolate matchbox, while still including crowns and jokes for the sake of tradition. Harrods leans both classic and practical: its tartan set hides kitchen-themed gifts like a mini whisk, honey dipper and grater, and its minimalist white crackers contain a gold crown plus one of six miniature tools, from a sewing kit to a multitool and screwdriver keyring.
There are prettier options too. Liberty of London hand-rolls its cracker designs in Cheshire, filling each illustrated one with a hand-poured scented candle — choose from a lady, baubles or robin motif. For a lower-waste approach, Lamler's velvet crackers are refillable, sold as sets of four in green-and-gold or red, ready to be personalised with your own gifts year after year. And for pure theatre, Fortnum's 'Crackerdile' — a crocodile-shaped cracker containing a deck of Snap cards — works for kids and adults alike.
If money is truly no object, the bar was set by gift company VeryFirstTo, now defunct, which created a bespoke cracker set valued at around $6.7m. The contents included a Cartier diamond necklace, a Breguet watch, and keys to an Aston Martin Vanquish and a Sunseeker yacht. More realistically, brands like Asprey will fill crackers with sterling silver pieces, and Harrods has previously included an Aspinal of London card holder.
When choosing, it pays to look beyond the wrapping. Editors suggest checking that the materials feel substantial, that the snap is satisfying, and whether the contents will spark conversation — a trivia card or group game goes further than another plastic puzzle. Sustainability matters too: glitter-covered crackers look fun but shed everywhere and are notoriously hard to recycle, so recyclable or responsibly sourced materials are the smarter festive choice.
For anyone hosting a Christmas table this year, this is an easy upgrade. A good cracker set costs a fraction of the rest of the meal but shapes the moment everyone remembers — the snap, the crown, the surprise inside. Whether you want edible treats, keepsake gifts or a reusable option that cuts waste, the premium end has something worth pulling.
